Obituary of Andrea Lynn Eakins

Andrea Lynn Eakins, 70, passed away peacefully at home on Saturday, March 20. She waged her year-long battle against cancer with the same grace, strength, and dignity she demonstrated her entire life.

She was the daughter of Grace Beckwith McDonald and the late Neal A. McDonald, Sr. She was a 1968 graduate of Brookland-Cayce High School and earned her degree in Education from The University of South Carolina. She taught middle-school math in the various cities she lived with Bob, her husband of 50 years. Prior to retiring and moving back home to Columbia, she lived and taught school in Shelby, North Carolina.

In addition to her mother, Grace B. McDonald, she is survived by her husband, Robert Eakins; daughters, Grace Eakins Cameron (Chris) and Rebecca Eakins, and granddaughters Bella Cameron and Emmie Cameron. She is also survived by her siblings Sally Wietecha (Scott), Lex McDonald (Lee), Bryan McDonald (Elaine), and Monnie Gabriel (Geoff); ten nieces and nephews and five great-nieces and nephews.

Lynn was a kind and gentle spirit and a wonderfully loving and supportive wife, mother, and grandmother. The wide circle of people in her life knew her always as a deeply caring and generous person, committed to the well-being of all those she loved.

The family would like to sincerely thank Samuel Oyer, M.D., John Kaczmar, M.D., David Cachia, M.D., Chelsea Stillwell, M.D., and the staff from Lighthouse Hospice Group for the extraordinary level of care and compassion they gave to Lynn in her time of need. They worked as God’s angels.

A service of Resurrection celebration for Lynn will be held on Friday, March 26, at 2:30 p.m. at Mt. Hebron United Methodist Church in West Columbia, SC. The family will receive friends at the church at 1:30 p.m. prior to the service. A private burial will take place at Fort Jackson National Cemetery at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Lighthouse Hospice Group, 110 Oak Park Drive, Irmo, SC 29063.