Obituary of Tammy P. Hyatt

Tammy P. Hyatt, born October 29, 1964, passed away quietly in the home she loved, on Thursday, May 13, 2021. A South Carolina native, she worked at the University of South Carolina in Columbia for 29 years in the office of the Board of Trustees, and later in the office of the Vice President of Information Technologies. As one might imagine, she was an enthusiastic Gamecock fan.

Tammy was an accomplished baker, and took particular pleasure in hosting an annual holiday baking gathering. This event was eagerly anticipated by her nieces and great-nieces, who joined her to create and taste-test the goodies that would ultimately be shared with lucky family and friends.

In 1995, she married the love of her life, George S. Hyatt, at Westside Baptist Church, where she had been a long-standing member and beloved Sunday school teacher. Together they embarked on adventures great and small, sharing their love of the natural world. They gardened, watched birds, and marveled at the light in the treetops from the porch of their pine-log cabin.

A passionate music lover, she was happiest when surrounded by good people in a room full of guitars.

She was an oak tree in the forest of her loved ones; a pillar of comfort, shelter, wisdom, and graceful strength.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Henry L. and Montise Pridgen. She is survived by her beloved husband, “Buzz”; loving step-children, daughter Jessica (Jonathan) Aubuchont, and son Simpson Hyatt; close-knit siblings, Henry L. “Hank” (Nadine) Pridgen Jr., Mary (Ralph) Wilkerson, Mark (Debra) Pridgen, and Velvet Pridgen; nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews; many cousins; and treasured lifelong friends.

Funeral services will be held at 1:00pm Tuesday, May 25, 2021 at Thompson Funeral Home, 4720 Augusta Rd. Lexington, SC 29073.  Visitation at 12 pm.  The graveside commitment ceremony will follow at Celestial Memorial Gardens in West Columbia.  Celebration of life to follow at Buzz and Tammy's home in Lexington. 

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial contributions be made to the cancer treatment or research facility of the donor's choice.