Obituary of Daphne S. Rushe

Daphne Flo Shepherd Rushe died on December 23, 2023 in West Columbia, SC.  Born in Columbia on July 11, 1934, she was the youngest of eleven children of the late Reverend William Arthur and Mary Reynolds Shepherd, and the wife of the Reverend George Marion Rushe (Col, USAF Retired) who predeceased her in May 2020.

Daphne was raised in West Columbia and graduated from Brookland Cayce High School (1952).  She was married in 1954 to her husband of sixty-six years, George Marion, and was both a pastor’s wife and an Air Force wife.  She travelled the world raising her family and lived in Texas, Japan, Virginia, England, South Carolina, Nebraska, Germany, and Louisiana, before moving to Chapin, South Carolina after retirement in 1994.

She attended Columbia College and the University of Maryland; obtained her B.A. from Bellevue University, Nebraska, her M.A. from Louisiana State University, Shreveport, and was a certified counselor.  She was Director of the Northern Louisiana Mental Health Association and then served as Director of the Center for Displaced Homemakers in Shreveport until her retirement.  Daphne was a supporting partner for her husband’s ministry; enjoyed travel and painting; and was an avid reader and a wonderful cook.

Daphne is survived by three sons and their wives, Randall George and Amanda Rushe of Chapin, Brigadier General (USAF Retired) Russell Arthur and Kay Rushe of Columbia, and Dr. Todd Samuel and Ruth Ann Rushe of Seneca; seven grandchildren — Laura Rushe of Denver, Alexander Rushe of Nashville, George Marion II and Laurence Rushe of Columbia, Aubrey (Rushe) Robles of Dallas, Eric Rushe of Seattle, and Shelby Rushe of Boston; and two great-grandsons, Samuel Robles and Thomas Rushe.

She was predeceased by three sisters, Marian Pitts, Nell Johnson, and Jane Condon; and seven brothers, Ben, Phillip, William, Allen, Thomas (Harold), David (Ed), and Bob Shepherd. She is survived by a multitude of nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews.

Services will be held at the Thompson Funeral Home on Augusta Road in Lexington, SC at 12:00pm on Tuesday, January 2, 2024.  Interment will be at the Fort Jackson National Cemetery at 2:00pm.  Family and friends are invited to gather together at the funeral home at 11:00am prior to the service.  In lieu of flowers, you may make a donation to St. Peter Lutheran Church, Chapin, SC; Still Hopes Episcopal Retirement Community, West Columbia, SC; The Heritage at Lowman, Chapin, SC; or to the church or charity of your choice.