Obituary of Kathleen Best Hofman

Kathleen Cornelia Best Hofman LEXINGTON—Kathleen Cornelia Best Hofman, 73, passed away peacefully in her home after a long battle with cancer on Monday, June 27, 2011. Born in Columbia, she was the daughter of the late Burrell W. Best, Sr. and Margaret Smith Best. She was a lifelong area resident and a member of Northeast Baptist Church. She was a wonderful, loving and dedicated mother and grandmother. She was a devoted and beloved member of the Thompson Funeral Home family, where she worked as a bookkeeper for six years. She loved to serve others. In the spirit of giving, she has donated her remains to the School of Medicine at the University of South Carolina in the hope that it may in some way help mankind. She was loved by many with a heart of gold and will be greatly missed. To know her was to love her. Surviving are her daughters, Cynthia Beck, Paula Smith, Tina Stuart and Rose Cook; sisters, Patricia Gause (Shand), DeeAnn Holland (Warren) and Vivian Carpenter (Edmund); a brother, Burrell W. Best, Jr. (Marie); several nieces and nephews; a special granddaughter, Faith Mattox, six grandchildren and one great grandchild. She was preceded in death by a daughter, Lisa Carroll Waites and husband, Claude M. Swindler. A private memorial service will be held at a later date. Thompson Funeral Home of West Columbia will be assisting the family. Memorials may be made in Kathleen's honor to Pets, Inc., PO Box 6394, West Columbia, SC 29171. Family and friends may sign the on-line guest book at: (www.thompsonsfuneral.com)