Louise Gilland King

COLUMBIA - Lou King, 96, widow of Sam B. King, Jr., passed away peacefully on Sunday, August 26, 2018, at Wildewood Downs in Columbia, SC. Born on June 29, 1922 in Kingstree, SC. She was the daughter of Selma Thorn Gilland and Wilmot Singleton Gilland.

Mrs. King attended the University of South Carolina and was a member of Kappa Delta Sorority. While at USC, she was crowned Miss Garnet and Black during her sophomore year.

Lou was a member of Trinity Episcopal Cathedral where she and Sam were married in 1949 and where, for several years, she a member of the Cathedral’s staff. She served as a member of Trinity’s Vestry, was a longtime member of the Trinity Altar Guild, organized the Churchyard Guild, and led Trinity’s Girl Scout Troop #3. For a number of years she was a staff member of the Girl Scout’s Congaree Area Council.

She was a former Trustee of the Historic Columbia Foundation, and during her tenure the Robert Mills House was saved from destruction, preserved and restored. Lou served on the Boards of the Columbia Music Festival Association, the Speech and Hearing Clinic and was a former Chair of the Children’s Theatre. She was a member of the National Society of Colonial Dames, the Junior League of Columbia, Forest Lake Club, the Columbia Opera Guild and was a founding member of the Dianthus Garden Club. In later life, she had the privilege of managing Blue Heron Antiques in Five Points and working for Pulliam Morris Interiors for a number of years.

Lou was a devoted mother whose creative talents made every childhood birthday an extraordinary experience. She was a superb cook whose recipes were sought and coveted by family, friends and perfect strangers. A consummate hostess, she made all guests feel special and delighted their palates with her culinary treats. A flower arranger par none, her arrangements graced many a Columbia home and were the backdrop for countless weddings and other special occasions. She will be missed by all who knew her but especially by her family who learned so much through her grace and strength.

She is survived by a son, Samuel B. “Trip” King III of Columbia, S.C., his wife, Mary Breslin King, and their children, Kyle D. Rabe and Adam M. Rabe (Claire); a daughter, Louise Gilland King “Gil” Cavanagh of Columbia, S.C., her husband, John S. Cavanagh, and their children, Charles Gilland Cavanagh, Ann Samuel Cavanagh, Shannon B. Cavanagh, Kevin M. Cavanagh and three great grandchildren. Lou is also survived by her brother, Wilmot Singleton Gilland, and many nieces and nephews. In addition to her parents and her husband, she was predeceased by her sisters, Selma Singleton Gilland Jones and Nell Gilland Rogers and a brother, Boone Thorn Gilland.

A funeral service will be held Friday, August 31 at 2:00 p.m. at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, with burial in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends immediately following the service. Memorials may be made to the Trinity Cathedral Foundation or the Historic Columbia Foundation.

Mrs. King’s family wishes to sincerely thank the kind and caring staff at Atria Forest Drive, Wildewood Downs and Abbey Road Hospice.