Elaine Finklea Folline

COLUMBIA - On Saturday, November 25, 2023, Elaine Finklea Folline greeted her Lord and Savior peacefully at home. Elaine was born March 3, 1937, in Florence, SC and was the daughter of the late Dr. Orion T. and Ruth Townsend Finklea. Elaine grew up in Florence, graduated from Converse College, and married the love of her life, Jack S. Folline. They settled in Columbia where she enjoyed many years of community service, including as president of the Junior League of Columbia, founding member and president of the Friends of the Library, and president of the Columbia Converse Alumnae Board. At Trinity Cathedral, Elaine served as co-chair of the Trinity Bazaar (where she made many jars of artichoke pickles!), a dedicated docent, and devoted Altar Guild member. She also enjoyed time spent in the Camellia Ball and as a board member of the Voluntary Action Center, Governor's Mansion Foundation and Daughters of the Holy Cross. She was a member of Forest Lake Club, Columbia Museum of Art, and Steak Club. Elaine loved tennis (and was great even late in life), playing bridge, reading books with the Wednesday Morning Book Club and JLC Literature Club, movies, travel and entertaining. She was beautiful, brilliant, talented and an excellent cook. She and Jack greatly enjoyed being with friends and family on trips to the beach, Suits Mama and other exotic places. Elaine will be remembered as being a loving, sassy, smart Southern lady with an infectious laugh who enjoyed her family and grandchildren, friends, her many books, volunteer opportunities, learning new things, sharing her many talents and having fun. She and husband Jack reveled in their many friends and family and were always at the center of fun!

Surviving are daughters, Lanie Epting (Randy) and Emily Mikell (Lee) of Columbia and five grandchildren, Elaine Epting, Blaire Epting, Lee Mikell, Jr., Adela Mikell and Melissa Mikell, all of Columbia. She was predeceased by her husband of 54 years, Jack Folline and brothers, Dr. Orion Finklea and Dr. Jack Finklea. The family would like to personally thank her friends for their faithful visits and prayers during her prolonged illness. Deep gratitude also goes to her devoted caregivers and special friends Eartha, Clara, Vivian, Bertha, and her Solutions caregivers (especially Emma, Cassandra, Lisa, Karen, and Pam) for their loving care over the years.

A celebration of her life will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, November 30, 2023 at Trinity Cathedral, Columbia, SC, with a private family interment at a later time. A reception will follow the service in Satterlee Hall. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Trinity Cathedral, 1100 Sumter St, Columbia, SC 29201; Agape Hospice, 136 Stonemark Lane, Columbia, SC 29210; Hammond School, 854 Galway Lane, Columbia, SC 29209; or Converse University, Office of Philanthropy, 580 E. Main Street, Spartanburg, SC 29302.

Dunbar Funeral Home, Devine Street Chapel, is assisting the family. Memories may be shared at www.dunbarfunerals.com.