Pauline Alexandra Thompson

COLUMBIA - She spread love. Pauline Alexandra Thompson, Polly to the world, was born on January 7, 1972 in Columbia, SC. Following a short illness she died in Columbia on April 10, 2016. Robert Smith Thompson and Judith Curfman Thompson were honored to have been her parents. Polly began her formal education in a series of pre-school experiences and Forest Lake Elementary School. Her family was privileged to move to China for a year under the Fulbright Program and her sixth grade year was spent at the International School of Beijing. She then attended Hand Middle School, Dreher High School, and after a year at Converse College returned to the University of South Carolina majoring in History. One special summer provided her with a thrilling experience of being an intern for Senator Strom Thurmond. She held a variety of jobs until finally realizing that she really wanted to be a teacher. She taught in several different areas during her ten-year Social Studies career. The very essence of Polly was love. She loved her parents and grandparents, her aunts and uncles, her cousins and her cousins’ children. She loved her cats and her special neighbor dog. She loved her many friends in Columbia and around the world. She truly loved her home state and SC beaches, and Cincinnati, London, and Washington. Her travels included a trip to Russia in high school and many family or solo trips to Toronto, London, and numerous American cities. She loved the Gamecock teams. Reading, art, and music of all kinds were very special to her. She especially loved the music of several Columbia based bands. Because she so loved her students, above all those who had not been expected to have achievement in education, she was a marvelous teacher. Polly is survived by her parents; aunt and uncle, Jane Curfman and Michael Barrett Hoge; her cousins, Andrew Curfman and Robin Hoge, Aaron Barrett and Stacey Hoge and Katherine Hoge and Mitch Graham. She is also survived by her cousins’ children, Katlyn, Raegan and Owen who were most special to their “Aunt Polly”. She is also survived by her godparents, Robert Lee Oakman and Elizabeth Werth Oakman; and their two sons and families. Polly was delighted to have her beloved grandparents from whom she found so much support, inspiration, and joy as part of her life for many years. Polly was a member of the P.E.O. International Sisterhood and a new Life Member of the Carolina Alumni Association. She had recently been a docent for the Historic Columbia Foundation and until January of this year was the Secretary of the Shandon Neighborhood Council. A memorial service will be held Friday, April 15, 2016 at 4:30 p.m. at Dunbar Funeral Home, Devine Street Chapel. The family will receive friends following the service at the chapel. In lieu of flowers, Polly’s family requests that donations in her name be made to P.E.O. Program for Continuing Education at P.E.O., Executive Office, 3700 Grand Avenue, Des Moines, Iowa, 50312-2899 or to an Animal Rescue Program of your choice. The family also requests that in Polly’s honor that you love each other.