Ann Riley Obituary

Governor Riley and family,
Our hearts have been grieving as yours have at the loss of Tunky. She was such a wonderful person who will be missed by so many. Treasure the great leagacy she leaves to all of you. There will always be a tremendous void that can't be filled.

Fondly,
Brianna (Dorn) & Bruce Lawrence
Greenwood, SC

My mind goes back to a wonderfully relaxing day spent sailing out from Harbourtown on Hilton Head in the 80's. My sympathy to the entire family. Tunky was a delightful lady.

Dick, Ted and all the family,
We share the grief of South Carolina over the death of Tunkey. We were blessed to have known her. John has always said that she was wonderful to him during the years when Ted and John were friends. We benefitted from her many contributions to South Carolina as First Lady and just a private citizen. You are in our prayers. May God comfort you in your loss.

Dick, Ed and families, Tunky will be missed and remembered so fondly by all of us who were fortunate to have known her. I am so sorry for your loss of such a wonderful person. She will be a lasting inspiration to your large community of friends.

We were so sorry to hear of your loss. The thoughts of many are with you at this time of sorrow.

Our thoughts and Prayers are with you during this difficult time,

I am so sorry for your lose. She was a very special lady.

Our thoughts and prayers are with you in your time of grief. May your memories bring you comfort.

So sorry for your loss. She was a special lady.

Richard Mackey

Gov. Riley and Family

I was deeply saddened to learn of your loss. My condolences to you and your family. May God be with you and guide you during the time of loss.

Dear Dick,My family and I express sincere sympathy at Tunky's passing.  She was a wonderful example to all who knew her.  You both have meant much to South Carolina and to the entire nation.  We pray for God's love and comfort to surround you and for cherished memories to buoy your spirit.Charles and Jo Rabon

Dear Dick,

Frank sent me the sad news. I'm in Bonita Springs, FL and other than this E-machine don't know much about what's going on anywhere. You have my deepest sympathy, for I know what a wonderful soulmate that Tunky was to you. You were certainly blest and I'm sure you as well as others will miss her dearly.
I'm so sorry that my heart felt sympathy is tardy. Best of luck and health to you and the children.

Your old comrade in arms and life-long friend,

Cope

Dear Family
May you find comfort and inner peace, at this time of grief. Also by taking to heart 1 Peter 5:7 which states: "Throw all your anxiety on him, because he Cares For You." I know this is a very difficut time, and ANN "Tunky" will be greatly missed, but if you have faith in God, he can give you the strength to endure.
My Deepest Sympathy

Dick...From good friends past, our sincere regrets.....she was a wonderful first lady and our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.

Jack and Rosemary Curcio
(Mack Trucks, Inc. Retired)

To Secretary Richard Riley and the Family of Ann Yarborough Riley:

On behalf of the members and staff of the National Education Association, I would like to offer my deepest sympathy on the passing of Ann “Tunky” Yarborough Riley.

Mrs. Riley lived an exemplary life of dedication to education and her community. As the chair of the Citizens for Participation Task Force, Mrs. Riley devoted countless hours mobilizing and encouraging South Carolina residents to volunteer in schools. She also played an instrumental role in the passage of landmark education legislation—the Education Improvement Act of 1984.

Her leadership, acts, and support of education at the local, state, and national levels will long be remembered. The public education community is saddened to lose such a loyal and committed friend.

Please accept my sincerest condolences for your loss.

Sincerely,

Reg Weaver
President

Ted Riley and Family,
You are on my prayer list. I hope each of you can find comfort and peace in your hearts during this time.

Lindsay Davis

To the Riley Family,

My families prayers are with you at this time of loss. I had the pleasure of meeting Mrs. Riley years ago. She was very charming and made me feel very comfortable in the surroundings I found myself in.

Dear Family,
We were so sorry to hear of Tunky's passing. She was a wonderful woman and champion of public education. What a wonderful life she lived, and what a wonderful legacy she leaves us!

We deeply regret your great loss. You are both loved by all of our family.

To the Riley family,
My sincere sympathy to you all at this time.
Tunky was a wonderful mother wife and role model for many women of South Carolina. As an educator of 27 years in S.C., I appreciate all that the Riley family has done for education in South Carolina. She will be missed by all.
My prayers are with you .

We were so very sorry to learn of Mrs. Riley's death. You all are in our prayers.

As one who met Mrs. Riley on several public occasions, I vividly recall her gracious and dignified countenance, befitting a lady of her stature.

She was, above all, a compassionate woman who was devoted to her husband, family, and the people of South Carolina and who discharged her public responsibilities with charm, humor and grace.

I extend my deepest sympathy to Mr. Riley and the members of his family in the loss of a beloved and kind lady. She will be deeply missed by all.

May God's Grace and Mercy abide with all of you.

Governor Riley & Family,
Please accept my sincere sympathy for the loss of your lovely wife/mother. Please find comfort in knowing that she was a child of the king.

I am so sorry to learn of your loss. Your wife presented herself as a beautiful person and as a child of God. May your family find comfort in the way "Tunky" lived her life.

My heart felt sympathy goes out to your family.

Sorry for your lost. She was a wonderful lady.

May God Bless you and your family you are great leaders for S,C,

My thoughts and prayers are with all of you.

Our thoughts and prayers to the Riley family. May "God" continue to bless and comfort you in your time of need.

To the Riley family,

As a South Carolinian, I express my heartfelt sympathies to your family during this time. As an educator, I express my heartfelt gratitude for a lifetime.

Dear Dick, We were sorry to read in yesterday's paper that Tunky had passed away. We are thinking of you and your familly and I will keep you in my prayers. We have fond memories of you both. Marillyn Buist

Our thoughts and Prayers go out to both the Yarborough and the Riley families. "Tunky" was always at Dick's right hand , and now she is at God's Right Hand.
Chin up Dick, the two of you will be together again!
God Bless and Keep both families in this time of their loss!

My condolences to the entire Riley family. My thoughts are with you during this time of loss-

Dear Governor Riley:
This message is to express to you and your family my heartfelt sympathy in the loss of your dear wife. It is a great loss. I share in your experience. My prayer is that the Almighty God will give you the strength needed doing this difficult time.

Dear Ted, Hubert, and Ann,
I must echo my Dad's sentiments and let you know how much it meant to have known your Mom. Cherish the memories and may God grant you the courage and strength to come through this difficult time. My family's love goes out to you all as well.

Dear Dick and Family,
Please know that you are all in our thoughts and prayers. We will cherish the memories of you and Tunky. Our love to all of you.

Dear Dick: Harold and I were so very saddened to learn of Tunky's death. Please know our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family at this time. We love you and wish we could be with you. Jackie Jacobs.

Dear Family and Friends of Mrs. Riley,

My sincere condolences. Ann was special, and I know she'll be terribly missed. May God bless you with His solace in the days and years to come.

It has been a pleasure to work for you and to be your friend over the years. It was also my pleasure to escort Tunky to Lexington, South Carolina, for a reception when you were running for Governor. She was truly a southern lady and influenced many people. Our prayers are with you in this difficult time. May God bless you.

Dear Dick and family,
We are thinking of you today and sending you our best love. We share your loss and will keep you all in our prayers.
Kay and Eddie Floyd

To the Riley and Yarborough Families:
Our prayers are with you in this time of need. Mrs. Riley was the perfect compliment to a wonderful Southern Gentleman. As a team, they touched the lives of so many people and truly made a difference in our state as well as the nation. Her initiatives in education and other areas will continue to have far reaching effects for years to come. She will be missed but never forgotten.

Dear Dick,
Speaking for all the out of state Riley cousins, we want to express our deepest sympathy to you and your family.

Governor Riley,
My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. I am honored to have known and worked with you and Mrs. Riley. I know you must feel lost without her but richly blessed to have been her husband and constant companion for so many years.
Love & prayers,

Dear Gov. Riley,

We are so deeply saddened by Tunky's death. We hold you and your family in our thoughts and prayers. Our fondness of Tunky, our travels and the memories of all of our times together will live in our hearts forever.

Coe and Hank Hankinson

Governor Riley: My heart hurts for you and the family. Tunky was a grand South Carolinian, a gracious Southern lady, and one whom we admired greatly. My thoughts and prayers are with all of you.

Dear Riley Family,Sorry to hear of your loss,just know that she is with the lord,and hurts no more.Keeping you in my prayers.

My heart and prayers go out to the Riley family. Mrs. Riley was a gracious and inspiring lady. I applaude all the work she did as our "First Lady".

Governor Riley,
We were so sorry to hear of your loss. Ms. Riley was indeed a special lady whose life made a tremendous difference. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.

Dear Governor Riley, and family,

My sincere thoughts, prayers, and condolenses are with each one of you at this time. May all the happy memories strengthen, and sustain you. God Bless.

My thoughts and prayers are with you in your time of grief. May your memories bring you comfort.

Governor Riley, my prayers and thoughts are with you and your family. God will never leave nor forsake you.

Dear Dick,
I am so sorry to learn of Tunky's death. Your 51-year marriage was an inspiration to all who knew you.
Norman Pearlstine

I am so sorry to hear of this. My thoughts are with you.

Dear Gov. Riley and Family,I had the wonderful priviledge of hosting a First Ladies Cookbook benefit and book signing at my home in Hartsville during the early 80,s.I was so honored to have Tunky Riley come to my home.She was such a gracious and REAL lady.She signed cookbooks for hours and when her driver told her that they needed to get ready to leave ,she said that she was not leaving until she walked through my home. She saw the shelves with my children,s "art",little cotton snow men and hand made clay figures.She paused and said that these precious things are what make a house a home.I will always remember that day.Now, I have "art" and little hand made treasures of my grandchildren on those same shelves.We were so blessed to have had this special LADY in our lives.

Anna Williams
Hartsville,S.C.

Dick and family,

My thoughts and prayers are with you in your time of profound personal loss. I remember both Tunky and you with great affection and joy. Our wonderful Rome experience often comes to mind as well as the delightful dinner party when you and Tunky surprised Lee and Mary with my presence.

Tunky was a truly noble woman, gracious, welcoming and a good and faithful servant of God's people.

May the Lord Jesus Christ gather her to himself in the hope of the resurrection in the eternal kingdom. May God's perptual light shine upon her and may He sustain each of youl in the coming days.

We deeply regret the loss of Mrs. Riley. She has been and will continue to be an inspiration to us as a wife, mother and educator. Her presence will truly be missed.

John and Mary Barber Kirkland

My deepest sympathy to the Riley family, even though I never met Mrs. Riley I have always admired her devotion to others.

In My Pocket

I have memories in my pocket.
They rattle among the change.

My memories of you are treasures I carry wherever I go.

They are stored in bits and pieces, parts of a beautiful whole
They give me comfort when I think I am alone.

Yes, I have memories in my pocket, like so much other stuff I keep there.

But of all the treasures I have, it’s the memories of you that are the most precious.

Tunky was an true inspiration, always gracious, kind, and compassionate. My thoughts and prayers are with all of you at this time of great loss.

Governor Riley, my thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. South Carolinians share in your loss of such a kind, caring and compassionate woman.

I will always treasure the memory of giving your wife a tomato plant during a campaign event at my parents' home in Spartanburg. She never forgot that small token from a young supporter and reminded me of the plant almost every time I saw her. Just one of many people who were fortunate enough to know her gentle ways.

Tunky was always a LADY with a ready smile and a graceful touch. She is already missed.

I honor her memory and pray for her close knit family. What wonderful role models her life and life partner demonstated to SC and the nation.

Even though I did not know you personally, I heard of all the great work that you and your husband, did for our state, especially in the education department. We here on Earth will miss you greatly, but we know that there will be a time that we can all be together again to rejoice with the Lord. God bless you and enjoy your life in Heaven. We shall meet one day soon. God bless.

mr.riley, you and your family are in my heart and prayers. i know you will miss her so much but she will always be with you in your heart and soul and you will see her again one day. god will take care of her for you until then. may god be with you and help you through this sad time. from a friend

Our thoughts and prayers are with you at this difficult time.

Sincerely,

David,Lynn, and Kandace Rosser
Barbara McLaughlin Rosser and Maxine McLaughlin Turnage

Jane and I, and our family send our thoughts and prayers to the Riley family. Tunky Riley was all the good things that one would expect of a wife, Mother, and a friend. She was a great first lady for South Carolina!

I, Angela Washington Ruff went to school with "Ted", at Dreher, and graduated with him in1984,my family and I would like to extend our condolences to Ted, former Gov.Riley , and the Riley family, and may God richly put his loving arms around each of you in your time of need.

Our prayers and concerns for you, "Dick" during these sorrowful moments. We remember seeing you both at Edisto Beach last Summer.
Bernett & Jane Raines (FU'54) Waitt

I, Angela Washington Ruff went to school with Ted Riley and also graduated with him in 1984, my family and I wish to extend our condolences to Ted, former Gov.Riley , and the Riley Family,May
God bless each and everyone of you.

Dear Dick -
Dwight and I were so very sorry to hear about Tunky's passing. We recently saw Rachel Dean and she told of us Tunky's illness. Dwight asked Rachel to speak to the League of Women Voters here at Pawleys, and we are so grateful for your continued leadership in education.
Tunky was such a darling girl and lady and I also remember how helpful she was to my friend Johanna Wright Pyle during her illness. I wish you godspeed and courage at this difficult time in your life.
Would love to see you and renew our kinship and friendship (is it 2nd cousins??). We also have a wonderful dog named Riley.
With fondest regards,

she was a great person i have fond memories working with her at the gov manison

Tunky Riley will always be my idea of the perfect First Lady. We'll all miss her.

During your most difficult time, I pray that God will grant the added strength.

YOU AND YOUR FAMILY ARE IN OUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS DURING YOU TIMES OF LOSS AND GREIF

Oh how South Carolina will miss her!! Tunky was such an inspiration to all of us. What a lovely first lady she was--so warm, genuine, down-to-earth and fun loving. My heart goes out to all the family. We will keep you in our thoughts and prayers.

Tunky was a great, gracious, unpretentious lady and the perfect partner to Dick. We're saddened at her passing but appreciate her life.

Tunky,

You will be missed and always loved.

I'm so sorry for your loss. Tunky will be missed

SORRY FOR YOUR LOST. WILL BE IN MY PLAYERS.

Tunky's passing is a huge loss for our state.

She was truly a great lady of historic proportions. She made many important contributions to our state - but above all she was wonderful, compasionate and generous human being. Our state, nation and the world are a better place for what she has done.

My condolences to your family. May you feel the loving arms of God around you in the days ahead.

I went to High School with Ted, I would like to express my sympathy to him and all of the Riley family.

With my deepest sympathy in the lost of your wife. I will keep you and your family in my prayers. Mrs. Riley is resting with the Lord and all His love.