Cathy Dinkins Obituary

Cathy Walker Dinkins Beaufort, sc - Cathy Walker Dinkins, 68, of Beaufort and beloved wife of Claude Nash Dinkins, Sr., passed into eternal life on February 8th, 2018, after a long battle with lung cancer. Born in Sumter, she was a daughter of the late Dr. and Mrs. Robert Murdoch Walker, Sr. Mrs. Dinkins graduated from Edmunds High School in 1967, earned her Bachelor of Science from Winthrop College in 1971 and later received her Master of Education from the University of Cambridge in Boston. Mrs. Dinkins was a member of, and married in, the Church of the Holy Comforter in Sumter where her grandfather served as a Rector for 32 years. After moving to Beaufort in 1977, she joined St. Helena's Episcopal Church where she served in so many capacities and ministries over the years, including as a President of the ECW; Leader of the EYC both at the local and Diocese level; Sunday School and Confirmation teacher; Diocesan Convention Hospitality Team; member of the Tour of Homes, Annual Parish Bazaar, and Bereavement Committees, and member of the Vestry, Chair of Mission & Outreach. Cathy was synonymous with the heart and soul of St. Helena's Parish for 40 years. Mrs. Dinkins was also well known throughout Northern Beaufort County as an educator in both the private and public schools including years spent teaching at Beaufort County School for Exceptional Children, Beaufort Academy, Broad River Elementary, Lady's Island Middle School and Robert Smalls Middle School as well as private tutoring. She received accolades in the form of Teacher of the Year (BRES), Chair of Creative Writing (RSMS), and was a long-standing member of Delta Kappa Gamma. After her retirement in 2007, she ran the YMCA after-school program earning the award of Volunteer of the Year, was the Recreation Director at The Helena House and was an American Red Cross Disaster Services volunteer. Most recently, Cathy served on the founding Board of Governors of the Holy Trinity Classical Christian School, having taught some of the first students at its predecessor Trinity Classical Academy. Cathy was a firecracker, bringing passion to everything she did. She was a Dachshund lover, gardener, entertainer, mom, wife, grandmother and friend. She also loved to help people - she naturally lent a helping hand or offered up her guest room or made someone new to Beaufort feel welcome. She loved to read, to travel - the Keys, Canada, Germany, Israel, Norway, England, Mallorca, Spain, France, Austria, Italy, Maine, Connecticut, Montana, Arizona, Nevada, California, Massachusetts, Vermont, Utah, Blue Ridge Mountains, Tennessee, Louisiana and Florida just to name a few - and to entertain. Cathy was the life of the party and she had a true gift of humor - she made people laugh. She loved summertime in the river, boat-booze cruises, week vacations at the beach, feeling the sand dollars under her feet and working on her tan. She held annual locally-famous Water Festival and Christmas parties. She was loved dearly and will be sorely missed by so many. She not only touched people, she was unforgettable. Surviving are her husband of 46 years, Claude Nash Dinkins, Sr.; and her son, Claude "Chip" Nash Dinkins, Jr., and his wife, Bradi, all of Beaufort; her daughter, Sarah Dinkins Antor, and her husband, Cornelius, of Munich, Germany; her sister, Sue Griffin; and her brother, Johnny Walker, and his wife, Hazel, all of Sumter; five granddaughters, Emma Grace and Olivia Clare Dinkins; Eleanor Walker, Penelope Helena and Isabella Olivia Antor; four nieces and three nephews. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her brother, Robert Murdoch Walker, Jr., of Sumter. The family would like to extend special thanks to the staff and caregivers at NHC Healthcare Bluffton. The family will receive friends on Sunday, February 11th, from four until six o'clock at Copeland Funeral Service - One Copeland Drive. The funeral service will be held at two o'clock Monday, February 12th, in The Parish Church of St. Helena conducted by The Reverend Shay Gaillard. Committal will be in the church cemetery. Memorials may be made to Friends of Caroline Hospice, 1110 13th Street, Port Royal, SC 29935 or online at www.friendsofcarolinehospicesc.com and to The Parish Church of St. Helena for Mission & Outreach, PO Box 1043, Beaufort, SC 29901 or online at www.sthelena1712.org/give. Please share your thoughts and stories about Cathy by visiting www.copelandfuneralservice.com. Copeland Funeral Service is in charge of arrangements. Visit our guestbook at www.legacy.com/obituaries/ charleston