Marcia Duffy Obituary
DUFFY, Marcia COLUMBIA - Marcia Tinkham Duffy died peacefully at home October 18, 2006 after a long illness. A memorial service will be held at Rutledge Chapel, USC campus Saturday at 2 p.m. Mrs. Duffy was born in New Bedford, Massachusetts on February 21, 1936. She was the daughter of the late Kathryn Fletcher Tinkham Powell and Albert Daniel Tinkham. She was active in the S.C. Democratic Party for many years, serving as Committeewoman on the Democratic National Committee, Vice Chairwoman of the South Carolina Democratic Party, Executive Director and Treasurer of the party, and president of the Democratic Women's Council of S.C. She was a delegate to several national Democratic conventions. She was active in many political campaigns, including those of Earle Morris, Eston Marchant, and Phil Lader. She was the campaign director for the movement to pass the Equal Rights Amendment in South Carolina. In her early career in Beaufort, SC, she worked as a journalist for the Beaufort Gazette, and was active over the years in the state and county mental health associations, the Campaign for Human Development, the United Fund, Council on Human Relations and the City of Columbia Election Commission. She gave generously to many charities, including many organizations dedicated to protecting children and animals. She was a mentor to many young Democrats including some who are prominent in government today. Survivors include her husband of 47 years, John Joseph Duffy; children, Katharine Duffy Thomas, John Joseph Duffy, Jr., and Eleanor Duffy Cleary; children-in-law, Robert J. Thomas, Jr., William Edmiston, and Vivian Paul Cleary; grandchildren, Robert J. Thomas, III, Joseph Duffy Thomas, Mark Allen Thomas, and Roslyn Morgan Cleary; sister and brother-in-law, Eleanor Tinkham and Cecil Creech; brother and sister-in-law, A. D. and Rebecca Tinkham; sisters and brothers-in-law, Ann Duffy Mitchum, Patty Duffy and Freddy DiBiase, and Barbara Duffy, and numerous nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by brothers-in-law, Msgr. Thomas R. Duffy, William Mitchum and Jeremiah Duffy. The family would like to thank Palmetto Hospice, Palmetto Richland Cancer Center, SC Oncology Associates, and all of the doctors, nurses, aides, and other professionals who made Mrs. Duffy's last days more comfortable. They would especially like to thank Roslyn Lufkin Clark for her friendship and help. Memorials may be made to the S.C. Democratic Party, P.O. Box 5965, Columbia, SC 29250, the Women's Studies Program at USC, Columbia, SC 29208, or to the Christian Children's Fund, 2821 Emerywoods Place, Richmond, Va. 23261. Visit our guestbook at www.charleston.net/deaths.
Published by Charleston Post & Courier on Oct. 20, 2006.