Patsy “Pat” Ann Estes Durgin
Patsy “Pat” Ann Estes Durgin lived the kind of life that–were it a performance–the audience would demand an encore. Pat, 89, graduated to heaven on Friday, Feb. 6, 2026. Born in Hillsborough County, Fla. on Jan. 26, 1937; parents, Clifton and Evelyn raised their only child in Waldo, Fla. During her childhood, Pat visited the local book mobile. Her book choices stirred her intelligence and imagination, kindling her dream to visit large cities and view theatrical shows.
A straight-A student, Pat skipped the fourth grade maintaining academic excellence throughout her school years. She attended Waldo High School, where she was a cheerleader, and later graduated from Gainesville High School in 1954. She walked to the closest Methodist church to attend services. In 1954, she met Thomas “Tom” Lancaster Durgin at Waldo Methodist Church. Tom attended the University of Florida, and completed an internship in forestry school. Waldo, a part of Alachua County, was a part of his territory. Pat married Tom–the love of her life–on June 6, 1954.
Pat and Tom started their life together in Monroe, NC where she started acting in local theater. While Tom performed in one play, he joined the audience supporting Pat throughout all of her performances. Pat started a lifetime hobby of collecting play bills, and placing them in photo albums. They were also active in Central United Methodist Church. Their first daughter was born in 1957. Their second daughter followed in 1960.
In 1962, Pat and Tom moved to Florence, SC. While Pat raised the girls, she also taught Sunday School. With a beautiful voice, Pat sang in the church choir. She directed Cinderella at Florence Little Theater.
When the family moved to Columbia, SC in 1965, Pat gave birth to their youngest daughter. She dedicated herself to raising her family while Tom sold safety equipment.
Pat and Tom joined Virginia Wingard United Methodist Church, and it remained Pat’s church home for the rest of her independent life. She sang with the church choir, and directed a children’s choir. Pat also shared her musical gifts with the Columbia Choral Society. She became more socially active in different activities, including the St. Andrew’s Women’s Club.
She also expanded her joy of stage drama at Town Theater in Columbia. Aunt Eller in Oklahoma became one of her most memorable roles. She enjoyed gaining everyone’s attention on stage and in the audience when she shot off a cap gun as part of her role. Her daughters joined her in plays at Town Theater through which Pat, Tom, and their daughters built lifelong friendships. After many years of performances, Tom and Pat had a brick with their names at Town Theater.
While Pat stayed home, she also expanded her talents and education. She taught herself French, and went beyond acting with her artistic abilities. She educated herself in how to sew, cook, and draw. When Lynn was a little girl, Pat painted her by a pond with ducks. Later, Pat would draw portraits of her first two great grandchildren.
Known for her cooking, Pat filled Tom’s, the girls,’ and her grandchildren’s stomachs with comfort food. It did not matter if a child or grandchild was out past curfew, she made them a grilled cheese when they came home. Pat spread mayonnaise and butter on every part of the bread to ensure each part was buttery.
Her sons-in-law attempted to sneak her hot ham and cheese rolls on the way to Clemson games every autumn. Pat and Tom became IPTAY members with Clemson University, and had regular season tickets and a parking spot for decades. The ham-and-cheese biscuits became a part of the collection.
Pat and Tom traveled with friends to Hawaii, Clemson, and University of South Carolina games. Sometimes they attended both Clemson and USC games on the same day. But Pat and Tom always remained loyal Tiger fans.
Pat also traveled to Egypt with Carolina Alive. She shared pictures with her daughters and grandchildren of her riding the camels.
When her daughters grew up, Pat attended classes on Saturdays at USC and became a secretary at Eau Claire High School. Then she spent the rest of her career working as a bookkeeper at Columbia High School. She was well-respected and adored by co-workers, who became her friends. She set up her office with elephants. The first elephants had been given to her by her mother-in-law, Hallie Durgin, and friends and family started giving them as gifts. Each time someone walked into her office, they saw gold, bejeweled, and bronze elephants.
Tom and Pat raised cocker spaniels beginning in 1955. A few of their cocker spaniels included: Terry, Tippy, Tina, Tiger, and Candy. Years after Tom died in 1996, Pat adopted one more cocker spaniel named Summer. This was her favorite and most beloved dog.
By the time Pat and Tom welcomed their four oldest grandchildren, they hosted a July 4th pool party every summer. The sons-in-law competed with their cannon balls, and Tom cooked on the grill. Family and friends brought their children. Together, Pat and Tom created some of the happiest summer memories for their daughters, grandchildren, and friends.
But in 1996, Pat faced one of the greatest tragedies of her life. Tom suffered from a stroke, and went to the hospital. During this time, Pat threw herself into work. She did all of his chores outside from mowing the lawn and cleaning the pool. Pat also continued to perform in her final play at Town Theater, as she oversaw all of Tom’s medical care. Tom died unexpectedly in November 1996.
For thirty years, Pat never once forgot her husband. She spoke of him–telling his stories and how much she missed him.
Pat moved to Irmo where she would live until 2024. Pat enjoyed different hobbies, including: gardening, crossword puzzles, Sudoku, and reading. During her retirement, she joined a Dominoes group of women with whom she played games and went out to lunch. One of her favorite places to eat included Lizard’s Thicket.
In 2014, Pat had help in finding her biological family. Adopted as a child, Pat learned the identity of her birth mother.
As Pat’s health changed, she lived with her oldest daughter, Lynn, and her family for the final year of life. Lynn became Pat’s caretaker. Pat would want to be remembered for the life she lived, and not how she left the world. Throughout her life, she showed her loved ones what it meant to celebrate, deliver joy; and most importantly, live.
Pat will be remembered by her daughters, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.
Memorials may be made to the Rhame Education Fund Care of Virginia Wingard Memorial United Methodist Church 1500 Broad River Rd., Columbia, SC 29210, or the Larry Kearse Education Fund care of Columbia High School Westchester Drive, Columbia, SC 29210.
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