Life became drastically different when Nancy Moore Thurmond was taken from the family, Paul Thurmond said. The writer asked the official to give "prompt attention and assistance in scheduling this appointment" for Oldham. Ambassador to the United Nations Jeane Kirkpatrick, establishment Democrats, even Barbara Walters came. EDGEFIELD, SC - JULY 1: Nancy Moore Thurmond, the widow of former Sen. Strom Thurmond, places a white rose on his casket at the conclusion of the burial service at the Willowbrook Cemetery July 1, 2003 in Edgefield, South Carolina. "We were very, very active before," she says, "but I guess by virtue of the fact that we were in the minority, we were less visible. [14], In the aftermath of the shooting at the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal church in Charleston, in which nine people including Thurmond's colleague Clementa Pinckney were killed, Thurmond called for the Confederate flag to be permanently removed from the grounds of the State House in July 2015. Many wondered why a 22-year-old former beauty queen would marry a 66-year-old senatorial institution. She had two brief lines, and for the majority of her time on screen, she was photographed either obscured or with her back . "Nancy, in her usual, thoughtful way," said Peatsy Hollings, wife of Sen. Ernest Hollings (D-S.C.), "has invited all of Washington.". Nancy Thurmond, a 49-year-old former Miss South Carolina, met the senator as a college intern at his Washington office in 1966. Erny and Thurmond's 25 other staff members form a famously tight-lipped team headed by R.J. "Duke" Short, Thurmond's chief of staff for 27 years. They separated in 1991 after 22 years of marriage. Nancy Thurmond acknowledged her addiction . "You know, 'cause they're always climbing into bed with us.". "I can't remember what was so hysterical, but the children were making Christmas cookies and even that was organized. Stories of spouse problems "are legion in Washington," said Ornstein, the AEI scholar. And one friend, asking for anonymity, reasons: "With her husband as president pro tem of the Senate, there are so many opportunities to take advantage of. The letter concluded, "If we can be of further help, please call Nancy and me at home, not at the office, concerning this matter. They often rubbed elbows with Supreme Court justices, dignitaries from around the country as well as a number of sitting presidents, Paul Thurmond said. Are you sure that you want to delete this memorial? "What if I had done something different to get her to come to Aiken?". She is wary of reporters, not least because she is often described as cotton candy. Keep reading with unlimited digital access. she'd make an ideal public servant -- senator, governor, whatever. Wife of Strom Thurmond, Governor, U.S. She was black and poor. The memo asked that Nancy Thurmond's social companion be appointed to a position in the Bush administration. Thurmond always has relied a great deal on his staff but more so in recent years. She was 5th in her class. Paul was born to Nancy (ne Moore) and Strom Thurmond on January 9, 1976, the couple's fourth child. "When she married Strom Thurmond, she married a whole lot more than Strom Thurmond. They hiked in places like Big Bend, the Rocky Mountains, and the Smokey Mountains, and traveled Europe and the U.S. visiting friends and family along the way. Funeral Mass: Tuesday, Feb. 14 10:30 a.m., Holy Family Catholic Church, Missouri City, Texas. . Koenig served one year of a two-and-a-half-year sentence for involuntary manslaughter. Nancy Ellen Gregorcyk Thurmond, age 71, of Missouri City passed away peacefully in her sleep on Friday, February 10, 2023 after a courageous yearlong battle with breast cancer. He lived blocks away and talked to the police, who waited almost two hours before administering a blood alcohol test, according to reports. She had trouble not wanting everyone to like her because she was a beauty queen. (His first wife, Jean, died in 1960.) if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'uvaldeleadernews_com-banner-1','ezslot_9',126,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-uvaldeleadernews_com-banner-1-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'uvaldeleadernews_com-banner-1','ezslot_10',126,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-uvaldeleadernews_com-banner-1-0_1'); .banner-1-multi-126{border:none !important;display:block !important;float:none !important;line-height:0px;margin-bottom:7px !important;margin-left:auto !important;margin-right:auto !important;margin-top:7px !important;max-width:100% !important;min-height:250px;padding:0;text-align:center !important;}, She watched all four grandchildren before they were school age and raised a basketball coach, a civil engineer, a librarian, an Army officer, a mechanic, a manager, bakers, competitive dancers, athletes, state champion, D1 & D2 athletes, salutatorian, cum laude and magna cum laude college graduates, a Mountaineer, and four Aggies. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. Democratic Lt. Gov. But then he adds: "A lot of people are asking me to run again, so I'll have to consider that."). Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Thurmond and Nancy Moore, serving as Miss South Carolina, are shown in this 1966 file photo. "She was the easiest of the three," says her mother. She spent most of her life in Aiken, South Carolina. She watched all four grandchildren before they were school age and raised a basketball coach, a civil engineer, a librarian, an Army officer, a mechanic, a manager, bakers, competitive dancers, athletes, state champion, D1 & D2 athletes, salutatorian, cum laude and magna cum laude college graduates, a Mountaineer, and four Aggies. . Two more parties, and she'll be home. The former Miss South Carolina and the senator were married for 36 years. ", (Strom Thurmond's Senate seat is up in 1984. "It's a great day . Well, the reaction of both of them was not anger. He sat down there and said things that other people thought -- 'How can you do that with him?' James was kidded by at least three mayors in his city managerial career that he owed keeping his job to Nancy because she was so well known and liked in the community. Nancy was born March 27, 1951, in Refugio, Texas, to Arthur Joseph Gregorcyk and Margaret Hannah Rea Gregorcyk. 2023 SCI SHARED RESOURCES, LLC. to 'What would she have been like at age 47?' ", Nancy Thurmond went on to Duke University, took a leave to spend a year touring the state as Miss South Carolina 1965, then returned to finish. Nancy Thurmond now devotes her time to . http://democracynow.org - The Confederate battle flag that has flown on the South Carolina state House grounds for more than 50 years comes down today. (renews at {{format_dollars}}{{start_price}}{{format_cents}}/month + tax). Pettus, who is a friend, is unpaid by Thurmond except for thank-you notes and the contacts she acknowledges she makes through Nancy. Arizona, U.S., Obituary Index to Arizona Newspapers, 1993-1994. "We are no different than anyone else who has loved and lost a family member," wrote Julie Thurmond Whitmer in an email. Nancy Ellen Gregorcyk Thurmond, 71, of Missouri City passed away peacefully in her sleep Friday, Feb. 10 after a courageous year-long battle with breast cancer. It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Nancy E. Gregorcyk Thurmond of Missouri City, Texas, born in Refugio, Texas, who passed away on February 10, 2023, at the age of 71, leaving to mourn family and friends. You are nearing the transfer limit for memorials managed by Find a Grave. "And then, over time, you get into a time of forgiveness. Senator Thurmond's daughter killed. A unique and lasting tribute for a loved one. . And she's been open about her personal struggles, specifically being charged with drunken driving and speeding three years after her daughter's death. "That makes a big difference." "AAAAAHHHHHH! The importance of saying "I love you" during COVID-19, Effective ways of dealing with the grieving process, Solutions to show your sympathy safely during the Covid-19 pandemic. Background - After Tracey Thurman was attacked, stabbed, and nearly killed by her husband on June 10, 1983, a subsequent civil lawsuit judged that the local . Facebook gives people the power. Are you sure that you want to report this flower to administrators as offensive or abusive? He was white and rich. Tom McCain regularly met with Thurmond to discuss Edgefield problems. Nancy Thurmond didn't want her daughter on the road. She loved doing taxes and helping her kids navigate ever changing college degree plans. "She knows more people in the city of Washington, and does more good than anybody else. Nancy Thurmond has been an enigma ever since she came to town as the beautiful bride of Republican Sen. Strom Thurmond, crusty South Carolina legend. Strom Thurmond : biography December 5, 1902 - June 26, 2003 He married his second wife, Nancy Janice Moore (born 1946), Miss South Carolina of 1965, on December 22, 1968. "The office morale is shot anytime she's in town," a close friend of the senator said. His 48 years as a senator, a record at the . if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'uvaldeleadernews_com-medrectangle-4','ezslot_2',124,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-uvaldeleadernews_com-medrectangle-4-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'uvaldeleadernews_com-medrectangle-4','ezslot_3',124,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-uvaldeleadernews_com-medrectangle-4-0_1'); .medrectangle-4-multi-124{border:none !important;display:block !important;float:none !important;line-height:0px;margin-bottom:7px !important;margin-left:auto !important;margin-right:auto !important;margin-top:7px !important;max-width:100% !important;min-height:250px;padding:0;text-align:center !important;}, She was a housewife and stay at home mom, worked at H&R Block in Cleveland, as a columnist for the Cleveland Journal, and at Southwest Texas Junior College in Uvalde where she worked her way up from grading typing papers to public information officer and editor and contest coordinator for the Palms Leaf and annual Creative Arts Contest . Thurmond endorsed Dole. Harry Dent, one of Thurmond's early advisers in Washington, expressed concerns about the recent turn of events involving Nancy Thurmond. ", This means nothing to the Washington watcher, especially when Strom Thurmond says: "I've encouraged her, at some point in her life, to get interested in politics . Nancy Moore, Strom Jr., Julie and Paul were born within five years of each other. "I'm just sad the whole family is going through this. Would you like to offer Nancy E. Gregorcyk Thurmonds loved ones a condolence message? Nancy was born on March 27, 1951, in Refugio, Texas to Arthur Joseph Gregorcyk and Margaret Hannah Rea Gregorcyk. Failed to report flower. To add a flower, click the Leave a Flower button. (https://pushpay.com/g/holyfamilychurchmissouri). Nancy is here, changed into black silky culottes for her evening activities. On April 13, 1993, her firstborn daughter and namesake, Nancy Moore Thurmond, was considering a trip from . 41 primary runoff Live5News.com | Charleston, SC | News, Weather, Sports", "Sen. Thurmond calls for banner's removal", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Paul_Thurmond&oldid=1139339946, Republican Party South Carolina state senators, Vanderbilt Commodores men's tennis players, University of South Carolina School of Law alumni, Pages containing links to subscription-only content, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 14 February 2023, at 16:42. Nancy graduated Magna Cum Laude from Sul Ross State University in December 1988 with a BBA, fulfilling a promise to her dad 19 years prior when she married immediately upon graduating from high school. By No animated GIFs, photos with additional graphics (borders, embellishments. based on information from your browser. Which memorial do you think is a duplicate of Nancy Thurmond (7656673)? He was from nearby Edgefield. Mike Harrington: His team looks good, even without Alex Tuch. Many say she's merely performing her extensive duties as wife of Strom, the new chairman of the Judiciary Committee and president pro tempore of the Senate. Your Scrapbook is currently empty. Thurmond takes a seat, then addresses the group. "The lady who hit Nancy Moore made a tragic mistake, but nothing will bring our daughter back," Nancy Thurmond said. On her head was a closefitting fur cap that she wore through the evening, a dramatic -- if unusual -- cover for her blondish-brown curls. Nancy liked Elizabeth Dole. Nancy graduated Magna Cum Laude from Sul Ross State University in December 1988 with a BBA, fulfilling a promise to her dad 19 years prior when she married immediately upon graduating from high school. Today she is slimmer, dressing carefully in pretty, flattering suits and ruffled blouses. You can always change this later in your Account settings. For example, Millie Dorn was a fixture in husband Bryan Dorn's Washington office through his 13 terms as a S.C. congressman. It's basically the same involvement we've always had. Joe Biden to speak at John McCain memorial 15 years after eulogizing Strom Thurmond. Becoming a Find a Grave member is fast, easy and FREE. Thanks for your help! He was a 1923 graduate of Clemson College, and served as the local school superintendent before becoming his state's Senator in 1932 and the 103rd Governor of South Carolina in 1946. "The things that are the stuff of human life," says a former South Carolina political opponent, "like going to a movie and crying, or a father sitting in a room reading the newspaper, doing nothing, not making political phone calls, not doing push-ups . Strom Thurmond marveled that Walter Annenberg, 71, was able to keep up with his wife, 61. I can't be fooled that well. A native of Aiken, South Carolina, Paul Thurmond graduated from Aiken High School . On the night of the tragedy, she carried a birthday note from her parents, according to media reports at the time. "A lot of her activities are misinterpreted," Pettus says. . Nancy Moore does this in the back seat, then pours the punch for the girls. Sul Ross State University Uvalde Campus: an endowment will be set up soon for Nancy. "Drink it fast!" Add to your scrapbook. But Tim Scott, South Carolina's junior senator, has been making moves that seem to put him on the verge of formalizing his own 2024 bid. A superb mother and nurse journeyed from her earthly life on May 6 th, National Nurses Day.Anne Catherine "Nancy" (O'Hare) Thurmond was born in Anaconda, MT on February 28 th, 1936 to Irish immigrants Stephen and Mary (Delappe) O'Hare.A child of the depression, Anne grew up with her older brother Stephen in the family home on East Commercial Street. Strom Thurmond, who died at 100 in 2003, never was outspoken about personal matters, especially the death of his daughter, said Neal Thigpen, a longtime Republican Party organizer. Please reset your password. Reviews. ). She was especially proud of being called a SOW at the reunions because she was James Same Original Wife. "She used her Miss South Carolina office as an entree to political people, not an entree to performing . Nancy Moore met the much-older Strom Thurmond at a country festival when she was 17 and a freshman at Duke University. "It's the way it is," she shrugs. Two years after the wedding, her management skills took a new direction with the arrival of the Thurmonds' first child, Nancy Moore. Nancy Thurmond has her own public relations consultant to handle the large-scale entertaining. "I know the truth, but it is not my place to say anything about it," Townsend said. 280 likes. Cruise Planners will help you discover exciting adventures around the world. The two agreed she would make the hourlong drive early the next morning. Authorize the publication of the original written obituary with the accompanying photo. ", "We love you without end," her father added, signing "Daddy.". The seat was vacated by Glenn F. McConnell, who became Lieutenant Governor of South Carolina. Background - After Tracey Thurman was attacked, stabbed, and nearly killed by her husband on June 10, 1983, a subsequent civil lawsuit judged that the local police had ignored growing signs of domestic violence and had casually dismissed restraining orders and other legal bars to keep Charles \"Buck\" Thurman, Sr. away from his wife. at what age can a child refuse visitation in utah; ventajas y desventajas de la terapia centrada en el cliente; humana otc pharmacy login; kindercare board of directors [1][3] He attended Aiken High School in Aiken, South Carolina, and Vanderbilt University, where he received a scholarship to play tennis. She held numerous positions in various clubs, Woman of the Year in 2003, Rotarys Volunteer of the Year, and Friend of Rotary 2008-2015. In a brief four-sentence response, Thurmond, 88, said, "Nancy's statement speaks for itself. She loved Jesus and was singing praises and praying to him in her final days. She also wrote and produced "Play It Safe," a fingerprinting campaign for children, intended to create a link to a child's true identity in cases of kidnappings. In the meantime, you can select Area of Greatest Need and designate the Uvalde Campus in Memory of Nancy Thurmond in the comment section: Holy Family Catholic Church Burn the Mortgage Fund. Strom Thurmond, who served in the United States Senate for a record 46 years, dies on June 26, 2003. Gover. "Nancy Moore," she says to her daughter as she drives, "now listen to me, honey. Join Facebook to connect with Nancy Thurmond and others you may know. A former staffer, who left last year, says the aged senator "is mentally and physically exhausted when she's there." And I'm telling you, it's worth some kind of gold -- Strom Thurmond was thinking about me on Christmas Eve? You need a Find a Grave account to continue. "I always said she was a better version of me in every way.". ', "I was convinced later, sitting around talking with them, that there was nothing fakey about it. She attends a lunch and private fashion show at the Watergate apartment of designer Frankie Welch, then goes with Trish Lott, wife of Rep. Trent Lott (R-Miss.) She loved Jesus and was singing praises and praying to him in her final days. Comfort the family with flowers or a sympathy gift. "That mind must be going a mile a minute. Before moving to Juliana's current city of Alexandria, VA, Juliana lived in Washington DC and Charleston SC. Then she dropped out of law school and, after arguing about the age difference with her parents and his political aides, married him. "I've never been through anything like that before and I never want to go through anything like that again. The campaign resulted in nearly 20,000 children being fingerprinted, Paul Thurmond said. Then she started slowly covering up, and didn't blurt out what she was thinking. Nancy E. Thurmond Nancy Ellen Gregorcyk Thurmond, 71, of Missouri City passed away peacefully in her sleep Friday, Feb. 10 after a courageous year-long battle with breast cancer. She was awarded $2.3 million. Thurmond was South Carolina's governor from 1947 to 1951 and for a time was the nation's longest-serving U.S. senator, having spent 47 years and five months in the Senate (1954-2003, with a . Reelected with 64.2% of vote. "She really did a fantastic job with it. Last week, Nancy Thurmond re-emerged as a power in Sen. Thurmond's office, insisting that all inquiries about a memo sent to the White House on Thurmond's office stationary be directed to her. She's probably looking to find some kind of media thing. In November, Senator Thurmond remarked to a . Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. Nancy was born March 27, 1951, in Refugio, Texas, to Arthur Joseph Gregorcyk and Margaret Hannah Rea Gregorcyk. Nancy and Strom Thurmond separated in March 1991 after 22 years of marriage and four children. Highest personal regards, Strom Thurmond." If you know of an upcoming event for Nancy E. Gregorcyk Thurmond, please add one. Nancy Thurmond is asserting herself more into U.S. Sen. Strom Thurmond's official duties, and that is causing friction and morale problems with his office staff, sources say. In the meantime, you can select Area of Greatest Need and designate the Uvalde Campus in Memory of Nancy Thurmond in the comment section: (https://www.sulross.edu/giving/), or Holy Family Catholic Church Burn the Mortgage Fund, 1510 5th Street, Missouri City, TX 77489. It was clubby and cozy. and he said, 'Yessssssss.' . "It's not a scintillating, gossipy atmosphere on my part. [13] Thurmond won the general election, defeating Paul Tinkler, a Charleston City Councilman and member of the Democratic Party, on November 6, 2012. Even some relatives of the late U.S. Sen. Strom Thurmond wondered if indeed their 64-year-old distinguished family member was carrying on with a 20-year-old coed, Nancy Moore. Keep supporting great journalism by turning off your ad blocker. "I love it. Certainly, her conversation is evidence; during the course of this particular day, she talks about Nancy Moore's homework, Strom Jr.'s birthday party and Julie's knack for gymnastics. It was a wishing -- 'I wish I could find some man where I could be myself. American University professor David Lublin, formerly of USC, said Thurmond's staff is probably one of the more powerful on Capitol Hill because it makes so many decisions. Please enter your email and password to sign in. Thanks for using Find a Grave, if you have any feedback we would love to hear from you. She married James Thurmond in June 1969, was mom to three children, Brian, Eleanor, and Dolores, and was Nana to David, Jack, Bree, and Hannah. Dorn left office in 1974. Lever Elementary School. Use Escape keyboard button or the Close button to close the carousel. Thurmond, who died June 26, 2003 at the age of 100, was the longest serving senator . An elbow rests on one knee. The telephone wouldn't stop ringing, waking him up. children: Essie Mae Washington-Williams, James Strom Thurmond Jr., Juliana Gertrude Thurmond Whitmer, Nancy Moore Thurmond, Paul Reynolds Thurmond. It got so that I would think about his phone call during my dates and I would be so anxious to get back so I could talk to him. Thurmond has long stopped giving extensive interviews. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) - Nancy Thurmond still wonders if the tragedy could have been avoided. She was the oldest of five siblings. she didn't have a lot of close friends, but the student body thought well of her. With over 1,900 locations, Dignity Memorial providers proudly serve over 375,000 families a year. "The main thing I've got to do tonight is get those cupcakes packed up.". He retired in 2003 as the only member of either chamber of Congress to reach the age of 100 while still in office and the oldest-serving senator. To use this feature, use a newer browser. But it was getting dark. She stepped in front of my car," according to The State newspaper reports. Christmas Eve is a time to politic. "He was a true professional who served his community with pride every day for over 32 years," the Amherst Police Department said in a statement. Why then? Leave a sympathy message to the family on the memorial page of Nancy E. Gregorcyk Thurmond to pay them a last tribute. * Some, particularly political liberals, think that underneath the sweet, southern exterior is an icy calculator, a modern-day Scarlett O'Hara who wants the Senate seat of the husband some say she married for power. cemeteries found within kilometers of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. Thurmond ran for president in 1948 on a segregationist platform. she asks. Her parents made the agonizing decision to take her off life support the next day and donate her organs, an unusual decision back then that saved the lives of two people. "I have never considered myself calculating at all," she says, the smile and sweetness gone. Nancy Moore as her family called her was scheduled to give a speech the next day about child safety at J.D. If you have questions, please contact [emailprotected]. "Tommorrow begins today," says another. Previously cities included Edgefield SC, Thomasville GA and Charleston SC. The estranged wife of U.S. Sen. Strom Thurmond, who faces trial for alleged drunken driving, said in a letter that she has battled alcoholism for years. You brush your hair, and then you can have your snack.". Corrine Koenig, 35, was legally drunk and driving too fast in a 1987 Plymouth Horizon. She enjoyed spending time with James because after being separated for 19 months while he was in the Army, both did not want to be separated or to travel alone. from Clemson College in 1923 and became . Try again later. She was detailed and diligent and always wanted to be an accountant. ", "HERE COMES ANOTHER BUMP," say the girls. Friends say Nancy Thurmond is an involved, organized and rigorous mother. "Hell, I don't understand it," says Gay Suber, the South Carolina pol who's known Strom Thurmond for 34 years. On April 14, 1993, the promising life of Nancy Moore Thurmond was taken in an auto accident. [11], Thurmond ran for the South Carolina Senate in 2012 to represent the 41st district. When he retired in 1977 . Neither wanted to be interviewed about growing up with Nancy. Nancy Thurmond, 49, Try again later. Are you adding a grave photo that will fulfill this request? When the time came to pick a jury, many worried that Koenig's cross with power would land her a lengthy prison sentence, Harpootlian said. South Carolina is accustomed to increased attention in the years leading up to presidential elections, given that the state has hosted the South's first voting contests for several of the last cycles. In November, Nancy Thurmond told Gov. Thurmond's Senate staff hates it when Nancy Thurmond, who lives in Aiken, is in Washington, several sources close to the senator said. She held numerous positions in various clubs, Woman of the Year in 2003, Rotarys Volunteer of the Year, and Friend of Rotary 2008-2015. Spending a day with her is running from luncheon to charity meeting to cupcake-making to schoolyard to gymnastics car pool to Capitol Hill to art opening to dinner dance. As is the custom, Nancy Thurmond has brought along doughnuts and Hawaiian punch for the girls to eat on the way to practice. Praise for Thurmond famously ended the political career of another politician: then-Mississippi Sen. Trent Lott had to step down as Senate majority leader in 2002 after praising Thurmond's run . Senator Strom Thurmond dies. "I don't know that she's doing anything much to hurt the senator because it's almost impossible in the state of South Carolina to hurt the senator. But she's such a super-smoothie. It was a package of stress formula vitamins. We have set your language to By that I mean the letter that goes out of the senator's office to every graduating senior in South Carolina. That's one of the reasons we have maybe had a staying power in Washington. "We wanted her to do what she wanted.". Nancy Thurmond orders the senator around, barks at his staff and generally makes life miserable for them, they say. Nancy never met a stranger. Nancy Moore Thurmond. She was surrounded by family and friends. "All indications are that she was going to be a tremendously capable wife, mother and have an excellent career," said her brother, Paul Thurmond, an attorney with Thurmond, Kirchner & Timbes in Charleston. The White House later received a handwritten letter on Thurmond's Senate stationery addressed to a senior Bush office, the Post reported. but it's not peaches and cream and hunky-dory." She ties on an apron, spilling not a drop of the batter on her suit. Edit a memorial you manage or suggest changes to the memorial manager. But with his wit and my conversation, well, it just kind of worked. cemeteries found in Edgefield, Edgefield County, South Carolina, USA will be saved to your photo volunteer list. U.S. They hiked in places like Big Bend, the Rocky Mountains, and the Smokey Mountains, and traveled Europe and the U.S. visiting friends and family along the way. Thurmond is honorary chairman; Lott is co-chairman. Yet the 2024 campaign season is starting to feel different. Rumors had circulated for more than a year that Sen. Thurmond was trying to strike a deal with Democratic Gov. The estranged wife of U.S. Sen. Strom Thurmond, who faces trial for alleged drunken driving, said in a letter that she has battled alcoholism for years. Graveside Service: Wednesday, Feb. 15 11 a.m., Mt Calvary Cemetery, Refugio, Texas. (71 years old). She attended Our Lady of Refuge Catholic School through the eighth grade and graduated from Refugio High School in 1969. Copyright 2023 Echovita Inc. All rights reserved. "I don't take on frivolous, superficial projects," she says.