Geraldine "Gerry" Hanna Higginbotham

WEST COLUMBIA—Geraldine “Gerry” Hanna Higginbotham of West Columbia, died Friday, January 12, 2018.Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m., Tuesday, January 16, 2018 at Palmetto Church of Christ, 7000 Nursery Road, Columbia, SC 29212.Internment will follow in Bush River Memorial Gardens, 5400 Bush River Road, Columbia, SC 29212.Visitation will be held from 6-7:30 p.m. on Monday, January 15, 2018 at Temples Halloran Funeral Home, 5400 Bush River Road, Columbia, SC 29212. Gerry was preceded in death by her parents, Virgie and Romey Hanna of Richwood, WV; husband, Bill Higginbotham; sisters, Sadie Collins, Vada Peniston, Grace Haverly and Macel Negrepont; brothers, Bernard and Maynard Hanna.She is survived by her daughter, Jeanie and her husband, Bill Beckham of West Columbia; son, Steven Lee Higginbotham of Columbia, SC;grandson, William A. Beckham III “BJ” and wife, Michelle; great-grandson, Liam Beckham; and numerous nieces and nephews whom she dearly loved. An extraordinary person of great strength and faith, Gerry trained in the Cadet Nurse Corps program in World War II, and served for many years as a registered nurse in West Virginia, Virginia and South Carolina. Gerry’s recent declining health did not affect her optimistic attitude toward life.She was one of the nicest and most caring persons you could ever meet and will be greatly missed by all those close to her whose relationship with Gerry resulted in nothing but positive things. The family would like to express special thanks to the staff of Carolina Gardens in Irmo, SC, Comfort Care Hospice, Lexington Medical Center and Agape Hospice. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials in Gerry’s name be made to Palmetto Church of Christ, 7000 Nursery Road, Columbia, SC 29212 or a charity of one’s choice.