Eleanor W. Tomlinson

Eleanor Rebecca "Lolo" Tomlinson, 93, passed away Monday, December 1, 2008 in Blountstown, Florida. Graveside service will be held 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, December 9, 2008 at Hebron United Methodist Church Cemetery, Bishopville, SC under the direction of Brown-Pennington Atkins Funeral Home, Hartsville, SC. She will be laid to rest where several generations of her family await her final repose. Memorials may be made to Covenant Hospice, 4440 Lafayette Street Ste. C, Marianna, FL 32446-3411. Eleanor was born Eleanor Rebecca Woodham on January 15, 1915, in Bishopville, South Carolina, the oldest child of Sullivan Marco Woodham and Lalla Rookh (Woodham) Woodham. Her paternal grandparents were Asa Edward Woodham and Ara Leila (Smith) Woodham. Her maternal grandparents were Charles Welborn Woodham and Nancy Elaine "Laney" (Hearon) Woodham. ¬ Eleanor was a graduate of Bishopville High School and a 1937 graduate of Coker College in Hartsville, South Carolina, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in music. Though small in stature, she attacked the keyboard with such great skill, vigor and finesse that she won numerous awards as a concert pianist. She taught music in the Manning, South Carolina school system before marrying Ben Tomlinson of Olanta, South Carolina. They made their home in Georgetown, South Carolina, where she performed at many weddings and other functions. She also taught piano lessons from their home, served as organist for the First Baptist Church in Georgetown, and was active in the Georgetown Concert Association. She was modern and progressive in her young adulthood, wearing slacks and shorts before they were the popular attire for young married ladies. In 1952 Eleanor, Ben and their two children moved to Tallahassee, Florida, where she continued giving private piano and organ lessons until her music career was cut short by a debilitating illness. She was loved and respected by her friends and neighbors and is remembered as a gentle, sweet and kind friend. She was a life long Christian and frequently said "I pray to the Master." Her faith was always strong and never failed throughout her journey through life. She is survived by her son, David Tomlinson (and wife Bobby) of Winter Haven, Florida; her daughter, Rebekah Mendoza (and husband Tony) of Tallahassee, Florida; her grand-daughter, Deborah Scarbrough of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; three great-grandchildren, Sarah, Hannah and Kaylah Deuber of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; four very dear nieces, Debby Galloway (and husband Richard), Suzanne Beasley (and husband Johnny), Rebecca Skinner-Fulmer (and husband Glenn) all of Hartsville, South Carolina, and Millicent Munn (and husband Frasier) of Columbia, South Carolina; and numerous grandnieces and nephews. Her former husband, Ben Tomlinson; her younger sister, Sarah Martyn Skinner; her grandson, Michael Christopher Scarbrough; and a special grandniece, Caroline Boles Terry, preceded her in death.

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Eleanor W. Tomlinson

January 15, 1915 - December 1, 2008