PAULINE ENZOR OSBORNE

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Pauline "Polly" Enzor Osborne, beloved friend of many and a former top Columbia Realtor, died peacefully on Wednesday, June 13, 2018, of natural causes at age 94.

She will be remembered for her generosity, her work ethic, her beautiful smile and the many large and small ways she touched our lives.

Polly was born on Sept. 28, 1923, in the Spring Branch farming community of Horry County, the seventh child of her seventh-child father, Quittie Montrose Enzor, and his wife, Leona Joyner Enzor.

Preceding her in death were her parents; her two sisters, Jennie Lovette of Lumberton and Irene Luther of Nichols; and seven brothers, Ernest and Luther of Nichols, Roscoe, Elmer and Cecil of Fair Bluff, North Carolina, Austin Fentrice of Eden, North Carolina, and Carrol of Florence.

She is survived by her "little brother," Herman Enzor; her two children, Austin Edwin Floyd of Sumter and Rachel Floyd Harjes (John) of Columbia; four grandchildren, Kathy Floyd Goodwin and Kim McGinnis of Sumter, Chris Harjes (Natalie) of Asheville, North Carolina, and Heather Harjes of Charlotte, North Carolina; six great-grandchildren, Lindsey McGinnis Havenga (Jakes) and Rebecca McGinnis of Taylors, Kayla Floyd and Miranda Goodwin of Sumter, and Via and Zeb Harjes of Asheville; and two great-great-grandchildren, Hallie and Coby Havenga of Taylors.

Polly, who grew up during the Depression, loved telling and writing stories about growing up "in the old days," and about adventures with her two sisters and eight brothers, including several mischievous pranksters who argued for years about who was really "the ring leader."

She was known for her work ethic, telling well-meaning activities directors "What do I like to do? I like to work." Even at 90, she could outlast most younger people in the yard or garden.

She graduated from Floyds High School, where she lettered in track one year and basketball four years, being named All-Conference in basketball. She attended North Greenville Junior College for one semester before marrying and having children.

In 1964 she moved to Columbia, where she worked at the Market Restaurant, where she was named South Carolina Waitress of the Year in 1968 by the SC Restaurant Association, and then at the Flaming Pit. She also was part owner of Rigby's Restaurant.

In 1976, she joined Bob Capes Realtors, where she was their top producer in 1983 and 1988 at the respective ages of 60 and 65. She then joined RE/MAX Realtors in 1993, retiring in June 1999 at the age of 75, after 23 years in real estate. She earned both GRI and CRS certifications and was a lifetime member of the Columbia Board of Realtors Million Dollar Club. She was honored by the Columbia Sales and Marketing Executives Association, Who's Who in American Women, and Tribute to Women in Industry. At RE/MAX she marketed using postcards featuring pictures of her four great-grandchildren, Lindsey, Rebecca, Kayla and Miranda.

Polly's primary lifetime devotion was to her family. She kept in close contact with her 10 siblings and coordinated almost yearly reunions, with many at the Duford House and then at the Polly House at Spring Branch. All have benefited from her commitment to sharing food, fun and photos with all since her teens.

Polly's kind heart and generosity were legendary. Unable to afford a bike as a child, she finally bought her own in 1965, then donated one annually to Epworth Children's Home for many years.

More important than these "things," Polly gave, especially to her grandchildren and great-grands, the gift of time and the everyday "simple things" that make memories and happy childhoods. Chris and Heather loved going to Morrison's Cafeteria, then the toy store and book store, then Cromer's to watch the monkeys and buy peanuts to be fed to the squirrels and pigeons at the State House.

Kathy and Kim also loved Cromer's and the State House, along with playing grocery store with Polly's pantry items and loose change. They also enjoyed swimming and skiing at the Lake Murray retreat, sleeping on the feather mattresses at the Caesar's Head mountain house, and riding the Gator at Spring Branch.

Lindsey, Rebecca, Kayla and Miranda took joy in playing on and painting the play house at Polly's Hopkins home, sliding and digging in the sand pile, riding scooters on the driveway, making rock dams in the stream, frying shrimp over candles, riding mall escalators and shopping at Target.

Thanks to Polly's angel granddaughter, Kathy Goodwin, for coordinating loving 24/7 care since October 2017.

Our gratitude to Polly for her long life of contributing to the happiness and character of our children and the well being of us all. She will be missed.

To honor Polly's memory, please consider donating to your local animal rescue shelter or donate to the Polly Osborne Endowed Scholarship at USC Sumter (established by Austin). For information, call or email Vicki Singleton at (803) 938-3782 or singlev@uscsumter.edu.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday at the 3926 Devine St. Chapel of Dunbar Funeral Home in Columbia. Email rharjes@aol.com to submit a memory or statement to go in the program.

Please view and/or sign the online guestbook or view the full obituary at https://www.mearesfuneralhome.com/notices/PaulinePolly-Osborne.