Celebrate Caroline's Life with a Memorial Bench

Caroline Collins Gaffney, 49 of Charleston, SC, peacefully passed away on September 5, 2024, with loved ones by her side. Born April 18, 1975 in Georgetown, SC, she spent most of her life raising a family in Charleston, SC.

As a graduate of Georgetown High School, she went on to earn an Associate in Public Service Legal Assistant from Trident Technical College on August 8, 2005. From there, she became the brilliant backbone of several distinguished law firms in Charleston for two decades. Her career also included years of dedicated, stylish retail management. In between raising a family and her career, she enjoyed culinary adventures at home and around the Lowcountry, fishing and boating in North Inlet, artistic pursuits in piano, singing, poetry, and crafts, attending concerts and festivals, rescuing dogs, excelling in tennis, and spending time with dear friends.

She was a member of The Order of the Daughters of the King, the Church of the Holy Cross on Sullivan’s Island, the Holy Cross Praise Team, a lauded Honors Scholar of Phi Theta Kappa, a team captain for the United States Tennis Association, a Flex League Coordinator for the Lowcountry Tennis Association, and a volunteer for the National Brittany Rescue & Adoption Network.

Caroline is known for her leadership, intelligence, bold strength, creativity, adventurous spirit, love of music, love for God, and love for her children, Ian, Maddie, and Connor. She enjoyed spending the last year of her life with her adoring husband, Thomas, by her side. To say that she will be greatly missed by all who love her is an understatement. She is an irreplaceable radiant light in our lives.

She is survived by her husband, Thomas Patrick Gaffney, three children, Robert Ian Dickinson, Madeline Paige Ludwig, and Connor Theodore McLaughlin, all of Charleston, SC; father, David Morgan Collins of Georgetown, SC; mother, Deneise Altman Green (Jack) of Santee, SC; sisters, M. Morgan (Mike) Geldean, of Channahon, IL, and Sarah M. Collins (Jerry Miller) of Forest City, NC; and two nephews and a niece.

She is preceded in death by her grandparents, Mrs. & Mrs. Francis S. Collins, Jr., step-grandfather, Arthur H. Doyle, grandmother, Margaret C. Kinard, all of Georgetown, SC; grandfather, William “Buddy” Altman of High Point, NC; and uncle, Herbert M. Collins of Winder, GA.

In lieu of flowers, donations are being accepted to place a memorial bench at the graveside for family and friends to visit. Any donations exceeding the cost of the bench will be utilized towards funeral expenses.