EDNA MILDRED VON ESCHEN

[West Columbia] At the age of 85, Mrs. Edna Mildred Von Eschen went home to be with her Heavenly Father on February 18, 2026. She is now joyfully reunited with her beloved husband, William “Bill” Von Eschen, and other loved ones who preceded her in death. Born in Aiken County, South Carolina, on July 22, 1940, she was the daughter of the late Edmund and Fannie Mildred Jackson Gunter. A devoted mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, she lived a life marked by steadfast faith, enduring strength, and deep love for her family. She was a member of Grace Baptist Church in West Columbia, South Carolina, and will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her.

Mrs. Von Eschen had a lifelong love of animals and, over the years, cared for a wide variety on the family’s small farm in West Columbia. She held a particularly special place in her heart for dogs. She enjoyed boating and fishing at the lake, appreciated classic cars and car shows, and cherished time spent in Charleston and Myrtle Beach with her family. She was employed by Argus Camera and Chapman Drugs and was a steady source of support in her husband’s rental property business and in her sons’ entrepreneurial ventures. After her husband’s passing, she continued overseeing aspects of the family’s rental properties until health challenges limited her involvement. She was known by many names, including Mama, Grandma, and Aunt Millie. Her unique, instantly recognizable laugh could fill a room and lift the spirits of those around her.

Throughout her life, she exemplified love, kindness, goodness, gentleness, steady perseverance, and quiet courage. She faced health, family, and personal challenges with strength and resilience, meeting each season with dignity and grace. She was someone others could lean on in difficult times, offering encouragement, wisdom, and practical help. Yet she also knew when to lean on those who loved her, doing so with humility and gratitude. Even in her final days, she demonstrated courage and faith, remaining optimistic and unwavering in her devotion to God and family.

She shared a very close relationship with her mother and sister and treasured the time they spent talking, walking, and laughing together. Following her husband’s passing, her mother came to live with her, and they lovingly cared for one another in the years that followed, reflecting the deep bonds that shaped her life. She also held a deep affection for her brother-in-law, Jerry Carter, who was like a brother to her and who preceded her in death.

Mrs. Von Eschen is survived by her sons, James “Jamie” Charles Knight of West Columbia, SC, and Jeffrey Lance (Crystal) Knight of Lexington, SC; her grandchildren, William Lucas (Tarrin) Knight of Columbia, SC, James Adam (Brittney) Knight of West Columbia, SC, and Tearsa (Evan) Lynn Knight Thurber of Lexington, SC; her great-grandchildren, Hunter Wesson Senn and Scarlett Katherine Senn of Lexington, SC, and Sophia Paisley Knight and William Cooper Knight of Columbia, SC; her sister, Maidelene Gunter Carter of Florence, SC; and her nephews, Jerry Chance (Kimberly) Carter of Livermore, CA, and Jerry Lance Carter of West Columbia, SC.

Thompson Funeral Home, located at 4720 Augusta Road in Lexington, SC, will be assisting the family during this difficult time. There will not be a formal visitation; however, friends and family may pay their respects in person at Thompson Funeral Home between 12:00 noon and 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, February 22, 2026. Family and friends may also sign the online guestbook at www.thompsonsfuneral.com.

A graveside service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Monday, February 23, 2026, at Southland Memorial Gardens, 700 W. Dunbar Rd. West Columbia, SC 29170.

The family would like to express their heartfelt gratitude to the nurses and doctors of Prisma Health Hospice (West Columbia, SC), as well as to special friends Linda Sheeley, Kathy Schumpert, and Lucie James, for the loving care and companionship they provided to Mrs. Von Eschen.