Deanie Elizabeth Sams Tourville, 77, passed away suddenly on January 17, 2021. She was preceded in death by her father John William Sams, Jr., her mother Ella Mae Goodson Sams, her brother John William Sams, III, and many beloved aunts and uncles. She is survived by her high school sweetheart and husband of 56 years, Bill, her sisters Barbara Lukat and Jennifer Schaaf, her brother-in-law Ron Lukat, sisters- and brothers-in-law Caroline and Tony Tarricone, Sylvia Stack, Gloria Manny, Diane and Siegfried Tolloczko, her aunts Billie Jean Williams and Avonne Goodson, her daughters Suzanne Tourville and Julie Finelli, sons-in-law Loukas Grafakos and Nic Finelli, and her six grandchildren, the absolute delights of her life: Joanna, Dina, and Dora Grafakos and Leo, Stella, and Eli Finelli, and many cousins, nieces, and nephews. 

Deanie was born October 20, 1943, in Charlotte, NC, and first lived among her extended family, whom she adored, on Homestead Village, her favorite place. As a “military brat,” she grew up in many U.S states and in Okinawa, Japan. She graduated from Plattsburgh High School in New York and King’s College in Charlotte. She served as the Executive Assistant to the Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Colonial Life for many years and later as the Executive Assistant to the President of United Way of the Midlands. 

She was a dedicated parishioner of Our Lady of the Hills Church and worked weekly with the St. Vincent de Paul Society ministering to those in need. She loved to read and write and was particularly gifted at crafting thoughtful notes to her family and dear friends. She was a balm to all who knew her and will be deeply missed. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to OLH St. Vincent de Paul Society via the donation link on this page. All funds will be used to support people throughout the Columbia community in urgent need of food or utilities support. A funeral mass will be celebrated at Our Lady of the Hills Church, 120 Marydale Road, Columbia, on Friday, January 22, at 2:00 PM, with burial following at Bush River Memorial Gardens. Masks are required. It will be streamed live on Our Lady of the Hills, Columbia, SC Facebook page and will remain there for viewing later.