Verna Kohn Cavanaugh, 93, died Tuesday, February 25, 2025, at Springfield Place. She was born in Newberry, SC on April 19, 1931, the daughter of the late Louis Hamilton "Hal" and Verna Summer Kohn.

She was the wife of 43 years to the late Martyn J. Cavanaugh and is survived by one step-son and his spouse, Jeff and Elaine Cavanaugh of Chesapeake Virginia and step daughter-in-law, Jeanne U. Cavanaugh, widow of the late step-son Michael J. Cavanaugh, several step-grandchildren, and step great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by a brother Hal Kohn of Columbia, SC and Mary Kohn Hicks of Charlton, MA. She is survived by three nieces and four nephews, children of her siblings.

Mrs. Cavanaugh graduated from the Newberry City schools and Newberry College in 1953. After teaching high school English in Hartsville, SC for two years, she earned her master's degree in Library Science from Florida State University, Tallahassee in 1956, and worked as a librarian in Florida and South Carolina, retiring in 1973 as director of the Newberry Saluda Regional Library. She then became a full-time homemaker. Among her favorite activities were listening to the Metropolitan Opera Saturday matinee broadcasts and to her extensive classical CD collection, reading, playing bridge, gardening, cooking and entertaining, and mentoring at a local elementary school. Verna's all-time pet charity was her public library.

Mrs. Cavanaugh was active for years in civic affairs. She was a charter member of the Board of Directors of the Newberry Community Players, a charter member of the Board of the Newberry County Alcohol and Drug Abuse, life member of the Garden Club of South Carolina, past president of the Newberry Garden Club, a director of the Prosperity Cemetery Association, board member of the Newberry College's President's Club, member of the Newberry College Women's League, 1953 May Queen of Newberry College, endowed a Music Scholarship at Newberry College in memory of her parents, past member of the Women's Club of Newberry, member and past trustee of Newberry County Historical Society, member and office of the Literary Study Club, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Hal Kohn Memorial Library and founded the Friends of the Library group, member of the Jasper Chapter of the DAR and member of the Lutheran Church of the Redeemer, serving on the church council. Her most recent accolade was to be chosen as "the 2011 Outstanding Individual by the Friends of South Carolina Libraries. And a "quiet" philanthropist.

The family will be at the residence at 2119 Cherry Laurel Dr., Newberry, and invite you to visit on Sunday, March 2, 2025, from 4:00 until 6:00 PM.

Funeral services will be held Monday, March 3, 2025, at 4:00 PM at the Lutheran Church of the Redeemer, 1515 Boundary St., Newberry SC 29108, the Rev. Matthew Titus presiding.  Committal will take place in Prosperity Cemetery.

Pallbearers will be A. Sean Montgomery, Joel L. Kohn, Zach Cavanaugh, Lawrence Suber, Jr., Jennifer Schwartz and Niki Perkins.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to The Hal Kohn Memorial Library, 1100 Friend St., Newberry, SC 29108.

Memories and messages may be shared with Verna's family on her tribute page at www.whitakerfuneralhome.com.

Whitaker Funeral Home is honored to serve the family of Verna Cavanaugh.