Elizabeth Dufour Rivers

Elizabeth Louise Dufour Rivers, wife of Charles Ford Rivers, Jr., MD, passed away peacefully at home on Saturday, October 14, 2023, surrounded by her family.

She was born in Charleston on December 28, 1928, the daughter of Alfred Emmanuel Dufour, professor of French, German and Spanish at The Citadel, and Kathryn Louise Baker. She had a happy childhood on both the Old and New Citadel campuses, surrounded by a large group of close friends. She was a graduate of Memminger High School, class of 1945, and of Winthrop College, class of 1949, where she majored in Sociology. On June 21, 1949, just days after graduating from Winthrop, she married Charles Ford Rivers, Jr. MD, in the Episcopal Church of the Holy Communion. After her marriage and before the birth of her first child, she was a case worker for the Welfare Department of the State of South Carolina, in both the city of Charleston and surrounding rural communities. She was a faithful, devout lifelong communicant of the Church of the Holy Communion and a staunch Episcopalian. In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by her husband of seventy-three years, Charles Ford Rivers, Jr., MD; a daughter Kathryn Ann Rivers; a great-granddaughter, Kathryn Grace Rivers; a brother Alfred Edmondston Dufour; and many beloved lifelong friends. She is survived by three children: Elizabeth Dufour Rivers, Charles Ford Rivers, III (Beth); Christopher Rivers (Christopher Miller); three grandchildren: Charles Ford Rivers IV (Blair); Robert West Rivers; and Caroline Rivers Gencdur (Ozgur); a great-granddaughter, Elizabeth Jean Rivers; two step-grandchildren: Caroline Rhode and James G. Rhode, III; and numerous nieces nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.

The Family would like to thank the many caregivers who provided wonderful care, compassion, and love.

On Thursday, October 19, 2023, 5:00 to 7:00 pm, family members will receive visitors at the James A. McAlister Funeral Home, 1620 Savannah Highway, Charleston. A funeral service will be held at the Episcopal Church of the Holy Communion on Friday, October 20, 2023 at 10:30am. Burial will follow at Magnolia Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Church of the Holy Communion Endowment Fund, 218 Ashley Avenue, Charleston, SC 29403 (www.holycomm.org) or the Roper St. Francis Foundation, 100 Calhoun Street, Suite 210, Charleston, SC 29401 (rsfhfoundation@org).

Arrangements by James A. McAlister, Inc. (843) 766-1365.