Obituary of Dawn Lynnette Them

AIKEN, SC – Dawn Lynnette Them, age 74, died June 7, 2024.  She was born September 16, 1949, in Mansfield, Ohio to the late Edward George Them and Dorothy Holbrook Them.  She enjoyed travel, literature, her animals and being with her friends, regularly organizing group activities and get-togethers for her large Aiken crew. 

Dawn attended Malabar High School in Mansfield, graduating with the class of 1967.  She studied English and literature at Ohio University, earning a bachelor’s degree in 1971 and a master’s in English education from the University of South Carolina in Columbia in 1980.  While living in Atlanta in the mid-1980s, a close girlfriend convinced her to attend a travel agent training course, which led her to starting her own agency – Classic Travel.  Dawn moved to Aiken in the early 1990s, following her parents earlier move to the area.  In addition to operating the travel business for several decades, her professional career spanned many facets, including General Manager of The Green Boundary Club and Manager of Marketing Services with Colin A. Houston & Associates.  Despite the shift to internet travel bookings, many people and small businesses continued to rely on the “Travel Goddess” for flights, cruises and hotel arrangements.

Dawn will be remembered for the many activities she organized, affectionally called the “cruise director” for her weekly e-mails to corral everyone together for live music or a birthday party, of which she must have planned hundreds.  She was a genuine friend to so many people, always willing to listen, pour a scotch and give her sage advice when needed. 

Survivors include her brother, John Scott Them (Nancy); niece, Katie Them Bauer (Wesley Bauer); and a nephew, Jackson Them; and host of great friends.

The Historic George Funeral Home & Cremation Center, 211 Park Ave., SW, Aiken, SC 29801 (803.649.6234), has charge of arrangements.

Expressions of sympathy for the family may be left by visiting www.georgefuneralhomes.com