Sidney Etta Earp Kerley, late of Columbia, South Carolina, passed peacefully into the arms of Jesus on July 23, 2024, after a courageous battle with cancer.

Sidney was born on February 8, 1931, in Taylorsville, North Carolina. She received a Bachelor’s Degree in Education from Flora McDonald College and a Master’s in Education from the University of South Carolina. She was a lifetime educator and retired after 32 years of teaching service. She was passionate about her volunteer work with the International School Project in Russia, a ministry that helps train and equip teachers in how understand and apply Christian ethics and principles in education.

Outside of her career as an educator, Sidney was actively involved in her church community as a member of the Shandon Baptist Church. She served as a Sunday School teacher, GA leader, and Prayer Ministry member. In addition, she served as the State Chapter Coordinator of Concerned Women for America and, in 1991, received the CWA South Carolina Woman of the Year.

Sidney deeply loved the Lord, longed for the fulfillment of the Great Commission, and supported and prayed for missionaries. She adored her family, cherished her many friends, and will be deeply missed by all those who knew her.

Sidney is survived by her children, Rev. Daniel (Lesa) Kerley and Janet (Michael) Kerley Shelley; her grandchildren, Kyle (Brittany) Tyler, Kirsten (Kyle) Tyler Irwin, Morgan Tyler, Joshua Kerley, Reid (Sarah Mitchell) Kerley, Grace Shelley, Laura Shelley, and Samuel Shelley; and her great grandchildren, Andrew Irwin, Walter Irwin, Kaleigh, Ian Tyler, Rowan Mitchell Kerley, and Luke Shelley. She was preceded in death by her husband, Horace Kerley; her daughter, Ann Kerley Tyler; her parents, Sidney G. Earp and Callie Etta Sweet Earp; and her siblings, Chancy Mays and Wilson Earp.

A visitation for Sidney will be held on Friday, August 2, 2024, from 5pm to 7pm at Thompson Funeral Home at Greenlawn Memorial Park, 845 Leesburg Rd., in Columbia, South Carolina. A Celebration of Life service for her will be held at Shandon Baptist Church on Saturday, August 3, 2024, at 11am, with a graveside service to follow.

In lieu of flowers, her family asks that donations be made in Sidney’s memory to School Time Bible, using this link: https://schooltimebible.org/donate/ or the International Schools Project using this link: https://www.isponline.org/donate .