Melvin Lewis Kemmerlin

HOLLY HILL - Melvin Lewis Kemmerlin, 68, of Holly Hill, died Sunday, January 2, 2011 at his residence. Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Thursday, January 6, 2010 at the First Baptist Church with Dr. David Brien, Rev. Earl Behr, Rev. Jim Parnell, and Rev. Kevin Hinton officiating. Burial will follow in the Holly Hill Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Gene Boyd, Al Carn, Carlton Connor, LeGrande Fender, George Singletary, and Johnny Smalls. Honorary Pallbearers will be Kevin Carn Kerry Carn, Dwayne Carn, Darryl Carn, Bill Hutto, Homer Mears, Sr., Joe Schneider, Jimmy Jeffers, Bob Stevens, Luther Kemmerlin, and Bruce Kemmerlin. A native and lifetime resident of Holly Hill, Melvin was the son of the late Reuben Way and the late Jessie Cherry Way. He was a graduate of Holly Hill High School, and was a former member of the SC National Guard. He retired in 2000 from Liberty Life Insurance Company and received numerous sales achievement awards. He was a Million Dollard Round Table Producer, a member of the Orangeburg Life Underwriters, and a Lifetime Achievement Award Member with 34 years of service. He was a member of the First Baptist Church of Holly Hill, a member the Guyton Sunday School Class, and a former deacon. He was a member of the Fishers of Men, and a former member of the Lions Club. Melvin was an avid sports enthusiast especially baseball and football. He was a strong supporter of the South Carolina Gamecocks and the Summerville High School Green Wave. He formerly coached the tennis team at Holly Hill Academy, and was a long time Little League Umpire. His hobbies included golf, making a hole-in-one the first time playing, yard work, and spending time with family and especially with his two proud grandsons. Surviving are his wife, Brenda Parker Kemmerlin; a daughter, Denise (Teddy) Jackson of St. George; a son, Ricky (Miranda) Bair of Harleyville; step-sisters, Lillian (Ruffin) Bacot of Summerton, and Jeanette (Otis) Carn of St. George; grandsons, Connor Jackson (12 years old) and Cameron Jackson (8 years old), both of St. George. The family will receive friends from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Avinger Funeral Home, and other times at the residence. Memorials may be made to First Baptist Church, PO Box 235, Holly Hill, SC 29059 or Amedisys Hospice, 1704 Village Park Drive, Orangeburg, SC 29118, or Dorchester Academy, 234 Academy Rd., St. George, SC 29477. www.avingerfh.com