Cathy S. Kearise

“Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of His saints.”  Psalm 116:15 NKJV

Cathy Sherra Kearise was born in Baltimore, Maryland on June 26, 1970 at Sinai Hospital.  She was the loving daughter to the late Otto Kearise Jr. and Shirley Padgett Kearise.

Cathy was preceded in death by her grandparents, Mrs. Jeannie Epps, and Mr. Harold and Mrs. Lucille Padgett; two uncles, Elden Padgett and Deacon Clifford Padgett; and a first cousin, Damien Padgett.

Cathy  was a 1988 graduate of  Western High School – Home of the Doves.  She furthered her education and graduated from Villa Julie College with a degree in Business Administration in 1992. She graduated from The Citadel with a Masters of Education Leadership in 2003.

Cathy moved from Maryland to Jamestown, SC in 1992 and relocated to Moncks Corner, SC in 2000. She returned to Jamestown in 2020 after the passing of her father so that she could be there to assist and care for her Mother – Shirl!

When Cathy moved to Jamestown from Baltimore, she joined Wesley AME Church under Class #3 and later moved her membership to Prince George Episcopal Church of Georgetown to worship with her father. She was a Liturgical Reader and helped at the church when needed. Cathy had a unique laugh that could be heard across the room. She was an avid texter who also loved taking pictures and spending time with her family and friends. She was also a charter member of  Top Ladies of Distinction (TLOD) and volunteered for a variety of organizations. 

Cathy’s professional career began at The Citadel as a Librarian Assistant. She had a short tenue of employment with Williamsburg County School District as a Computer Teacher at CE Murray High School.  She was currently employed with Berkeley County School District (BCSD) where she served professionally at various schools. She was a certified Computer Tech and Accounting Teacher.  She was a CTE teacher at Hanahan High, St. Stephen Middle, Macedonia Middle and Timberland High Schools.

Cathy was later hired as the Facilitator of Curriculum Materials Testing Coordinator for BCSD. Cathy retired from BCSD in May of 2022, but she loved her profession, students and colleagues and returned to Timberland High in August as the MTSS Intervention Coach until her health began to decline due to her October 24, 2022 pancreatic cancer diagnosis.  Cathy transitioned two months to the date of her diagnosis.

Cat, as she was affectionately called, enjoyed spending time with and spoiling her fur baby Cotton. She did not have any biological children, but loved and spoiled her grandnephew Brian Cradic and her BFF Dakeera Nole just as if they were her own. Cathy was also blessed to be a Godmother to Angel Padgett, Alexis Green and Candace Kearise.

On December 24, 2022 on a very cold Saturday morning, Cat departed this life with her eyes on the sparrow at her residence. The breakfast that Shirl had prepared per her request was untouched and Cat had lost her battle to stage four pancreatic cancer after only a short period.

Cathy leaves to cherish her memories: her loving mother Shirley Padgett Kearise; two brothers, Michael and Graylan Kearise; her fur baby Cotton Kearise; three nieces, LaTasha, LaToya, and Candace Kearise; one grandnephew Brian “Bubba”  Cradic; one uncle, Jerome (Marva) Padgett; two aunts, Vivian Padgett Nole and Gertrude Hamilton Padgett; a BFF, Dakeera “Kee Kee” Nole; her “Sissies” that she spoke to everyday, Veronne Davis, LeChele Brown and Tanya Phillips; a host of very close first cousins, distant cousins, friends, students, colleagues and church family. 

The family is receiving friends from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at their residence. Please wear a face mask when visiting the home. They are grateful for your prayers and understanding during this difficult time.

Services for Ms. Kearise will be as follows:

Viewing: Friday, December 30, 2022, 1:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Gethers Funeral Home (Moncks Corner).

Viewing: Friday, December 30, 2022, 6:00 p.m. at Wesley AME Church, 2883 French Santee Road, Jamestown, SC.

Wake Service: Friday, December 30, 2022, 7:00 p.m. at Wesley AME Church, 2883 French Santee Road, Jamestown, SC. The Wake Service will be live streamed on the funeral home's Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/gethersfh

The Celebration of Life Service will be held Saturday, December 31, 2022, 11:00 a.m., at Prince George Winyah Episcopal Church, 300 Broad Street, Georgetown, SC. There will be NO VIEWING on Saturday. The service will be live streamed on the funeral home's Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/gethersfh

Interment will be in Wesley AME Church Cemetery.