CHERYL MCKELVEY

Cheryl McKelvey DARLINGTON- Cheryl Parnell McKelvey, age 77, went to be with her Lord on Tuesday, August 11, 2009. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 on Friday, August 14 at First Baptist Church, with burial following in Grove Hill Cemetery, directed by Belk Funeral Home. Born June 9, 1932 in Florence County, she was a daughter of the late Henry Ellis Parnell and the late Corine Young Parnell. She was raised in the Peniel Community and attended Timmonsville Schools. She married James P. "Jimmy" McKelvey in 1950 and moved to Darlington and became a very active member of First Baptist Church. Her greatest achievement was serving the Lord especially as the church hostess and preparing Wednesday night suppers as well as many other church functions. She loved to cook. She served for approximately ten years and then had to retire due to declining health. She served as Meter Maid and office clerk for the Darlington Police Dept in the late 60's and early 70's and later served as Juvenile Officer. In 1973 she went to work for Darlington county Sheriff Department serving under Sheriff Jack Otuel. She Started in the Office and became the first female Deputy Sheriff in Darlington County and also served as Juvenile Officer. She was also the Honorary Miss Southern 500 and provided security and escorts for all the contestants in the Southern 500 Pageant, a job she truly loved. Surviving in addition to her husband of 59 years are two daughters, Cynthia "Cindy" McKelvey, Ginger Perry and her kind and loving husband Andrew Perry, one brother Don (Margaret) Parnell all of Darlington, two sisters June Boykin and Judy Fuller both of Florence, one dear brother-in -law, John (Greta) McKelvey of Florence, four grand children: twins Anna and Nicolas Perry, Kaitlyn Bailey and Will Isgett all of Darlington, and thirteen nieces and nephews. Mrs. McKelvey was preceded in death by sister Gladys Parnell White, two brothers Kenneth and Joe Parnell, four dear brothers-in-law Aubrey Richardson, White Boykin, Mumford Fuller and Marvin White. The family will receive friends 6-8 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home and other times at 418 Spring Street. Memorials may be made to First Baptist Church PO Box 297, Darlington, SC 29540-0297 or Mcleod Hospice House PO Box 100551, Florence SC 29502-0551. (www.mcleodfoundation.org) Sign the guestbook online @ www.belkfuneralhome.com