John Kennerly

The following obituary is shared as a courtesy to the local family and friends of Mr. Kennerly. On behalf of Harley Funeral Home and Crematory, we extend our care and sympathy.

Bennettsville, SC – John Franklin Kennerly, Jr., age 54, died Monday, January 26, after a hard fought year-long battle with cancer. He passed into God's loving arms at Scotland Memorial Hospital surrounded by his wife of 30 years, Heather, his parents and sister, daughters and best friends.

John was born in Bennettsville in 1971 to John Franklin Sr. and Latreta Kennerly. The only child in the house for a while, he was known to be enamored with his mother's beautiful singing voice and found a love for music at an early age. He quickly got the taste for performing in public when he sang "The Crayon Song" with his mother at church when he was only 4 years old. This began his lifelong ministry of Christian music.

John also developed a love for gardening and carpentry at a young age, thanks to his parents and grandparents. His Grandfather Hallman was a carpenter and John enjoyed spending countless hours watching him build things and later used those skills for his own woodworking hobbies. John's passion for gardening came from both of his parents – he often said that his mom was the landscaper, but it was his dad who had the green thumb. He said his mom was the only person he knew that got up early and watered their plants and garden while holding a coffee mug. John could often be found outside working in his own yard. He also was known to leave food and water outside at all times for any of God's critters that might need it. Thus, the several "adopted" cats he and Heather had through the years.

At the age of 10, little John's world was forever changed when his baby sister Lia was born. He then became the big brother who lovingly took care of his little sister and genuinely took pride in helping raise her. As they both became adults their bond only strengthened.

John graduated Marlboro Academy in 1989, before heading to Charleston to attend Charleston Southern University. He graduated CSU in 1992 with a double major in English and Religion, and a new girlfriend who would later become his wife, Heather Lee. While at CSU, John (and Heather) performed throughout the Southeast with their college Christian musical group New Vision, under the direction of friend and mentor Rick Brewer. The extremely musically gifted John also wrote many original songs and performed with some of his closest friends, Jamie Parler, James Strickland and Chris Roberts, in their band, Walking Tall. Their group would go on to record a short album and continue to perform together after college.

As creative and talented as John was musically, he was equally as much an academic. His love for education, books and helping others fostered into his "day job" as an academic librarian. John went on to the University of South Carolina to get his master's degree in Library and Information Science in 1994. He spent 28 years at Erskine College and Seminary in Due West, SC, starting off as a Public and Technical Services Librarian in 1995 before working his way up to Library Director at Erskine, a position he held for 16 years. He then was named the Associate Dean of the Library and Institutional Effectiveness for another 9 years. During his 28 years at Erskine, one of John's greatest joys was being the Baptist Collegiate Ministries faculty leader. In that role, he got to spend time weekly witnessing to college students through Bible study and singing. He also led the students on multiple mission trips to Florida to assist the Salvation Army in distributing toys through their Angel Tree program.

When John was named to the library staff at Erskine in 1995, he and Heather chose to settle in nearby Greenwood. This became their hometown for almost 30 years. They became active members of North Side Baptist Church, where Heather worked in the Preschool Ministry and then the Financial Office for a total of 20 years while John was a constant face on stage each Sunday as part of the praise band, playing guitar and often leading the band and the congregation.

John and Heather had twin daughters Autumn and Bridget in 1998 in Greenwood, and raised them there until the girls both went on to college at Furman University in Greenville--both then choosing to settle in Greenville after graduation. The twins were John's pride and joy and he reveled in their outstanding academic achievements while also quietly enjoying how similar their senses of humor were to his own. (Even if they did shy away from following in his musical background.)

In January 2024, when the opportunity arose for John and Heather to move closer to his family in Bennettsville, John became the Director of Library Services at Richmond Community College in Hamlet, NC, just over the state border from his hometown. Buying a house just down the street from his parents and his childhood home, John had settled back into small town life. By November 2024, John had been given a diagnosis of Cholangiocarcinoma, a rare form of cancer. Together, John and Heather fought his cancer battle hard for more than a year. Although some may say that cancer won the battle, John held on to what the Bible teaches in 1 Timothy 6:12, "Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called." John lived his life for the eternal, for God, despite his trials.

A celebration of John's life will be held 1 p.m., Saturday, February 7, at North Side Baptist Church in Greenwood. Family will receive friends after the service.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made in John's name to Cheraw First Baptist Church, 126 Greene Street, Cheraw, SC 29520.

Those left to cherish John's memory include his wife, Heather Lee Kennerly; daughters Autumn and Bridget Kennerly; parents, John and Latreta Kennerly; sister and brother-in-law, Dougie and Lia Hinson; and nephew, Luke; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Steve and Tracy Lee McKelvey; and niece, Elise McKelvey. Uncle Ronnie Hallman; Aunt and Uncle, Jim and Sandra Kennerly; Cousin Rodney and Jennifer Kennerly; and their children Gavin, Dylan, Elizabeth and Rebecca.

The family would like to extend their utmost gratitude and appreciation to Dr. Anamika Katoch and the wonderful staff at The Scotland Cancer Treatment Center.