Katherine Duren Pasley of 311 Koller Road, Orangeburg, was born in Camden in Kershaw County, the daughter of the late Levi and Bertha Davis Duren. She entered into eternal rest on Thursday, April 30, 2015, at the Regional Medical Center after an extended illness.
Katherine received her early childhood education in the public schools of Kershaw County and her high school education at Mather Academy, Camden. She received a Bachelor of Science degree from South Carolina State University in Orangeburg and a Master’s Degree in library science from North Carolina Central in Durham, N.C.
She began her career in education as an English teacher at Chesterfield High School in Chesterfield and later taught English at Barr Street High School in Lancaster. She later became a full-time librarian at Barr Street High School.
After the death of her mother, Katherine returned home to Camden and worked in the Kershaw County schools, where she taught special education for one year and became a fulltime librarian at the primary school. After her marriage to her devoted and loving husband, H.B. Pasley, she relocated to Gaffney, where she taught English at Gaffney High School until retirement.
Katherine, a faithful servant, served as president of United Methodist Women at Dunton Chapel United Methodist Church (now Dunton UMC) in Gaffney and was an active member of United Methodist Church Women at Trinity United Methodist Church. She was named United Methodist Church Woman of the Year in 1998. In addition, Katherine was affiliated with the Mather Alumni Association, National Active Retired Federal Employees (NARFE), NAACP, South Carolina State University Alumni Association, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. and Alpha Wives.
She is survived by her loving husband of 37 years, H.B. Pasley; and godsons, Thomas E. Dawkins and Robert Littlejohn, both of Gaffney.
Homegoing services for Katherine Duren Pasley will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, May 6, at St. Paul United Methodist Church, 1365 Amelia St., Orangeburg. The casket will be placed in the church at 10 a.m. An “Ivy Beyond the Wall Ceremony” will be conducted by the members of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. at 10 a.m. Members will serve as active floral bearers. Members of Delta Zeta Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. will serve as active pallbearers. The Rev. Larry D. McCutcheon, pastor of Trinity United Methodist Church, will be officiating. Interment will be in Crestlawn Memorial Garden, 4830 Columbia Road, Orangeburg.
Visitation was held from 2-7 p.m. Tuesday, May 5, at Bythewood Funeral Home.
Friends may call at the residence, 311 Koller Road, Orangeburg, and Bythewood Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Trinity United Methodist Church Endowment Fund and S.C. State university Scholarship.
Condolences may be sent to bythewoodfuneral@bellsouth.net.
(Courtesy of Gilmore Mortuary)