Rev Ellie Winfield Nathaniel Palmer

“To everything there is a season and a time for every purpose under the heaven.” Ecclesiastes 3:1 A Time to Be Born… Reverend Dr. Ellie Winfield Nathaniel Palmer was born November 7, 1933 in Eutawville, South Carolina. He was the eighth of twelve children to the late Rev. Josiah and Zadie Smith Palmer. A Time to Grow… Ellie was reared in Orangeburg County in the town of Eutawville, where he graduated in 1952 from Roberts High School in Holy Hill, South Carolina. He furthered his education at Morris College in Sumter, South Carolina and in 1954, he was drafted by the United States Army and served his country during the Korean Conflict. He served two years in the United States Army and returned to Morris College Sumter, South Carolina where he received a B.S. Degree in Mathematics in 1959 and a B.D. Degree in Theology in 1979. In 1976, he was awarded a Master of Education Degree in Secondary Education by the University of South Carolina in Columbia, South Carolina. A Time to Worship…Ellie was baptized at First Baptist Church in Vance, South Carolina and later moved to Sumter, South Carolina in 1952 and joined the Jehovah Missionary Baptist Church under the pastorate of the late Benjamin F. Weston. Dr. Palmer has been a faithful member of Jehovah Baptist Church for 62 years. A Time to Love … Dr. Ellie W. Palmer was married to the late Rev. Dr. Shirley M. Palmer and to this union three children were born, Wanda, Ronald and Ellie II and prior to his marriage, his eldest son Larry was born. He is blessed with nine grandchildren; Nehemiah, Amber, Perrin, Brittany, Brianna, Tamiris, Tianna, Ethan, and Aidan; three great grandchildren, Saniyah, Siani and Katalina, and three daughters-in-law Yvette, Debograh and Mildred; and two granddaughters-in- law Ebony Haigler and Yessica Palmer. A Time to Serve ... For thirty-one years, Dr. Palmer was the Pastor of High Hills Baptist Church in Dalzell, SC. Under Dr. Palmer’s leadership, the following accomplishments have been made: the completion of bricking in the church and landscaping of the yard (1985); expanded air- conditioning capabilities; church calendars, printed annually; installation of church telephones; cushioned covering for church pews; choir benches for the choir stand; improved church administration included revised financial reporting that encompasses an audit committee and a voucher system; expanded youth ministry included Junior Church; carpet installation; orientation classes for new converts; a church organ was purchased; tithing by members which continues to increase in membership; expanded Trustee Board with increasing numbers and the addition of women board members; purchase of new communion chairs; improved public address system; the addition of Prayer Ministry Program; an updated computer system, Share Food Ministry and in 1996 our sanctuary was renovated and the Education Building was added which includes; restrooms with a ladies lounge, the Pastor’s Study, kitchen, fellowship hall, clerk’s office, four classrooms, a nursery and a library. In 2014 the church parking lot was paved and a covered Picnic Pavilion was added to the campus. A Time to Work … After graduating from Morris College in 1959, Dr. Palmer was employed as a High School Mathematics Instructor at Central High School, (Cross, South Carolina). He moved his family to Sumter in 1965 and was employed by Sumter County School District Two as a High School Mathematics instructor and Assistant Coach at Eastern High School. During Integration, he was transferred to Mayewood High School as Mathematics teacher/coach for eleven years and in 1973 he was promoted to Assistant Principal. Dr. Palmer served as Assistant Principal for five years until 1977, when he was promoted as the First African American Principal of Mayewood High School, where he remained in the position for twenty years. In 1992, Dr. Palmer retired from the field of education after thirty-three years of faithful and successful service in the schools and the community. The following is an acknowledgement to Dr. Palmer for the unending quest to enlighten the minds of the young through an unfaltering support of higher education and for the dynamic, liberating and vital expression of religion as a minister of the Gospel by his Alma Mater (Morris College, 1999); Morris College was truly blessed by Dr. Palmer’s love and support as a long-time official of the Sumter Alumni Chapter and a past national alumni president. Over the years he worked consistently to raise money for his Alma Mater to help it meet the difference between income and operating expenses. These funds play an essential part in helping to raise tuition to a level that includes those who look to Morris to assist them in preparing for full participation in American society. In grateful acknowledgement and appreciation for your many contributions to public education, the Baptist denomination, the Sumter community and your Alma Mater, Morris College was pleased to confer upon Dr. Palmer the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Divinity. (Dr. Luns C. Richardson, Presiding President, Morris College May 10, 2003). After many years of service, Dr. Palmer continued to serve the community through organizations and affiliations, some which are listed here: NAACP Life Member, supporting member of Jehovah Missionary Baptist Church, Community Intermediate Care Facility, treasurer; Sumter County African American Cultural Society, Chaplain; Palmer/Smith Family Reunion, President; Past, Morris College Board of Trustee, member; Wateree Baptist Association, Lower Division, Vice Moderator and a past Moderator; and South Sumter Revitalization Committee Advisory Member. He was a friend to all, a servant of God, and a lover of God and humanity, that was Pastor Palmer. Several citations and awards were bestowed upon Dr. Palmer for his many years of dedicated service to the community, and the following are just a few; Appreciation for dedication & Leadership (Mayewood PTSA, 1990), Appreciation for Mentor & Friend (Ernest W. Palmer & Robert L Bryant, 1992), Certificate of Appreciation for Outstanding and dedicated Service (SC Education Association, 1993), Appreciation as Guest speaker(WCAA Head Start Parent/Volunteer Banquet, 1994), Distinguished Alumni Award for Outstanding Achievement and Strong Support to Alma Mater(The Morris College Family, Dr. Luns C Richardson, President, 1980), South Carolina Effective Schools Training Program during 1986-87 school year, and Appreciation for Outstanding service and contributions to the Sumter Community(Sumter County Branch NAACP, 1991.) In 2012 he was awarded the Pioneer Award by the Wateree Baptist Association Lower Division. “The personal accomplishment of alumni is the means by which a college or university really fulfills its primary objective. Morris College, his Alma Mater, was proud of your outstanding record as an educator, pastor, leader of the Morris College National Alumni Association and member of the Morris College Board of Trustees. As a teacher, coach, and principal for 33 years in Sumter’s public schools, he was concerned not only about your students’ intellectual growth but also about their moral, physical and emotional growth. He taught them how to think, how to appreciate the good and beautiful, and how to live rich and useful lives. A Time to Die … God called him home from labor to reward on Wednesday, October 17, 2018 at his residence in Sumter. He lived a long, full life and was ready to meet his Savior. A Time to Mourn Fond memories of Ellie Winfield Nathaniel Palmer will be forever cherished by: his children Wanda Palmer Brown of the home, Larry (Yvette) Haigler Philadelphia, PA, Ronald Winfield (Debograh) Palmer of Blythewood, SC and Ellie Winfield II (Mildred) Palmer of Sumter, SC; five brothers Rev. Benjamin F. (Annie Ruth) Palmer, Joe (Claire) Palmer, John (Elizabeth) Palmer, Samuel (Elsie) Palmer of Eutawville, SC and James (Ruby) Palmer of Holly Hill, SC; one sister Ernestine Palmer (Henry) Mack of Bronx, New York; one brother –in-law, Eugene McFadden of Sumter, SC; nine grandchildren, Nehemiah (Ebony), Amber, Perrin (Yessica), Brittany, Breanna, Tamiris, Tianna, Ethan and Aidan; three great grandchildren Saniyah, Siani and Katalina and a host of nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends; and caregivers: Eugene McFadden, Freddie Bennett, Linda and Pete Taylor, Anthony Rich, Nell Baldwin, Mildred Palmer, Ethan Palmer, Aiden Palmer and Hospice Care of SC: Dr. Billy Clowney, Dr. William Kellogg, Mandy Harrison, Latoya McKenzie, and Daisy Godwin. He was preceded in death by brothers Frank and Isaac Palmer and Sisters Mary Lee Palmer Fuller, Emma Palmer Myers and Cora Lee Palmer Bowman. Special daughter Linda Pinckney Taylor of Cross, SC. Dr. Palmer’s favorite scripture is “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28

Rev Ellie Winfield Nathaniel Palmer

November 7, 1933 - October 17, 2018