Mrs. Lillian Ruth Wimberly Wade Keith

A Time to Be Born Lillian Ruth Wimberly Wade Keith was born in Paterson, New Jersey on June 2, 1933. She was the daughter of the late Merritt Wimberly, Sr. and Ruth Ann Bates Wimberly. At the age of 6 months, she was entrusted to the care of her grandmother, Channey Bates, who raised her with the assistance of other aunts and uncles. A Time to Die On the morning of February 23, 2014, she departed this life for eternal life at the Palmetto Baptist Hospital. A Time to Get A lifelong resident of the Arthurtown community, Lillian was educated in the public schools of Columbia, South Carolina. As a person who recognized the dignity that work affords, she was gainfully employed all of her life. She worked in the clothing industry at Capital City Manufacturing Company and Randy Apparel, and retired from Westinghouse Nuclear Fuel Division. A Time to Serve Mrs. Keith joined the church and became a member of the Brown Chapel family when she was a young girl, and she retained her membership until her death. She served and supported the church faithfully and attended regularly until her illness prevented her from doing so. She was a member of the Stewardess Board, the Missionary Society and one of the founding members of the BC Singers. She was also a member of the Frasier Thomas Culture Club. A Time to Love She married the late Albert Lindsay Wade and to that union five children were born. Later she was married to the late William Keith. Lillian Keith was a selfless person, who loved her children and her family with unconditional love. Always generous and caring, she gave willingly of herself and her resources to ensure the happiness and well being of her family. She basked in the love of grandchildren and great-grandchildren and spent many hours as theirs and other family children’s babysitter. She took particular delight in any event that brought family and friends together in love and harmony. A Time to Mourn Left to cherish the memory of a life well lived are her loving children. She leaves to mourn two loving daughters, Sharon J. Bates of Elmwood Park, New Jersey; Andrea Wade (Rev. Michael) Hill of Columbia; three sons, Lindsay (Rita) Bates of Columbia, SC, Rev. Derrell E. (Rev. Carolyn) Wade of Woodbridge, Virginia; and Rodney L. Wade of the home; two brothers, Heyward Wimberly of Paterson, New Jersey; Theodore “Donald” Wimberly of Whiting, New Jersey; three sisters–in-law, Laddie Miller of Monclair, California, Florine Wimberly of Paterson, New Jersey and Shirley Wimberly of Gaitherburg, Maryland, nine grandchildren, Kimbray (Michael) McNeal of Travis AFB, CA, Tiffany (Errol) Lindo of Charlotte, NC, Deidre (John) Light of Woodbridge, VA, Inga Rearden Goodwin of Columbia, SC, Michael Bates of Columbia, SC, Marshay Proctor–Bates of Arden, NC, Courtney Proctor- Bates of Elmwood Park, NJ, Carolyn (Ricky) Lang of Woodbridge, VA, Marcel Ashley Proctor-Bates of Elmwood Park, NJ, Mercedes Wade and Miata Wade of Columbia, SC, 16 great-grandchildren, two special cousins whom she regarded as sisters, Vivian Ricks of Columbia, SC and Mary Tourse of Paterson, NJ, a special daughter Debra Wade of Columbia, SC and her godson Gregory Williams of Columbia, SC and a host of other sorrowing nephews, nieces, cousins, friends and church family who loved and will miss her dearly. Services will be held 1:30 pm Friday, February 28, 2014 at Brown Chapel AME Church, with interment to follow in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends 6-7:00 PM Thursday, February 27, 2014 at Palmer Memorial Chapel. The family request that condolences and memorials be made on their web page @www.palmermemorialchapel.com.

Mrs. Lillian Ruth Wimberly Wade Keith

June 2, 1933 - February 23, 2014