Ms. Loretta Keels Rembert

Loretta Keels Rembert, widow of John L. Rembert, Mother of Barbara R. Strickland and Patrycya R. Tolbert, Grandmother of Darryl P. Johnson and Joe T. Strickland, quietly transitioned the morning of November 19, 2014, just shy of her 94th birthday. She was the third child of the late Willie Ellis Keels and Marie Rose Keels. Born in the Shiloh community of Sumter County, SC, her father paid room and board in the city of Sumter to allow her to obtain a high school diploma from Lincoln High School. She attended Morris College after marriage, earning her Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education. While a student at Morris, she gave birth to her beloved daughters. Having lived in Sumter all her adult life, her career as an educator in Sumter County School District Two spanned a total of 41 years. Prior to marriage she was a member of Asbury United Methodist Church. After moving to Sumter, she became a member of Emmanuel United Methodist Church and served in the United Methodist Women Ministry. Mrs. Rembert was a strong disciplinarian and an exceedingly charitable and generous soul. Often inviting her students to spend the night or weekend at her home, she not only purchased clothing, but selflessly shared, with them, her daughters’ clothing. She is survived by four siblings: Charles Keels and his wife Audrey of Philadelphia, PA; Ruth Ingram of La Mesa, CA; Mary E Keels and Harold F Keels of Sumter, SC and six nieces and seven nephews. Also mourning her passing are Louise Johnson Staley, Columbia, SC, Mary Arthur and Eartha Wilson of Sumter whom she loved as daughters, along with her cherished cat, Ms Beasley. Three sisters: Willie K. Corbett, Mable K. Blanding and Virginia K. Bennett; one brother Nathaniel Keels; two nieces and two nephews preceded her in death. Services will be held at Emmanuel United Methodist Church, corner of Bee and South Main Streets, Wednesday, November 26, 2014 at 11:00 am, with the Rev. Doris Bright officiating. The family will greet friends from 10:30 am until the hour of service at Emmanuel United Methodist Church and other times at 135 Tradd Circle, Sumter. Interment will follow at Hillside Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to: Lincoln High School Preservation Alumni Association, P.O. Box 1150, Sumter, SC 29151. The family request that memorials and condolences be made on their memorial tribute page found at www.PalmerMemorialChapel.com Palmer Memorial Chapel has been entrusted with the arrangements.

Ms. Loretta Keels Rembert

December 10, 1920 - November 19, 2014