Merrel Avant

Mrs. Merrel Kinard Avant, 97, of Walterboro, entered into eternal rest, Tuesday, October 12, 2010 at Heritage Healthcare of Walterboro. She was the widow of Joe E. Avant, Sr.



Funeral services will be 4 pm, Thursday, October 14, 2010, at Doctors Creek Baptist Church. Interment will follow in the church cemetery.



Mrs. Avant was born December 23, 1912 in Colleton County and was a daughter of the late William F. Kinard and Gillie Beach Kinard. She was a 1931 graduate of Walterboro High School where she played center on the girls basketball team. She was a lifelong resident of the Doctors Creek community and a member of Doctors Creek Baptist Church where she served in many capacities. After the death of her husband, she continued to operate the family farm which included row crops and raising cattle which she enjoyed immensely. She also served as head Bailiff at the Colleton County Courthouse for several years.



Survivors include: her son, Joe E. Avant, Jr. and his wife Nan of Bowman; granddaughters, Melanie McAlhaney (Jackie) of Aiken and Rhonda Thompson (Randy) of Bowman; three great grandsons, Jason McAlhaney of Aiken, Joel McAlhaney of Clemson and Heston Thompson of Bowman; and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her twin brother, Ferrel Kinard, brother, Otis Kinard, and a sister, Hazel Berry.



In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to: Doctors Creek Baptist Church, for Operation Christmas Child, Post Office Box 2, Walterboro, SC 29488.



Visitation will be held Wednesday evening from 6 until 8 at THE BRICE W. HERNDON AND SONS FUNERAL HOMES, WALTERBORO CHAPEL, 1193 Bells Highway, Walterboro, 843.538.5408; www.briceherndonfuneralhome.com.

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