Kimmie Karissa Rodgers Herron

Kimmie Karissa Rodgers Herron, widow of Odis D. Herron died in Christ, Monday.  Born March 23, 1916, she was the third eldest child of William R. Rodgers, Sr. and Charlotte Rebecca Craven Rodgers.

She was predeceased by five sisters: Elsie R. Koren (Edward) of Atlanta, Hazel R. Powell (Curtis) of Orangeburg & Charleston, Evelyn R. Davis (Richard), Susan R. Henderson (Ross) of Jacksonville, Meridith Ruth R. Butler (William) of Charleston; one brother: William Rembert Rodgers, Jr. of Santee. 

She is survived by one daughter, Patricia Herron of North Charleston, SC; sisters-in-law, Sara H. Cain (Carl) of Summerville and Norma Herron (Charles) of Rock Hill;  brothers-in-law, Ruben Herron (Marie) of James Island and James W. Herron (Chelsa) of Rock Hill. And a number of nephews and nieces.

Educated in Orangeburg Public Schools, she was a graduate of Orangeburg High School, Orangeburg High School Continuing Education Business School; and attended many business and sales seminars.  During her high school years, she worked as a lifeguard and assistant swim teacher of young people at Edisto River in Orangeburg.

She joined First Baptist Church of Orangeburg, being baptized at the age of 12 and was awarded perfect attendance record by her Sunday school and Church in Orangeburg.  After marrying and moving to Bamberg, she was a very active member of Bamberg First Baptist Church, Women's Missionary Circle, teacher of 12-year old boys' Sunday School, and teacher of young boys R.A's. Being a passionate Christian, she would not work or even cook on Sundays, but worked days in advance to cook for her family.  After moving to Charleston, she became first a member of Charleston Heights Baptist Church and Sunday School; Midland Park Baptist Church; and after Hugo, Johns Island Baptist Church, and finally Northbridge Baptist Church.  She and her husband fed and clothed countless needy children and wives during their lifetimes.

She was involved in sales all of her professional career, first helping her husband Odis in his Palmetto Grocery and Meat Market, then on the personal request of Ed Kronsberg to her husband to "borrow" his wife for his store.  She accepted employment in many departments of Edward's Bamberg store.  After the family moved to Charleston, she was employed first by Condon's Department Store in the millinery department, then linens and custom draperies at J.C. Penney Company, being honored with a diamond pin as Penney's Best Sales Associate in the South; moved to Batnick's Snelgroves women's fashions; subsequently Alwyn; then Blossom Krawcheck's; and Elza's.  Finally, she accepted a sales associate's position in Berlin's for Women, where she ended her working career at age 80.  She was well known by her customers as being honest and loyal.  She always discouraged them from buying products which were not best for them, going to the extent of going to customers homes to assist dressing them for special occasions; and customers from out of town would accept her choice of garments for them via mail in the U.S. and Europe.

She was a Founding Member and held many offices in the Swamp Fox Chapter of American Woman's Business Association, which sponsored a nursing scholarship program.  During her work for Alwyn and Henry Berlin, she was named Woman of the Year by ABWA, receiving a trip to New York, and subsequently Salesperson of the Year by the Sales and Marketing Executives of Charleston. 

The relatives and friends are invited to attend her funeral services Monday at 2:00 pm in Northbridge Baptist Church. The family will receive friends at the church between 12:30 and 1:30 pm, prior to the service. Interment, Carolina Memorial Gardens.

Arrangements by J. HENRY STUHR, INC., DOWNTOWN CHAPEL.

A memorial message may be written to the family by visiting our website at www.jhenrystuhr.com.