Merlyn Kay Henderson Cupka

Merlyn Kay Henderson Cupka, 67, of Charleston, South Carolina, beloved wife, stepmother, grandmother, aunt, cousin, and friend, entered into eternal rest Wednesday, December 24, 2014 at her home surrounded by her family and close friends of the family. Her funeral service will be held Friday, January 2, 2015 in St. James Episcopal Church, 1872 Camp Road, at 11:00 a.m. There will be a reception and the family will receive guests immediately following the service in the Ministry Center. Arrangements by J. HENRY STUHR, INC., DOWNTOWN CHAPEL.

Kay was born in Pulaski, Virginia to the late Sherman Bruce Henderson and Kitty Sue Gregory Henderson on December 31, 1946. She attended Jefferson Elementary School and graduated from Pulaski High School. Kay, from an early age, had a beautiful gift for the love of children. During her high school years, she spent her summers as a counselor at Camp Easter Seal in Virginia. There she became close friends with many of the children she worked with. She mentored, taught, loved and blessed many children who were a part of her life down through the years.

Upon graduation, she worked as a credit manager at the Advance Store in Pulaski. In 1971, she came to Charleston to visit family and ended up taking a "temporary" job with the S.C. Department of Natural Resources as a secretary. Thirty two years later she retired from the Department, where she served as the first state certified procurement officer and the Director of Procurement for the Marine Resources Division. In addition to her duties as Procurement Officer, she was involved in assisting with many events at the Division including the Harry Hampton annual fund raiser, advisory board and commission meetings and many other special events at the Marine Resources Division. While working at the Department, she met her future husband, David Cupka, and in July 1974, they were married at First (Scots) Presbyterian Church in Charleston.

In 1980, she and her husband joined St. James Episcopal Church on James Island. Kay loved to serve the Lord and she served as a youth leader and minister and as head of the Altar Guild. She was a member of St. Martha's chapter of the Episcopal churchwomen, did flower arrangements for the altar for many years, helped to decorate the altar, church and later the ministry center for all major church holidays, was a greeter and worked the welcome desk in the ministry center and served as a member of the vestry.

Kay loved to travel with family and friends and she enjoyed doing crafts, gardening, and flower arranging. One of her favorite activities was spending time with her granddaughter, Roxy.

She was a member of the South Carolina Association of Government Procurement Officers, a member of the Ladies Auxiliary of the James Island Yacht Club and a member of the James Island Dance Club.

Kay is survived by her husband, David Michael Cupka of Charleston; her stepdaughter, Tamara Susan Cupka of Charleston; her granddaughter, Roxanne Lane Overcash of Charleston; her niece, Sherry Andrews (Mark) of Hampstead, NC and their two sons, Grant and Tyler Andrews; several cousins including Doris Akers (Royce) of Charleston, Sue Berkeley (Jeff) of Dublin, VA, Jean Cox (Jim) of Pulaski, VA, Sam Gregory (Bo) of New Bern, VA, Roger Gregory (Judy) of Lexington, NC; and her adopted sister, Brenda Henderson Boudolf of Charleston.

Kay faced her battle with cancer as she did all of life's challenges - with courage, determination, grace and an unwavering faith in the Lord. She touched many lives and was a very giving and caring person. Her family and friends will miss her greatly until we are all reunited with our Heavenly Father.

The family wishes to thank all of our church family and friends for the their faithful support and prayers during Kay's illness and for the many gifts of food, flowers and cards. We also wish to acknowledge the loving care that she received from Roper Hospice.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. James Church, 1872 Camp Road, Charleston, SC 29412 or to the American Cancer Society, 5900 Core Road, Suite 504, N. Charleston, SC 29406.