WEST COLUMBIA – The Rev. Esther Tye Perkins, widow of the Rev. Dr. Charles G. Perkins Sr., died Friday, May 23, 2014.
Born in Eufaula, Ala., she was a daughter of the late James H. and Florence Whitaker Tye. In 1983, she became the first female pastor of a Southern Baptist Church in South Carolina. Perkins was the subject of the book “For Such a Time as This,” written by Don Kirkland and Philip Stone in 1996. She was pastor at both Pine Bluff Baptist and Eason Memorial Baptist churches in Eastover, retiring in 2003.
Survivors include a grandson, Robert (Melanie) Cherrington of Columbia; a great-granddaughter, Rhythm Cherrington; and her dearest friend, Carolyn Webb.
She was preceded in death by a daughter, Pat Perkins; and a son, Grant Perkins.
Funeral services will be held 2 p.m. Tuesday at Dunbar Funeral Home’s Devine Street Chapel, with burial following in Greenlawn Memorial Park.
Visitation will be held 6-8 p.m. Monday at the funeral home.
Memorials may be made to Pine Bluff Baptist Church, 1025 Pineview Drive, Columbia, SC 29209; or Eason Memorial Baptist Church, 201 Vanboklen Ave., Eastover, SC 29044.
Please sign the online guest book at www.dunbarfuneralhomedevine.com.
Dunbar Funeral Home of Columbia is in charge of arrangements.
