Girlie Turner Temples

Our mother, Girlie Turner Temples, passed away Thursday, December 7, 2023. She was born November 18, 1923 and recently celebrated her 100th birthday surrounded by family and friends. She was the daughter of Rennie and Gertrude Feaster Turner. She grew up in the Sardis community in Saluda, SC and graduated from Sardis High School. She married Ellis Fuller Temples and the couple lived in West Columbia and raised five children. Mrs. Temples was a docent at the Columbia Art Museum and a volunteer at the Lexington County Hospital when her children were older. When the couple retired, they moved to Saluda, SC and lived on Britt Wood South Carolina Century Farm. Her husband predeceased her in June of 2020. They were married for 79 years.

She was the matriarch of this family that grew to be very large. She enjoyed spending time with family and friends. Girlie was an avid reader and had a passion for the preservation of historical artifacts. She was a wonderful quilter and handmade a quilt for each person in her family including a great great grandchild that will be born later this month. She had a sharp mind and always loved to solve crossword and jigsaw puzzles. Girlie loved nature which included watching birds and growing many varieties of flowers. Ellis and Girlie Temples were lifelong Baptists and were members of Northside Baptist Church and Sardis Baptist Church. They loved the Lord and were always studying his word. Girlie loved her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. Ellis and Girlie often attended many grandparents' days, dance recitals, sporting events, birthday parties and baby showers. She loved to host family dinners at her home and attend family events and parties.

She is survived by her daughter, Eva Lynn Temples Hill (Len); and four sons, Leon Fuller Temples, Samuel Ellis Temples (Robin), Jesse William Temples (Debra), and Joel Smith Temples (Linda). She left behind 16 grandchildren and 18 great grandchildren. Girlie Temples is survived by her only sister, Helen Keller Shealy and was predeceased by two brothers, Harold and Maurice Turner. She is also survived by numerous loving nieces and nephews. We especially want to express our appreciation to her great niece, Sharon Brazel, her longtime caregiver.

The memorial service for Girlie will be held at 3:00 P.M. on Sunday, December 10th at Milton Shealy Funeral Home with a private family graveside service following in Ridge Crest Memorial Park. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service from 2:00 until 3:00 P.M. at the funeral home. Honorary pallbearers will be her grandchildren, great grandchildren and spouses.

Memorials may be made to Sardis Baptist Church Cemetery Fund, 204 Sardis Road, Saluda, SC 29138 or Travis Park Cemetery Association, PO Box 1174, Saluda, SC 29138.