Kathleen Martin Padgett

BAMBERG - Mrs. Kathleen "Kitty" Martin Padgett, 95, of Bamberg, widow of Dr. Jack Pershing Padgett, Sr., died Saturday, September 6, 2014 at Allendale Co. hospital. Funeral services will be 2 p.m. Monday at Trinity United Methodist Church in Bamberg with Revs. Robert and Carol Cannon officiating. Burial will follow in the Bamberg County Memory Gardens. Visitation will be 4 to 6 p.m. this Sunday at the church. Mrs. Padgett was born in Eutawville, a daughter of the late Keitt Oliver Martin and Evelyn Robinson Martin. She was a 1936 graduate of Eutawville High School, a 1938 graduate of Borne Business School, and a 1939 graduate of Western Union School in Bloomfield, N.J. Having been a member of Trinity UMC for 50 plus years, she has served as past president and secretary of the Administrative Board, Chairman of the Family Life, Bereavement and Parsonage Committees, a member of Family Life, Finance and Nominating Committees, and a member and former chairman of the 50 plus Senior Group of Trinity UMC. Mrs. Padgett has been active in the United Methodist Womens Organization of the church where she has held offices of secretary, president and leader of Zone II (27 churches) of the Orangeburg District for four years. Also, she was chairman of the Bamberg UM Womens Nurture and Outreach Committee, and active in the Simsie Folk Circle, having held the offices of president and secretary. Mrs. Padgett has been active in the following civic and community activities: volunteer for Meals-on-Wheels program; former chairman of Bamberg City Zoning Board of Appeals; chairman of first membership drive in county for Mental Health; member and past-president and former secretary of the Camellia Garden Club; former vice-president and secretary of American Legion Post 39 Auxiliary; past chairman of "Poppy Day" for veterans for many years; former past president and treasurer of Bamberg Regional Hospital Auxiliary and former chairman of its Beautification Committee, having kept the planters at the entrance of the hospital always blooming with flowers in the winter and summer. Mrs. Padgett, representing Bamberg County, with the S.C. Highway Dept. planted wildflowers along Hwy. 301 during "Operation Wildflower." She was former secretary of Bamberg County "Golden Age Club;" and was a member of three bridge clubs. She has judged Christmas decoration contests in Ehrhardt, Olar and Smoaks. Mrs. Padgett and her family had the honor of being chosen the title of Bamberg County Family of the Year in 1988. She was chosen Trinity United Methodist Womens' "Woman of the Year" in 2003. Surviving are sons, Dr. Jack Pershing Padgett, Jr. and his wife, Mary Ann, and Dr. R. Dale Padgett and his wife, Linda, all of Bamberg; grandchildren, R. Dale Padgett, Jr., Kathryn Lauren Padgett, Martin Lanier Padgett, Kathleen Rebekah Padgett of Charlotte, and James Warren Padgett, all of Edisto Beach. Memorials may be made to Trinity UMC, Bus Fund, PO Box 335, Bamberg, SC 29003.