Greta Jane Kerns

Ms. Greta Jane Kerns was born on September 7, 1955 in Spartanburg, South Carolina and went to her eternal rest on Monday, December 21, 2020. She was the fourth child born to Otis and Ruth (Teamer) Kerns. Greta and her siblings grew up in a small community, nurtured by her loving parents, Hardy Chapel Baptist Church, and their neighbors. The day before Greta’s passing,  she was alertly sharing stories and joking with her closest childhood friend from the old neighborhood.   In the last few years, she attended various churches in the Spartanburg area. Greta was a friendly, outgoing person who never met a stranger.

Growing up, the family attended Hardy Chapel Baptist Church and Cleveland Chapel Baptist Church in order to attend church every Sunday. The Kerns children ended up joining Hardy Chapel, the church that was part of their community. While attending Hardy Chapel, Greta sang in the choir and, as she grew older, revealed a talent and confidence for leading songs just as her father had. She was a featured soloist on many of the choir's songs, and she also sang in the chorus at school, first at Lincoln Elementary and High School, then at Dorman High School.

Following high school graduation, Greta relocated to Louisiana, married and graduated from Bible College. Eventually, Greta returned to Spartanburg and began working in home healthcare for developmentally disabled adults. She continued this fine work for many more years as an employee of the Charles Lea Center. She also worked as a substitute teacher in Spartanburg County School Districts 6 and 7.

Greta eventually showed a talent for cooking and sewing, like her mother. She loved baking and decorating cakes. Greta was a stylish woman who loved to hit the thrift shops and put together one-of-a-kind outfits that were uniquely “her”. She would receive lots of compliments which she downplayed, often by telling where she obtained the various elements and how little she had paid.

Greta was preceded in death by her parents and an infant sister. She leaves many family members to cherish fond and lasting memories - brothers: Odell (Claretta) Kerns of Duncan, SC; Thomas (Faye) Kerns of Spartanburg, SC; Otis Samuel Kerns of Kew Gardens, NY  and sister Brenda Lorene Kerns of Spartanburg, SC. Aunts: Melba Kerns and Lillian Kerns both of Spartanburg, SC. Nieces: Lynnell (Jackie) Lawson, Jessica Ruth (Chris) Minor, Koretta (Derrick) Parker and Rachel Kerns. Nephews: Sean (Felicia) Kerns, Odell, Jr. (Nakia) Kerns and Derrick (Kelly Ann) Pearson. Greta also leaves her special friend Robert Haywood, many great nieces and nephews, and a host of other relatives and friends.

Sacred arrangements entrusted to SERENITY-MURRAY MORTUARY.

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