Lorraine Ferrell Keene

Kathryn “Lorraine” Ferrell Keene passed away on February 16, 2022 peacefully at home after a long illness. She was born November 29, 1934 in Boldman, Kentucky, the daughter of Vanidan “Hawk” Ferrell and Sylvia Daniel Ferrell. She grew up in Betsy Layne and Harold, Kentucky and attended the local schools. A handsome boy from the next town, Bernard Shelton Keene, heard there was a beautiful girl who liked to attend her high school’s basketball games. He made it a point to go the next game to meet her, swept her off her feet, and the rest is history.

Bernard was drafted into the US Army, courtesy of the Korean War effort, and reported to Fort Jackson in Columbia, SC. Lorraine soon joined him. Bernard was lucky enough to become an artillery instructor so remained in Columbia until the war was over. After brief moves to Ocala, Florida and Aiken, SC, they decided to make Columbia their permanent home, where they settled in, made lifelong friends, and had daughters Vanessa and Beth. Lorraine and Bernard first attended Pope Street Church of Christ until that group moved to Park Street and then to Saint Andrews Road. Lorraine and Bernard then became founding members of Palmetto Church of Christ in Irmo, SC.

Lorraine was simply a beautiful lady and had a love for fashion and design. After raising her daughters, she worked in several upscale boutiques and modeled for Collins Models. It’s no surprise that she loved to shop for nice clothes and accessories – shopping was certainly one of her favorite hobbies – but finding the nicest things at the deepest discount was a challenge she relished! But her inner beauty outshone her physical beauty. She taught Bible classes for many years, studying the Bible, reading commentaries, taking college-level classes, learning about other religions (she had a particular interest in the Jewish religion and traditions), all to expand her knowledge and understanding to further her relationship with God. Putting the teachings of her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ into action, she mentored and counseled many, many younger women. Outside her church family, she also ministered to others by volunteering at several hospitals, including a long stint tending to babies in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

When Bernard was diagnosed with Parkinson’s, was medically discharged from his work and later became quite disabled, Lorraine was nothing short of amazing in helping him through decades of surgeries, therapies and falls. And when his care became more than she could physically handle, she visited “Bernie” every day at the nursing home. What makes this most amazing is that, unknown to many, she was already starting to suffer the debilitating effects of her own lung disease. Yet she rarely complained, didn’t dwell on the “unfairness” of what life had dealt her, continued to trust in God and maintained her keen and wry sense of humor until her passing.

“Mama Lo” to her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, Lorraine never ceased to let them know she loved them with all her heart. In the last weeks of her life, she would summon the strength to perk up for visits, phone calls and Face Times from her descendants, determined to leave them with only good memories.

Lorraine is preceded in death by her loving husband of nearly 63 years, Bernard Shelton Keene; her parents and her brothers, Ted Alford Ferrell and Vanidan “Buddy” Ferrell, Jr. She is survived by her daughters, Vanessa Keene Patrick and Elizabeth “Beth” Keene Long (David); grandchildren, Cory Keene Patrick Shehan (Jake), Kelly Kathryn Patrick, Harrison David Long, Bradford Daniel Long, and Kathryn “Campbell” Long, and great-grandchildren, Cormac Jacob Shehan, Callum Keene Shehan, and Riley Grace Shehan.

Special thanks to her church family and friends, her “chosen sisters” Lee Brewer and Betty Wiley, her other best pals (you know who you are and what you have meant to Lorraine), son-in-law David Long who shouldered a great deal of responsibility for her care, the excellent caregivers from McLeod Home Care, Chris Achelpohl who brought her countless desserts, family friend Shelby Koraido, RN, who was of great comfort and help to her near the end, Frank Patrick, caring neighbors, and all in the medical field who did so much to keep her illness at bay.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, February 20, 2022 at Palmetto Church of Christ with interment to follow at Bush River Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the church.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Disaster Assistance Mission, 402 Center Way Street, Lake Jackson, TX 77566.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.caughmanlexington.com for the Keene family.