Rev. Esther Tye Perkins

WEST COLUMBIA - Services for Rev. Esther Tye Perkins, 92, will be held at 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, May 27, 2014, at Dunbar Funeral Home, Devine Street Chapel, with burial in Greenlawn Memorial Park. Visitation will be from 6 until 8:00 p.m. on Monday, May 26, 2014, at the funeral home.

Rev. Perkins, wife of the late Rev. Dr. Charles G. Perkins, Sr., died Friday, May 23, 2014. Born in Eufaula, Alabama, she was a daughter of the late James H. and Florence Whitaker Tye. In 1983, she was the first woman pastor of a Southern Baptist Church in South Carolina. Rev. 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 Church and Eason Memorial Baptist Church in Eastover, retiring in 2003.

Surviving are her grandson, Robert Cherrington (Melanie) of Columbia; great-granddaughter, Rhythm Cherrington; and dearest friend, Carolyn Webb. She was predeceased by her daughter, Pat Perkins and son, Grant Perkins.

Memorials may be made to Pine Bluff Baptist Church, 1025 Pineview Drive, Columbia, SC 29209 or Eason Memorial Baptist Church, 201 Vanboklen Avenue, Eastover, SC 29044.