Helen Elizabeth Knight

COLUMBIA - A celebration of the life of Mrs. Helen Knight will be held at 12 noon Thursday, June 26, 2014, at Dunbar Funeral Home, Devine Street Chapel. The family will receive friends in the Chapel prior to the service beginning at 11:00 a.m. Burial will be in Greenlawn Memorial Park.

Mrs. Knight entered into eternal life on Monday, June 23, 2014, surrounded by her family. Born April 26, 1924, in Columbia, she was the youngest child of the late Thomas Crossland and Sarah Jackson Crossland. Both parents worked in the mill and she and her siblings attended Olympia schools. She married the love of her life and childhood sweetheart, the late Otto J. Knight on December 2, 1940. The couple’s first few years of marriage were interrupted as Mr. Knight served in Europe in the Army Air Corps during WWII. After his return home the couple bought a home and began to raise a family of four children. They were married for nearly 60 years until Mr. Knight’s death in 1998.

Mrs. Knight was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother who loved her family and enjoyed preparing family meals for them. She also loved Christmas, sewing and gardening. She will be remembered for her delicious desserts and her ability to make any plant thrive and bloom. After her children were in school she was employed at Bausch & Lomb Optical Company in Columbia.

Always a follower and believer in Christ she was a member of Calvary Baptist Church. She loved the church, her Sunday School Class, several circles and going on trips with the seniors. She was an active member of Calvary Baptist Church for nearly 75 years until her health declined.

Surviving are her daughters, Pat Corley of Atlanta Ga., Kathy Knight, Debbie Knight of Columbia; a son and daughter-in-law, Michael and Michele Knight of St. Matthews; a beloved niece, Thelma Kager of Jacksonville Fla.; three grandchildren, Jeanna Corley of Dallas, Texas, Kevin and wife, Fara Corley of Atlanta Ga. and Blythe and husband, Patrick Crisp of Lexington; five great-grandchildren, Meagan Adams of Glendale Ariz., Jace and Jaelyn Corley of Atlanta Ga. and Ryan and Parker Crisp of Lexington; one sister-in-law, Wenona Knight of Augusta; and numerous nieces, nephews and great-nieces and nephews. She will be dearly missed by her family and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; brothers, James W. Crossland, Henry Crossland; sisters, Evelyn Pate, Inez Neber and beloved nephew, S/Sgt. Lloyd W Pate.

The family would like to thank Amedisys Hospice of S.C. and Mrs. Emma Oliver for their compassionate care.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Calvary Baptist Church, 500 Kilbourne Road, Columbia S.C. 29205 or the National Parkinson Association at www.parkinson.org.