Sara Justice Hempley

COLUMBIA - Sara Margaret Justice Hempley, 93, widow of Sidney Augustus "Gus" Hempley, died on Wednesday, October 5, 2016. Born on October 30,1922 in Charlotte, N.C., she was the daughter of Leon G. Justice and Maude (McCall) Justice. Mrs. Hempley graduated from McClenaghan High School in Florence in 1938. She earned her BA degree with majors in History and Latin and her Teacher's Certificate from Meredith College, Raleigh, N.C. in 1942. After college graduation in the summer during WWII, she worked for five years with Southern Bell and Telegraph Company in Charlotte. She met Gus while he was serving in the U.S. Army, and in 1947 they were married in Spartanburg and eventually made Columbia their home. Mrs. Hempley was a devoted school teacher starting in 1960 at Hand Jr. High School in Columbia teaching a Latin-English combination, and then in 1962 at Airport High School in West Columbia teaching a Latin-History combination. In 1967-68 Airport HS's Aquila Yearbook was dedicated to her. She was chosen Star Teacher by one of her students who was named Star Student in 1967-68. In 1969 Mrs. Hempley was awarded a Master of Education Degree at USC. She was named Lexington Co. School District Two "Teacher of the Year" for 1974-75. She received "Latin Teacher of the Year" from the SC Classical Association (gaudeo discere ut doceam) in 1984 and retired from teaching. In May of 1994, Mrs. Hempley was named in the Airport High School "Teacher Hall of Fame." She was also a past member of Kappa Kappa Iota, a national teacher’s sorority, and the Meredith College Alumnae Association in Columbia. For most of her adult life, Mrs. Hempley was an active member of Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, where she volunteered as a docent and also in the Cathedral Bookstore. In March 1988 she co-authored a tour pamphlet, “Our History in Stone, Trinity Cathedral Cemetery.” She co-compiled papers and materials written by members of the tour program for the Cathedral Docents Handbook, first printing in 1992, written for training. She authored the book The Windows of Trinity Episcopal Cathedral in 1999 which was dedicated to the Daughters of the Holy Cross. She was also a past member of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) University of SC Chapter. Mrs. Hempley enjoyed years of playing bridge, was an avid reader, a USC Gamecock and Atlanta Braves' fan, and loved her home away from home at Surfside Beach, SC. Mrs. Hempley is survived by four daughters: Lynne Burch of the home, Jayne Holland (Pete Holland) of Columbia, Gayle Burley (The Reverend John Burley) of Mt. Pleasant, and Kaye Shipley (Dr. Fred Shipley) of Lexington; seven grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; nephew, Roy B. Hempley (Gail) of Virginia; and her beloved cat, Robert Redford. In addition to her parents and her husband, she was predeceased by son-in-law, Harvey L. Burch. The family wishes to thank her devoted caregivers and staff of Home Instead and also of National Health Care-Lexington for their loving care and friendship. Memorials may be made to the Daughters of the Holy Cross, Sara Hempley Scholarship Fund, Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, 1100 Sumter Street, Columbia, SC 29201; or to a charity of one's choice. The family will receive friends from 5 to 7:00 p.m. on Sunday, October 9, 2016 at Dunbar Funeral Home, 3926 Devine St., Columbia, S.C.). Funeral services will be held at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, 1100 Sumter St., Columbia, SC with The Reverend Ira Houck officiating at 3:00 p.m. on October 10, 2016 with burial in Greenlawn Memorial Park, Leesburg Rd., Columbia. Please sign the online guestbook at www.dunbarfunerals.com.