NELLE KIRBY PLAYER

BISHOPVILLE - Funeral service for Nelle Kirby Player, who died on Monday, July 8, 2019, will be held at 3 p.m. on Saturday at Mt. Zion Presbyterian Church, 4544 St. Charles Road. The Rev. Irvin Plowden Jr. will officiate. Burial will follow at St. Luke Cemetery.

The family will receive friends from 4 to 6 p.m. Friday at Hancock-Elmore-Hill Funeral Home, Bishopville, continuously at the family farm home.

She was a daughter of the late Hazel and Marie Davis Kirby of Lynchburg.

Nelle was 95 years old. She was a 1945 graduate of Winthrop University. She taught home economics and primary school before becoming a fulltime farm wife and mother. Nelle served as Sunday school teacher at St. Luke for 50 years. She was active with Lee Gardeners, Farm Bureau, Farm Homemakers Guild, Soil Conservation Ladies Auxiliary, Lee County Historical Society, Library Board and Arts Council. Nelle was predeceased by her husband of 57 years, Cleland Blain (Blain) Player Jr.; and a sister, Lillian (W. D.) Arrants of Lexington.

Surviving are her children, Marie (Jake) Smith and C.B. "Pete" (Marie) Player, both of Bishopville, and Kirby (Marilyn) Player of Clemson; brother, Davis Kirby; sister, Jean (Irvin) Plowden of Rock Hill; grandchildren, Bryan and Paul Smith and Kayla and Kyle Player; and many extended family.

The family offers special thanks to the late Thelma "Coot" Rogers, a lifelong family friend, faithful caregiver and domestic employee.

Memorials may be made to St. Luke Cemetery, c/o Molly Moore, 60 Bradley Road, Bishopville, SC 29010.

An extended obituary is available online at www.hehfuneralhome.com