Pearl Marie Grissom Kerley was born February 18, 1899, to William Hardin and Mary Lincoln Lay Grissom in Johnson County on a hilltop farm near Simpson. She departed this life after a short illness at Lourdes Hospital, Paducah, Ky., February 3, 1985, at the age of 85 years, 11 months, and 15 days.
In Metropolis, IL on May 16, 1920, she was united in marriage to Carney V. Kerley of Simpson. To this union five children were born, three of whom survive: William A. Kerley and Dr. Lorene K. Wills of Vienna, and Mrs. Iverne Slack of Decatur. Two children, Harry Arsene Kerley and Dorlis Mae Kerley (who was only five weeks old), preceded her in death. After she nursed him through a long illness, her husband, Carney, passed away on September 10, 1965.
    Her early life was filled with the tragedy of death and illness. Before the discovery of the wonder drugs, tuberculosis was a dreaded and fatal disease. Her brothers, Harry and Horatio, and sisters, Ethel and Lydia succumbed to the disease in the teens and early adulthood. Her parents; a sister, Faye Bradley; and an infant brother, George Pleasant also preceded her in death. Lee Grissom, a son of Harry's survives and lives in Herrin. Donna Abel of Tupelo, Miss., and Rosemary Jobe, Batavia, IL. daughters of Ward and Faye Bradley, also survive. Their visits were always a delight and blessings to her.
    Pearl had six beloved grandchildren: Lisa Kerley of Vienna, Mrs. Janet King of Robinson; Steve Slack of Springfield; Scott Wills of Houston, Tex.; John David Kerley and Beth Kerley Krakoff of Calabasas, Calif.; Harry's son, little Keith Kerley, age 5, greatly grieved his grandparents with his passing. Pearl is survived by five precious great-grandchildren who affectionately called her "Grandma Great"; Michael, Bryan, Kristin, and Christopher Wills of Houston, Tex. and Laurel Slack of Springfield. She leaves to mourn her passing beloved in-laws, Merrill Slack, Decatur; Nina Slack, Springfield, Sheralyn Wills, Houston; Virginia Kerley, Scott Krakoff, Calabasas, Cal.; and Carl King, Robinson. In addition, she has one surviving first cousin, Marie Jackson, Vienna.
Pearl worked alongside her husband in the post office at Simpson for 29 years. Until her death, she continued to have, with her son, Bill, a farming operation on a centennial farm inherited from her father. Nothing gave her greater pleasure than to accompany Bill on a drive to the farm to count the cattle and examine the crops. Many of the cows had names. She loved animals and talking about them and knowing the elements of farming were primary interests all her life.
    Almost sixty-five years ago, she united with the Missionary Baptist Church of Simpson, later transferring her membership to the First Baptist Church of Vienna when she moved there. Her faith in the Saviour and His ability to keep that which was committed to Him, permeated all her activities. By loving God's Word and studying Scriptures daily, she became very informed on the Bible. As one woman told Iverne this week, "Pearl believed down deep." She was faithful in attendance to church services and the Bible Study Group at Senior Citizens. Her life reflected the simple values instilled in her by her Christian parents.
    She loved a lot of things. Among them were her family, auctions, The Vienna Times, voting on election day, flowers and gardens, springtime, seeing her kids drive up, being called Pearl instead of Mrs. Kerley, Memorial Day at Zion church, decorating graves, cornbread and sweet milk, chicken and dressing, Christmas parties, homecomings, especially at Simpson church, long drives, homeless cats and dogs, small children, talking on the phone, visiting in grocery stores, getting mail, praying, talking about the olden days, gospel music, and most especially good preaching.
    One time she was asked by her daughter, "Mom, what would you like a preacher to say at your funeral?" Without hesitation, she replied, "My prayer is that Christ be lifted up."
    If she could speak, she would tell her family and friends to respond to her passing as Peter Marshall suggested when he said, "It is in times of sorrow and trouble that the presence, the sufficiency, and the sympathy of God grow very sure and very wonderful. Then we find out that the grace of God is sufficient for all our needs: for every problem and every broken heart and every sorrow."