CHERRYVILLE, N.C. - Kelly Swain Childers, age 73, of Hwy 274, passed away Monday, January 4, 2021 at Carolina Care Health and Rehabilitation.

He was born December 14, 1947 in Lincoln County to the late Norris S. and Bobbie Helms Childers. He was a member of Bess Chapel United Methodist Church. Kelly graduated from West Lincoln High School and then from UNC-Pembroke. He later went on to receive his master’s degree from Appalachian State. He began his career with teaching and coaching boys basketball with both East Lincoln and then West Lincoln. He became the Principal at West Lincoln High School where he served for 13 years before going to Love Memorial Elementary. He retired from Love Memorial in 2002 after 8-years as principal where he received the very first “School of Distinction” award for Lincoln County. After retirement, Kelly served from 2006 to 2010 on the Lincoln County School Board. He had a great love for sports and was inducted in the Lincoln County Sports Hall of Fame in 2010. Kelly was an excellent cook and very passionate about beach music. He loved his family greatly.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother, Doug Childers.

Left to cherish his memory are his loving wife of 19 years, Jill Thornburg Childers; daughters, Brooke Ramsey and husband Ted and Katy Geymont and husband Jonathan; grandchildren, Jackson and Gemma Geymont and Harper Lane Ramsey; and brothers, Todd Childers and wife Jennifer, and Kip Childers and wife Stacy.

Out of concern for our friends and family, there are no plans at this time due to the pandemic. We will have a Celebration of Life Service at a later date.

If you wish, you may make memorials to Bess Chapel United Methodist Church, C/O Linda Towery, 2357 Bess Chapel Church Road Cherryville, NC 28021 or to Hospice of Cleveland County, 951 Wendover Heights Dr. Shelby, NC 28150.

Condolences may be made to www.carpentersfuneralhome.net

Carpenter-Porter Funeral & Cremation Services of Cherryville, N.C. is serving the Childers family.