Rachel Joyce Farmer Keels, 93, widow of Thomas D. Keels, Sr., died Sunday, November 29, 2015, at Palmetto Health Baptist Parkridge.

Born August 16, 1922, in Quitman, MS, she was a daughter of the late Mose Butterworth Farmer and the late Elizabeth Hyatt Pittman Farmer Haynie. She was a member of Grace Baptist Church. In her early adulthood she met and married Thomas DuRant Keels, Sr. and moved to Sumter County, where they raised their four children on the Wedgefield Road.

Survivors include three children, Linda Rae Keels of Belton, Hyatt Ann Brandt of Irmo, and Paul Austin Keels of Asheville, NC; six grandchildren, Chuck Mooneyhan, Heidi Trull (Joe), Stewart Brandt (Cheryl), Anita Brandt, Lorne Brandt, and Casey Newman (Jason); seven great grandchildren, Travis, Meghan, Jessica and Emma Brandt, Tom Trull, and Cooper and Hadley Newman; two sisters-in-law, Sarah Reid Keels and Betty Ann Keels both of Pinewood; a step-sister, Elizabeth Haynie of FL; and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by a son, Thomas D. “Tommy” Keels; a granddaughter, Crystal M. Keels; and her step-father, Marvin Haynie.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Friday in the Elmore-Cannon-Stephens Funeral Home chapel with the Rev. Dr. Steve Williams officiating. Burial will be in the Paxville Cemetery.

The family will receive friends from 1 to 2 p.m. Friday at Elmore-Cannon-Stephens Funeral Home.

Memorials may be made to Grace Baptist Church, 219 W Calhoun St, Sumter, SC 29150 or the Crystal Keels/Marty Thames Scholarship Fund, c/o Thomas Sumter Academy, 5265 Camden Hwy., Rembert, SC 29128.

Elmore-Cannon-Stephens Funeral Home and Crematorium of Sumter is in charge of the arrangements.

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