Barbara Shockley Porter

LEXINGTON - A funeral service for Barbara Shockley Porter of Ballentine, SC will be held at 2:00 p.m. Sunday, July 9, 2023, at First Baptist Church, Boyce Chapel in Columbia, SC. Visitation for family and her many friends will be at Dunbar Funeral Home, Dutch Fork Chapel in Irmo on Saturday, July 8, 2023 from 6 to 8 p.m.

Mrs. Porter passed away peacefully in her sleep on Thursday, June 29, 2023, after 90 years on this earth. Born in Woodruff, SC, she was a daughter of the late Willie A. Shockley and Annie Maude Nabors Shockley and spent her youth in Spartanburg, SC. She was married to Van C. Porter of Williston, SC for forty-nine years until his death in 2000. She gave much of her adult life to ministering to the deaf community by interpreting on television for the Governor’s speeches and annual Governor’s Carolighting event, the State House Week, National Presidential Debates and weekly First Baptist Church services. She interpreted at several technical colleges and over 100 courses at the University of South Carolina including 3 years of law school. She began as First Baptist Church’s Minister of Deaf Ministries as a volunteer for ten years and then in 1975 began her career as the Minister of Special Ministries to deaf, homebound, special education, and international folks at First Baptist Church until her retirement a few years ago. She served people with needs in any way that she could but, ultimately, her love for them was rooted in her love of her Savior, Jesus Christ and she served and loved Him until her last day here on earth. Her faith has become sight!

Surviving are her daughters, Cindy Porter Kroske (Mark) of Chapin, SC; Tana Porter Bevil (Lamar) of West Columbia, SC; and her son, Van “Mickey” Porter (Cheryl) of Blair, SC; ten grandchildren, Jennifer Kroske Plimpton (Rex), Michelle Kroske Branham (Kyle), Brittany Kroske Gibson (Matt), William “Will” Porter Kroske, Vanessa Taylor Bevil, Porter Lamar Bevil, Hunter Boylston Porter (Mary Beth), Chaisson Clay Porter (Beth), Andrea Porter Spurlock (Aaron), and Garrett Boyd Porter; 11 great-grandchildren, Hadley Wynn Plimpton, Van Holden Plimpton, Kinsley Wynn Branham, Hollis Sophia Branham, Eliza Violet Porter, Darcy Faye Porter, Annie Kate Porter, Tessa Ruth Porter, Harper Reagan Spurlock, Eden Karis Spurlock, Isla Jane Spurlock.

In addition to her parents and husband, she was predeceased by her sisters, Sybil Annette Shockley and Miriam “Mickey” Shockley Horton.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to First Baptist Church’s Deaf, Special Ed, or Benevolence Ministries at 1306 Hampton Street, Columbia SC.

Memories may be shared at www.dunbarfunerals.com.