Merryman Kemp, 84, of Paducah, Kentucky passed away at 2:45 a.m. Sunday, July 18, 2021 at the Ray & Kay Eckstein Hospice Care Center at Mercy Health Lourdes. She was born on June 9, 1937 in Dyer County, Tennessee to the late Thomas Jefferson “TJ” Merryman and Florence Kelley Merryman. Merryman was the founder of the Merryman House Domestic Violence Center. She has received numerous awards and recognition for her work in domestic violence and professional women organizations. Merryman has served as past president for the Jefferson Street Board for 17 years, local and state Political Women’s Caucus, Paducah Business and Professional Women, Democrat Womens Club. She was a Delegate to the Democratic National Convention. Merryman was a member of Grace Episcopal Church, Paducah Elks Club and the Woman’s Club. She received the Golden Rule Award from JC Penney, was the 2019 Citizen of the Year, UK Business & Professional Award and recognized volunteer of the Year at the state level, Honorary Admiral of the Kentucky Navy and was a Kentucky Colonel. October 28th of each year in Paducah is known as Merryman Kemp Day, an award she received for her service to her community.
Merryman is survived by her husband, Mark Adler; sons, Captian Jefferson (Maggie) Hurley, USN-Ret, of Annapolis, Maryland and Stephen Arthur Kemp of Nashville, Tennessee; sisters, Linda (Lynn) McDonald of Newbern, Tennessee and Nancy Merryman McDermott of Collierville, Tennessee; eleven grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by a sister, Peggy Joe Merryman and her parents.
Memorial services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, July 24, 2021 at Milner & Orr Funeral Home of Paducah.
Visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Friday, July 23, 2021 at Milner & Orr Funeral Home of Paducah and after 9:00 a.m. Saturday, July 24, 2021 at the funeral home.
Expressions of sympathy may take the form of contributions to the, Merryman House, 435 Berger Road, Paducah, KY 42003.