Barbara Dennis Corley, 96, formally of Orangeburg, SC, passed away on June 22, 2025, at the home of her daughter in Seneca, SC. She was the widow of The Reverend George Baylis Corley who passed away in June of 2024. They were married for nearly 75 years.
Barbara was born in Florence, SC, the daughter of The Reverend Junius Rhame Dennis and Ruth Hicks Dennis. She was a graduate of North High School and a 1949 graduate of Columbia College with a BS in Chemistry. She taught in the science departments of Cameron High School and Orangeburg High School.
After her retirement, Barbara and her husband Baylis were active members of the South Carolina Rose Society and the Orangeburg Rose Society. Barbara was known for her lovely rose gardens as well as being a talented flower arranger often winning blue ribbons for her flower arrangements at the Orangeburg County Fair. She enjoyed sharing her roses and arrangements with many. Barbara was a past member of the Moultrie-Eutaw NSDAR and the Walhalla NSDAR.
Barbara Corley is survived by her daughters Denise Corley (Steve) Godowns of Houston, TX and Edith Ruth Corley (Ed) Pekarek of Seneca, SC; grandchildren Amy Elizabeth Pekarek, Jeffrey Baylis (Lesslie) Pekarek, Andrew Edward (Carmen) Pekarek, and Franklin Dennis Godowns; great-grandsons John Baylis Pekarek, William Douglass Pekarek, and Patton Edward Paul Pekarek, and a number of nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her husband, parents, and only sister, Jerry Dennis Fanning.
The memorial service for both Barbara and Baylis Corley will be held at 1:00 on Saturday, July 12, 2025 at Resurrection Lutheran Church in Cameron, SC, where they were members. Visitation will follow after the service in the church parish hall. A private graveside committal will take place at 10:30 that morning at West End Cemetery in St. Matthews, SC. The services will be conducted by The Reverend Eric Little.
The family suggests memorials be given to the Barbara Dennis Corley Endowed Scholarship, Columbia College, 1301 Columbia College Drive, Columbia, SC 29203 or to a charity of one’s choice.
