Sally Durham Trapnell

Sally Durham Trapnell, 81, passed away April 28, 2024, from the complications of dementia. She was a resident of Dominion Senior Living Clemson. Sally was born December 14, 1942, in Tupper Lake, New York where her father was stationed with the Veterans’ Administration during World War II. She was predeceased by her parents, William Robert Durham (MD) and Marjorie Fisher Durham. She is survived by her husband of over 50 years, Jerry Trapnell (Clemson), and daughter Karen Trapnell Shriver (Brookhaven, Georgia), her husband Jim, and grandchildren Mary Addison Shriver, James Durham Shriver, and Jackson Bodie Shriver. She is also survived by her sister-in-law Jan Cromartie Trapnell (Metter, Georgia), and niece Jana Cromartie Sasser (Thomas) (Metter, Georgia) and nephew Hec Cromartie (Connie) (Eastvale, California) and great-nephews, TC Sasser, Robert Esten Sasser, Jackson Cromartie, Memphis Cromartie, and Lincoln Cromartie. She is predeceased by her brother-in-law Robert Gary Trapnell (CMDR, USN, Retired).

Sally graduated from Decatur High School, Decatur, Georgia. She completed a BA in history at Brenau College, and a MEd from the University of Georgia. At Brenau, she was a member of the Zeta Tau Alpha sorority which led to a life-long involvement with ZTA sustaining many friendships and opportunities to serve with her Zeta sisters.  She had a 19-year career as an elementary school teacher serving schools in Fulton County Georgia, Wilkes County Georgia, Clark County Georgia, and St. Aloysius Parochial School in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Even after the end of her teaching career, she continued to support elementary education through tutoring students at Clemson Elementary School. 

Sally was a member of the First Baptist Church of Clemson where she served in a variety of roles including as a first-grade Sunday school teacher, a member of the Seekers Group, and serving on fund raising and other committees. She was an active community volunteer serving in various roles as an advisor and house corporation president for ZTA chapters at Louisiana State University Baton Rouge and Clemson University. She was a key member of the ZTA alumni group who contributed significantly to the chartering of a chapter at Clemson. She served on the Pickens County Library Board, Friends of the Center for Visual Arts Board at Clemson, and on the Parents’ Council at Daniel High School (Clemson). She served in leadership roles for the Clemson Garden Club and the Clemson University Women’s Club. She was member of the group that organized the Clemson Ministers’ Cook-Off and helped organize after-prom events for Daniel High School students. For her volunteer activities, she was recognized as Volunteer of the Year at Daniel High School and received the Zeta Tau Alpha Service Award.

Sally loved to travel, She and Jerry enjoyed many wonderful trips across the United States, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and South America. Traveling with family and close friends was also a favorite including cruises to the Caribbean, Alaska, and the Baltic Sea. Annual family trips to the beach always brought great joy for many years. 

The family expresses their sincere appreciation to the staff and many volunteers of Dominion Senior Living Clemson for their compassionate, outstanding care for Sally during her several years there. A special thanks goes out to the staff of the Dominion Memory Care Unit for their patient, passionate care with incredible grace for Sally and all the special residents of the unit. Special thanks also go to the Hospice of the Upstate and Palliative Care of the Upstate for their outstanding care during her final months. 

A Celebration of Life service will be held at First Baptist Church of Clemson (FBCC) at 11:00 AM on Saturday May 4^th preceded by a family visitation in the Family Life Center at FBCC starting at 10 AM. Burial will be at Woodlawn Cemetery on the Clemson campus and will be held at a later date. 

Memorial gifts may be made to the First Baptist Church of Clemson, 397 College Avenue, Clemson, South Carolina 29631.