Alethia Elizabeth Jernigan

Those we love don’t go away. They walk beside us every day unseen, unheard but always near. Still loved, still missed and very dear.

Ms. AlethiaElizabeth Jernigan aka Ms. Lea was born March 24, 1944 in Charleston, SC the daughter to Delia Elizabeth Smith and Louie H. Driffin. Ms. Lea made her peacefully transitioned over to God August 7, 2020 at 4:00am in Lexington Medical Center.

In 1947 at the age of three years old, Ms. Lea family moved from Charleston, SC to Harlem, NY where she received her public school education and graduated from the Fashion Institute of Technology. In 1978 Ms. Lea moved to Columbia, SC after her divorce with her six children where she worked 38 years at Lexington Medical Center full-time and worked 25 years Richland Memorial Hospital and she retired from both jobs.

Ms. Lea has had an adventurous, fulfilling, challenging, exciting but most of all joyous life. She was loving, caring, and giving person who enjoyed spending time with family and friends. Though she’s no longer physically here with us, her kind and loving spirit will live in the hearts of those who knew and loved her dearly. Ms. Lea will be missed dearly by her family and friends.

Ms. Lea was preceded in death by: her mother, Delia Elizabeth Smith; father, Louie H. Driffinand brother, James H. Smith.

Those left behind to continue to celebrate Ms. Lea’s life are her sons: Daryl Jernigan (Columbia), Keith Jernigan (Carmen), SaifuddinJernigan (Arian); her daughters: Stephanie Clark (VA), Aisha Wallace-Riley (Anthony) and ZubaidahJernigan (CA); 11 grandchildren: Delia Wallace, MikayellaRiley, NieemaAvant, ElizarJernigan, KeshonJernigan, Malik Jernigan SaifuddinJernigan Jr, Zola Rae Jernigan, AzisaZaire Herbert, Zen Jernigan, ZaideJernigan, and MasiaJernigan; and 3 great grandchildren: Zoey, Zander and Amiah; her favorite cousin Willie Driffinand a host of other cousins and extended family.