BOWMAN, S.C. — The Bowman community is mourning the heartbreaking loss of Neather Kelly, a 94-year-old woman who was found deceased after being reported missing during dangerously cold weather conditions.
Orangeburg County Sheriff Leroy Ravenell confirmed the tragic update in a statement, saying, “It is with the deepest sorrow we announce we have located Miss Kelly. Unfortunately, this outcome is not what we had hoped and prayed for. Please pray for this family.”
Kelly, a longtime resident of Rail Street in Bowman, was last seen late Sunday night. According to the sheriff’s office, her vehicle was later discovered abandoned in a ditch on the 700 block of Magnolia Street. Investigators believe the vehicle left the roadway sometime between 10:30 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. Sunday.
Authorities said Ms. Kelly exited her vehicle, apparently attempting to find help. Due to the extreme cold temperatures and her age, she was unable to make it farther. It was later determined that she died after being exposed to the freezing conditions.
Search Efforts and Community Concern
At the time she was reported missing, Sheriff Ravenell expressed urgent concern for Kelly’s safety, citing the dangerously cold weather.
“We are extremely concerned with the weather having been as cold as it is,” Ravenell said. “We need to locate her as soon as we can.”
Ms. Kelly was described as a Black female standing approximately 5 feet 3 inches tall, weighing about 130 pounds, and possibly wearing a black trench coat. The sheriff’s office issued public alerts and asked anyone with information to contact the Orangeburg County Communications Center.
Tragically, despite search efforts and public concern, the outcome was not the one the family or community had hoped for.
A Life Remembered
Family members shared that Ms. Kelly suffered from dementia, which may have contributed to the circumstances of her disappearance. According to loved ones, she did not have a cellphone with her at the time but was carrying her house phone. It is believed she may have been trying to return to familiar places from earlier in her life.
Her death has left family members devastated, with one relative sharing the painful reality of the situation — that she exited her vehicle in search of help but was unable to survive the cold.
At 94 years old, Neather Kelly was deeply loved and cherished by her family. Her loss has resonated throughout the Bowman community, prompting an outpouring of prayers, condolences, and grief for a woman whose life ended in such tragic circumstances.
Community Mourning and Reflection
Ms. Kelly’s passing serves as a solemn reminder of the dangers posed by extreme weather conditions, particularly for elderly individuals and those living with memory-related illnesses. Community members and officials alike have urged families to take extra precautions during periods of severe cold.
As Bowman mourns, many are remembering Neather Kelly not for the tragic circumstances of her passing, but for the long life she lived and the family she leaves behind.
The Orangeburg County Sheriff’s Office has extended its condolences to the Kelly family and asked the public to continue keeping them in their thoughts and prayers during this incredibly difficult time.
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