Mrs. Sallie Derham Schirm

Sallie Derham Schirm, 84, of Columbia passed away peacefully at home with her children at her side on Monday, November 28th, 2022, after a yearlong battle with Bulbar Onset ALS, a rare form of Lou Gehrig’s Disease. The wife of the late Lee R. Schirm, she was born May 20th, 1938, in Mullins, SC to the late Edgar M. and Sue B. Derham. She attended Columbia City Schools and graduated from Dreher High School in 1956. She graduated from the University of South Carolina in 1960 with a BA in Business Education where she was a member of Chi Omega sorority. Her first teaching job was in Tampa, FL where she met Lee Schirm, a young Air Force Officer from Iowa and the love of her life. They married in 1962 and spent the first ten years traveling with the Air Force and starting their family. In 1971 they returned to South Carolina. Sallie resumed teaching business subjects at Midlands Technical College, Columbia High School, and Lower Richland High School. While teaching, she was a member of Alpha Delta Kappa, a sorority for educators, and was an advisor for the Chi Omega House Corp. After Lee passed away in 2004, she spent her time quilting, playing golf and tennis, gardening, and traveling. She was devoted to her church, friends, and family. Sallie is survived by her daughters, Cynthia Hudson (Jay) and Carol Russell; granddaughters, Hillary Derham Hudson, Laura Caroline Hudson, and Sarah Anne Russell; sisters, Clare Fincher (Tom) and Sue Hopke (Clarence); brother, John Derham (Sharon); nieces, Susan Zais, Sheryl Fincher, Leah Anderson, and Dolores Long; and nephews, Derham Holland and Allen Derham. Her family is particularly grateful to her devoted caregivers, Loretta Killian and Roxanne Burkett. She also benefitted enormously from Prisma Home Health and Hospice and the Prisma ALS Clinic in Greenville, SC. A memorial service will be held at 3 o’clock on Monday, December 5th at Spring Valley Presbyterian Church, 125 Sparkleberry Ln. Columbia, SC. Visitation will begin immediately following the memorial service. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to Prisma Health ALS Clinic- Direct Patient Care Fund, Attn: Suzy Hobbs, 200 Patewood Dr., Suite B350, Greenville, SC 29615 or to Spring Valley Presbyterian Church Memorial Garden Fund, 125 Sparkleberry Ln., Columbia, SC 29229.

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Mrs. Sallie Derham Schirm

May 20, 1938 - November 28, 2022