Velma Street Ethridge

Velma Street Ethridge, born in September 1938- Velma Ethridge has impacted the CRSA for nearly 5 decades, she moved to Martinez in June 1971 after her husband Arthur ‘Sarge’ Ethridge was stationed at Ft. Gordon. She started teaching at North Columbia Elementary, the Phinizy building in the fall of 71. 3 years later , their family moved to Appling.

Mrs. Ethridge has made Columbia County her home for 50 years. She was one of the few women of color to teach in Appling in that era. She retired from the Columbia County School system in 2002 with 31 years of service all at North Columbia Elementary. Seeing a need for a Girl Scout troop in the Appling area, she became a Girl Scout Troop Leader, worked at Camp Tanglewood and became a member of the Central Savannah River Girl Scout Council Board of Directors which allowed her to introduce the Girls Scouts to little girls who now have little girls in Girl Scouts.

​As a member of Second Mt. Carmel Baptist Church she sang in the choir and taught Sunday school and Vacation Bible School. Her love of youth in this community has been demonstrated through her teaching at North Columbia Elementary, through endless hours dedicated to CSRA Girl Scouts and her service to her church Second Mt. Carmel, She has been a role model for many generations of young people in our community and the Appling area is better because of it