When the school bells ring this year, former Carver-Edisto Middle School guidance counselor Freida Earley will be absent.

For 34 years, Earley worked in classrooms and guidance offices, nurturing and stimulating young minds. But following her June retirement, this long-time educator has been nurturing plants and flowers, instead, on her way to becoming a master gardener.

The daughter of Jerome and Evelyn Cross of Eutawville, Earley was born in Newport News, Va., where her father was working during World War II before eventually returning to South Carolina.

Earley graduated from Holly Hill High School in 1960. As a young girl, she didn't know what career path she wanted to take when she signed up as a college freshman. All she knew was she wanted to attend a coed school.

Despite her mother pleading with her to go to the all-female Columbia College, Earley stood her ground, saying she just couldn't stand the thought of attending CC after spending her entire school career up to then with boys.

The teenager made her case to attend Erskine College and eventually decided to pursue a teaching degree, following in her mother's footsteps.

"Mama taught for 33 years in Eutawville and Holly Hill in elementary school," Earley said proudly.

Upon graduating, then-Frieda Cross made plans to marry the love of her life, Reese Earley, and in October 1964, she became Mrs. Freida Earley.

The newlywed took her first job as a third-grade teacher at Mellichamp Elementary School in 1964 and remembers vividly what school days were like before air-conditioning.

Following the birth of her two children -- Mike in 1967 and Melanie in 1971 -- Earley took time off from her budding career to nurture her offspring.

She later taught at Willington Academy and was employed there when it became Orangeburg Preparatory School. Earley worked in Springfield in the late 1980s for two years as a fifth- and sixth-grade teacher.

In 1990, however, Earley's life took an unexpected turn -- amid the joyous occasions of her son graduating college and her daughter graduating high school, Earley was also diagnosed with colon cancer.

"I had been thinking about a change," she said. "Having cancer made me realize how short life is, and it helped me to make that change."

Earley said she knew she wanted to continue working in education, but just in a different capacity.

"If you don't go ahead and do what you want to do, you may not ever get the chance," she said. "A life-threatening disease makes you think.

"I'm thankful that God gave me symptoms, and they caught it early."

That year, after dealing with cancer, Earley decided not to renew her teaching contract, but instead go back to college to earn a master's degree in school guidance.

In August 1990, John Herring, superintendent of Edisto School District Four, gave her an unexpected call.

"He said, 'I don't need a teacher, but I need a counselor. Will you have 12 hours in counseling by January?'" said Earley, who had just completed six hours of course work. "At that time, the state department would let you teach or work in education with a permit if you had 12 hours in an area."

As luck -- or fate -- would have it, Earley earned the required 12 hours needed to take the job.

"The Lord worked it out for me," she said, adding that the superintendent's call may not have come had she not had experience working with middle school children while teaching in Springfield.

Herring and the school board signed her on as guidance counselor at Carver-Edisto Middle School, and the rest, as the saying goes, is history.

"I could always count on Mrs. Earley to be at work doing her job with students, staff and parents," said Rosa Kennerly, principal of C-EMS from 1990 to 1999. "She was always friendly and caring.

"She was a great asset to Carver-Edisto Middle School."

Earley said she absolutely loved the 17 years she spent counseling students at Edisto.

"It was just something I was made for," she said.

Her job in the beginning was done without a computer, and Earley said she rather enjoyed that.

"I got so much done by myself, working one-on-one with the children and no computer," Earley said, adding that when the State Department of Education started requiring data input, it took time away from the "true guidance process."

And when scheduling went from being a task completed by the school principal and secretary to another job for guidance counselors, even more precious time that could be spent with students was taken away, she said.

As schools and education continued to change, Earley said she knew it was time to retire.

"If you're really ready to retire, you will know it," she said. "I've got such a peaceful feeling. I really think I made a difference in people's lives.

"For 34 years, I know I made a difference. That makes me have such a good feeling."

Husband Reese said he is proud of his wife's dedication to her students through the years.

"She served her students with patience, commitment and respect," he said.

In retirement, Earley said she enjoys working with her church group and spending time with her 7-year-old grandchild, Morgan. And she plans to continue a favorite activity with her husband -- dancing as members of the Orangeburg Area Shag Club.

"I've applied for the Master Gardener program at OCtech," said Earley, who hopes to be accepted and looks forward to the 40 hours of instruction and 40 hours of community service required by the course.

Looking back over her years as an educator, Earley said communication is key to school success for students, parents and school officials.

"If your kids know you're going to be communicating with school officials, they're not as likely to backslide or act out," she said. "I don't care how old they are, kids need you to be their for them. Things can turn around really quickly if parents let them go too far without communicating with the school and the teachers. Communication is so important."

For those considering the teaching or counseling profession, Earley said to consider that "when you are serving kids, you're molding lives."

"You're building the future," she said.

T&D Features Writer Donna Holman can be reached by e-mail at dholman@timesanddemocrat.com or by telephone at 803-533-5540. Discuss this and other stories online at TheTandD.com.

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