Joelyn Park Herndon Prather

Joelyn Park Herndon Prather, 64, died February 19, 2015, following a long battle with melanoma, throughout which she kept her cheerful spirit. Joelyn was born in Richmond, Ky., and grew up in Lexington. She graduated from Henry Clay High School in 1969 and from the University of Kentucky, where she was a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority, in 1973. Joelyn is survived by her sons, Jerome Park “Jay” Prather (Laura) and Joel Moore Prather, both of Lexington, her brother Thomas R. Herndon, Jr., (Dee), of Jessamine County, a cousin, Dianna Flanagan (John) of Richmond, and many more family members and close friends. She was preceded in death by her husband, Jerome Moore “Jerry” Prather, her parents, Josephine Park and Thomas Rankin Herndon, Sr., and her in-laws Jean Moore and John G. Prather, Sr. Following college, Joelyn moved to Washington D.C., where she lived for three years. She returned to Kentucky upon her marriage, and resided in Somerset for the next 38 years. She retired as an assistant professor from Somerset Community and Technical College, and before that was a long-time employee of the Somerset Independent Schools. Joelyn was a deacon at First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) of Somerset. She was a former president of both the Lake Cumberland Performing Arts Series and the Somerset Junior Woman’s Club. She had also been chairperson of the Pulaski County Literacy Council and was a board member of Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Somerset. She served two terms on the former Somerset Community College advisory board, and was later elected as a faculty representative to the Somerset Community and Technical College board of directors. A life-long supporter of the University of Kentucky, Joelyn traveled around the country following her beloved Wildcats, but always supported its academic mission first. She was a former president of the Lake Cumberland UK Alumni Club. She served for nearly 20 years on the board of the UK National Alumni Association, and in 2003 was awarded the Distinguished Service Award. Joelyn loved politics and was a long-time member of the Somerset Democratic Women’s Club, a former member of the Pulaski County Democratic executive committee, and frequent poll worker on Election Day. She loved the water and was an avid boater on Lake Cumberland beginning in her teenage years. Visitation will be Sunday, 4:30 – 7:00 p.m. at First Christian Church of Somerset, 1115 Highway 39. A memorial service will be held at the church on Monday at 2:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials be given to First Christian Church, P.O. Box 64, Somerset, Ky. 42502 or Lake Cumberland UK Alumni Scholarship Fund 400 Rose St. Lexington, Ky. 40502. Pulaski Funeral Home is honored to be handling all arrangements for Mrs. Prather.