Kimberly Archer's Obituary
Kimberly Kay Archer, of Huntersville, peacefully completed her last trip around the sun on Wednesday, July 12, 2023 surrounded by her drama-laced, dysfunctional, yet extremely loving family. (Anyone who’s met an Archer knows this to be true!)
Kim was born on May 7, 1961 to Kay Cole Archer and the late James M. “Sandy” Archer in Charlotte, North Carolina. The youngest of three, her formative years were spent with a prissy big sister who tried in vain to make her play house, but it was her sixteen months older brother she adored in childhood! Kim was always tagging along with Kevin and his neighborhood gang to anything sports related, whether playing capture the flag or backyard football, and she could outplay some of those boys!
Her dad’s promotions took her first to Bristol, Tennessee and then Huntington, West Virginia where she made fast friends, and her love of sports grew as well. Kim was a member of the first organized swim team in Bristol where she often medaled in the butterfly stroke. Mark Spitz was all the rage, and Kim wanted to be in on the action. In West Virginia, Kim ran track and played basketball in both junior high and high school, where she excelled at both. If she wasn’t participating in sports, she was attending sporting events. She was especially fond of the Carolina Panthers, the Dallas Cowboys, the Atlanta Braves, and most especially, the University of North Carolina Tarheels. She inherited her love of anything Carolina from her daddy, a 1957 graduate. Kim cherished fall weekends with her family at Kenan Memorial Stadium. Her cats, Blue and McCaffrey, even held sports monikers. Kim loved playing tennis as well, and was watching The Wimbledon up until her last day.
After graduating from Huntington High School in 1979, Kim attended Marshall University. Due to health reasons, she recently retired after a long career in fast food restaurant management. She got her start in one of the first Bojangles’ restaurants in Charlotte where she became a master biscuit maker. Kim was invited to Fort Lauderdale, Florida in order to prepare her famous biscuits that were featured on a national Bojangles commercial.
In addition to sports, Kim loved to travel. She spent many family vacations cruising to the Caribbean and Europe. She enjoyed embarrassing the family by ordering her meals in the accent of whatever country we happened to be visiting.
She was able to fulfill a life-long dream by spending her last year in an oceanfront condominium in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Here she enjoyed photographing nature, (especially sunrises and sunsets) lounging by the ocean with a Bloody Mary, and binge-watching her favorite shows with her momma. Kim never met a stranger and became good friends with the employees of the condominium as well as the residents. Your race, culture, or religion never mattered,
Kim was predeceased by her father, her maternal and paternal grandparents, and several beloved aunts. Survivors include her mother, Kay, her sister, Lysa Smith (Rick), brother, Kevin (Leslie), nephews, Marshall (Christie Wolf), Brennan (Kim), and Grayson (Narumi) Cesena.
Additionally she was loved dearly by special family members, Allie Cesena, Lisa Sterling, Julie, Oliver, and Brayden Cesena, and a host of extended friends and family, including uncles, an aunt, special nephews, nieces, and her beloved cats.
Arrangements include a Celebration of Life at James Funeral Home in Huntersville, North Carolina on Tuesday, July 18, 2023 at 1:00 PM followed by a brief service at Sharon Memorial Gardens in Charlotte, for those who wish to follow. The clergy of Mt. Zion U.M.C. will officiate the service.
Kim lived a fun, simple life, and her wish was to have a casual service. Please dress in beach/tropical attire. No need for suits! Flip flops and beach shoes allowed!
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Susan G. Komen at www.komen.org or to Hospice of Conway, South Carolina 1516 East Highway 501, Suite 101, Conway, SC 29526. If you can’t attend, watch a sunset and raise a glass to Kim!
James Funeral Home of Huntersville is serving the family.
What’s your fondest memory of Kimberly?
What’s a lesson you learned from Kimberly?
Share a story where Kimberly's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Kimberly you’ll never forget.
How did Kimberly make you smile?
