Rev. Jesse Carl Merritt, 87, widower of Annie May Young Merritt, died Friday, July 22, 2011 at Richard M. Campbell Veterans Nursing Home, Anderson. Born in Lancaster, he was a son of the late Roy David Merritt and Ethel Maude McMurry Merritt. Carl was a US Navy veteran of World War II, was an Evangelist Minister, worked in textile plants and retired from Bi-Lo. He was a member of the Sunshine Band, where he was the lead guitarist, lead singer and minister. He was of the Holiness faith. He was preceded in death by a daughter, Sandy Leary and by a sister, Doris M. Phillips. Surviving are two sisters, Lorraine and Peggy and a brother, John.