By CHRISTINE BOATWRIGHT / Staff Writer

CHELSEA – Shelby County Sheriff Chris Curry held a press conference at Chelsea City Hall April 2 to ask for residents’ help in locating missing Chelsea resident Carrie Elaine Gentry.

Gentry, a 64-year-old female from Chelsea, was last reported at approximately 7 p.m. March 28.

Curry said investigators have not eliminated any explanations concerning Gentry’s disappearance, including medical emergency, traffic accident and foul play.

Although Gentry’s cell phone is no longer in service, as the battery may be dead, Curry said, investigators were able to determine the phone was located in the eastern portion of the county. Curry described a 25 to 30 mile area that encircled Interstate 65 to the Interstate 20 corridor through Vandiver and Vincent and around to Chelsea.

Gentry is described as 5 feet, 8 inches tall, approximately 185 pounds with brown hair and green eyes.

Curry said the county doesn’t have enough resources to locate Gentry, and is therefore requesting the public’s help.

“We’ve used a lot of resources to find Ms. Gentry,” Curry said, referencing aerial searches from the Alabama Department of Public Safety, assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the City of Calera dive team.

“Instead of wishing there was something you could do, go do something. Go drive and look for her car,” he added.

Gentry’s vehicle is also missing. It is a 2002 Lexus RX300, silver in color, with Alabama tag number 58G19T1.

Curry asked those who search to contact the sheriff’s department through its Facebook page.

“Tell us where you’ve searched,” he said. “Be interactive here so people won’t duplicate and drive down the same area.”

Gentry, an ordained minister, founded Tender Mercies Ministry in 1999.

“She is so effective in touching lives,” said friend Liz Sherrell, operations director of King’s Home. “She’s a precious, wonderful lady. To know her, you would know this is way out of character.”

Information for Gentry may be found at Shelbyso.com by clicking on the “Missing persons/persons of interest” link, and on Facebook at the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office page. The public may also post comments to the sheriff’s department’s updates related to the search for Gentry.

Anyone with information about Gentry or her whereabouts is urged to contact the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office directly at 669-4181, through the Secret Witness line at 669-9116 or through ShelbySO.com by clicking on the “Report Criminal Activity” link and choosing the “General Information” category.