Jewel Connelly Pearcy

Jewel Connelly Pearcy, of West Columbia and Harleyville, South Carolina, passed away November 11, 2022.

Jewel was born in Prosperity, South Carolina, to Dove Patrick Connelly and Evelyn Nichols Connelly. Growing up, she helped work on the farm and began her lifelong passion of baking and intricate sewing at a young age. She was a talented musician and active member of Zion United Methodist Church. She was active in 4-H and attended the national 4-H convention in Chicago.

Jewel was an excellent student and gave the honor speech at her graduation from Prosperity High School. She graduated from Columbia College with a degree in biology.

In 1958, she married English Brown Pearcy and moved to Atlanta to teach Biology and Chemistry while he completed graduate work at Candler School of Theology at Emory University. In 1960, Jewel and English moved to Yemassee to begin ministry in the Methodist Church. Both of her children, English and Mary, were born while they were in Yemassee. Jewel worked tirelessly with a joyful heart in each appointment to which they moved: Epworth UMC on James Island, Moncks Corner UMC, and Mount Horeb UMC in Lexington. Jewel and English have been active members of Trinity UMC in West Columbia since 1969.

Jewel worked for a time for the SC Commission for the Blind. Later, she began arranging dried flowers and built her own business, Jewel’s Pink House in the Orchard, in Harleyville. Her business thrived and was known as a place where even strangers could go and enjoy tea and conversation and feel truly blessed by Jewel who sincerely cared for all.

Jewel loved and cherished her family, extended family, and her church family. She considered each family member a treasure. She treated each new person she met with grace and caring kindness. She believed that all persons were beloved by God and tried her best to treat everyone that way regardless of their life achievements, struggles, or brokenness. She showed us how to live.

Jewel is survived by her husband of 64 years, English B. Pearcy; her son English Connelly Pearcy and wife Cindy; her daughter Mary Evelyn Pearcy Russell and husband Alan; her grandchildren Joshua Aiken Russell, Caitlin Connelly Russell Soma and husband Vineeth, Hannah Elizabeth Pearcy, Rachel Catherine Pearcy Tillage and husband Tyler; one fabulous great-granddaughter, Ava Rose Tillage; her sister Drucie Connelly Eaddy, and precious nieces, nephews, and cousins.

A celebration of life conducted by Rev. John Jordan will be held on Wednesday, November 16, 2022, at 11:00 am at Trinity United Methodist Church, West Columbia, followed by visitation and reception for family and friends. A burial service will be held at Zion United Methodist Church Cemetery, 80 Zion Circle Dr., Prosperity at 2:30 pm.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Trinity United Methodist Church, 1201 Mohawk Dr., West Columbia, SC 29169