Barnwell – Nellie H. Kearse (GranGran). 90, went to be with her Lord and Savior on December 30, 2020. A Graveside service will be held Saturday, January 2, 2021, at 2 PM at Friendship Baptist Church with Reverend Jeffrey Ray officiating. Due to the current pandemic and CDC regulations, social distancing and other guidelines will be in place; facemasks will be required.
Nellie was the widow of James Bobby Kearse (died July 28, 1970) and the daughter of the late Henry and Hattie Holley Hartzog. She was born in Barnwell County and lived most of her life in her beloved “Sleytown”.
Her priorities in life were always God, family and friends. Having lived through the Great Depression, she never took life for granted and thanked God for her blessings. She started to work at the age of 14 and held many jobs over her life-time including waitress, seamstress, laundry manager, inspector at Shuron Optical, Pinkerton guard, truck driver, etc. She felt her greatest professional accomplishments were owning/managing the “Beauty Box”, being employed at the Savannah River Site, and managing her rental business.
Some of her favorite pastimes included attending Friendship Baptist Church, hosting her annual 4th of July Holley-Hartzog family reunion, taking care of her pets, gardening, going to the Springfield Flea Market and delivering Christmas poinsettias to friends and neighbors (something she and her late grandson Jodi Karl did for years). Later in life, Nellie suffered a massive heart attack (2004) and a stroke (2010), but she never let it take away the will and determination that her family and friends loved about her. She made many sacrifices to ensure that her family had what was needed to survive in life and was the epitome of a good mother, grand and great grandmother, wife, sister, aunt and friend.
Nellie was the last survivor of her six siblings – brothers; Blease, E.H. and David Hartzog’ sisters; Aline Creech, Mable Lindsey and Betty Mullis. She was preceded in death by her grandson; Jody Kearse, her son-in-laws; David Snider and Bob Jolley. She is survived by her children; James (Janie) Kearse, Holly Kearse-Jolley, Kenny (Philis) and Yvonne Snider. Grandchildren; Will (Brooke) Kearse, Bridget (Brad) Bryan, Ashley (Greg) Culp and Holly Snider. Great- Grandchildren; Cole and Briggs Kearse, Delayna and Neo Culp and Bree Bryan.
Nellie resided at Pruitt Health in Barnwell and the staff, employee and residents were her extended family. We are deeply thankful for the loving care they have provided over the years.
The family has entrusted Dyches Funeral Home and Crematory with the arrangements.