Nancy Byrd Williams Jarrett obituary

NANCY BYRD WILLIAMS JARRETT

COLUMBIA — Nancy Byrd Williams Jarrett, 82, of Columbia, SC, went to be with the Lord Thursday, December 10, 2009. A service of celebration of her life was held Monday, December 14, 2009, at North Trenholm Baptist Church with the Reverends Joe Copeland and Paul Ballard officiating. Interment followed at Elmwood Cemetery where she will be laid to rest between her first husband, Thomas Benjamin Williams, Jr., and her only child Andrew Lawrence Williams. Dunbar Funeral Home Northeast Chapel is in charge.

Mrs. Jarrett was born June 25, 1927, in Florence, SC, a daughter of the late Clarence Tillman Byrd and Valerie Juanita Carter Byrd. She was christened as a baby at Central United Methodist Church (formerly Central Methodist Church) in Florence, SC and later baptized at Park Street Baptist Church in Columbia, SC. She moved to Columbia, SC in 1947, where she lived for the remainder of her life. She married Thomas Benjamin Williams, Jr. in 1949, and they had one son, Andrew Lawrence Williams. She was a former member of Central United Methodist Church in Florence, SC, and Park Street Baptist Church and Eau Claire Baptist Church, both in Columbia, SC.

A loving wife, mother, sister and friend, her heart was in her home and her devotion was to her family and her Lord. A member of North Trenholm Baptist Church since 1957, she served the Lord as a Sunday school teacher, director of the Junior Girls Choir, a member of the adult choir, director of the Drama Committee, member of the Women’s Missionary Union, member of Early Risers Sunday School Class, and on numerous church committees.
Nancy was preceded in death by her first husband, Thomas Benjamin Williams, Jr., who died in 1979, her son Andrew Lawrence Williams, who died in 1982, and a brother, Clarence Carter Byrd of Florence, SC., who passed away in 2004.

Surviving are her devoted husband, Harry W. Jarrett, Jr., who faithfully cared for all her needs during her long illness; her caring sister, Frances Byrd Arnold of Darlington, SC; nieces, Robin Byrd Hatchell of Florence, SC., and Lori Byrd Johnson of Atlanta, GA., and nephews Jim Byrd of Florence, SC., Kevin Byrd of Myrtle Beach, SC., step-children Harry Jarrett, III and his wife Yan Wen of San Antonio, TX.; Steve Jarrett and wife, Mary; of Columbia, SC; Marsha Reynolds and husband, Allen; of Great Mills, MD., Candy Leggett of Sumter, SC., Jaclyn Macaulay and husband, Earl, of Columbia, SC; step-son-in-law, Stephen Leggett of Columbia, SC; eleven step-grandchildren and ten step-great-grandchildren. A host of friends brought joy to her long life, many of whom have preceded her.

Through her published autobiography, “Southern Born, Southern Bred,” Nancy left a lasting legacy of her family, faith and Southern upbringing. Her Southern, novel, those Little Old Ladies of Calhoun Corners,” was well received. The sequel to this novel, Calhoun Corners was published in 2009 to the joy of her many admiring readers.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society , 128 Stonemark Lane, Columbia, SC., or God’s Storehouse, 1731 Risley Road, Columbia, SC.

Online condolences may be left at Dunbar Funerals and Cremations website.