JACQUELYN PITTS JURECEK

Jacquelyn Pitts Jurecek, 89, died Friday, March 29, 2024, at Covenant Place.

She was born Oct. 18, 1934, in Sumter, to the late Alexander Pitts and Marian Andrews Pitts.

As a young girl, Jackie enjoyed going to the movies with her dog Chippy (yes, he sat with her in the theater) and playing marbles with her young friends. She worked at the Carnegie Library in the Children's Section before obtaining her Registered Nursing degree at Manning Hospital. After completing her required nursing hours, she left her family and home to attend Johns Hopkins and obtain her Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist degree. This was quite the endeavor in the 1950s, and one should note that she put herself through training by working weekends as an operating room supervisor.

Jackie worked at Oconee Memorial Hospital in Seneca for nearly 40 years and enjoyed photography, birdwatching and spending time with her daughters and many friends. After retiring, she moved back to her beloved Sumter to spend time with her sisters Elizabeth Riley and a’Lexia Wiggins. She became a Master Gardener, was a member of the Sumter Arts Council and was instrumental in founding the Cypress Gourd Patch. She enjoyed time developing the Butterfly and Chocolate Gardens at Swan Lake Gardens and spending time at Edisto Beach with her grandchildren who lovingly call her “Jack.” By the way, the first grandchild to find a Baby’s Ear shell gets a quarter.

Jackie truly enjoyed life, art, music and her friends and her family.

With her passing, she leaves a legacy of love behind with her daughters Cathy Jurecek Greene of Rock Hill and Jan Rogers of Cumming, Georgia.

Cathy is supported by her life partner, Stephen Bass, her daughter a’Lexia Bolin and her son-in-law Daniel Bolin.

Jan is supported by her husband, Tim Rogers, and their daughters, Allie Rogers and Emmie Rogers.

Jackie’s daughters would like to express our love and appreciation to all of mother’s friends who visited with her the past few months and the staff of Covenant Place who provided compassionate care and support.

If you knew Jackie, you know that a few words on a piece of paper simply cannot begin to define this incredible woman. Hopefully your memories, thoughts and recollection of adventures will both warm your heart and comfort you in this time of loss.

A time of remembrance and celebration of life will be held during interment at Mount Hope Cemetery in Florence on April 14, 2024, at 2 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial in mother’s name to St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, c/o Mary Briggs, 17 Yellowstone Circle, Sumter, SC 29154 or to Sumter County Gallery of Art, Jacquelyn Pitts Jurecek Scholarship for Children’s Programs.

Online condolences may be sent to www.sumterfunerals.com.

Elmore Hill McCreight Funeral Home & Crematory, 221 Broad St., Sumter, is in charge of the arrangements, (803) 775-9386.