Eleanor Phillips Pettus

Eleanor Phillips Pettus
LAKE WYLIE -- Eleanor Pettus went home to be with the Lord on May 12, 2010 at her home in Lake Wylie, SC. It was a late Wednesday morning, the air warm and the birds singing like Angels outside her bedroom window. Her passing will be remembered because of her love for her family, her friends, her co-workers, and acquaintances she met on her journey through life.
She was the youngest of five children born to the late Levice Thomas Phillips and Mary Montezz Stegall. Born May 23rd, 1941 and raised in Charlotte, NC, she was a graduate of Harding High School. She relocated to Lake Wylie, SC in 1973 with her husband and two children. Eleanor was a long-term member of River Hills Community Church. The Bible talks about a large shining star whose presence shone on the night Jesus was born. For many, Eleanor was akin to this star whose guiding light burned so bright for so many. Eleanor was a co-founder and working partner with her husband through many ventures not the least of which was United American Video Corp., also known as UAV Corp, one of the leading companies in its field nationwide. She was Executive Vice President until her retirement in 2004, responsible for finance, accounting and human resources for over 500 associates.
Her passion for people and charities and doing the right thing were always shining through. She was active in supporting many worthwhile causes among them Pilgrim's Inn, York Place, York Tech Board of Trustees, Winthrop University Fund Raising Committee, River Hills Community Church Finance Council. Eleanor loved gardening, travel, spending time with her children and grandchildren. She and her husband loved cooking and entertaining her family, relatives and friends at her home. She loved Myrtle Beach, South Carolina where she spent part of every year at her summer home.
She is survived by her beloved husband of 50 years, Jerrold 'Jerry' Hugh Pettus. Eleanor is survived by her son Jerrold 'JR' Hugh Pettus II and his wife Heidi O'Day Pettus of Lake Wylie, South Carolina, and daughter Susanne Pettus Olson and her husband Kent Olson of Waxhaw, North Carolina. She is survived by her three grandchildren, Alexander Hugh Pettus of Lake Wylie, South Carolina, and Tessa Elizabeth Olson and Emma Catherine Olson of Waxhaw, North Carolina. Eleanor is also survived by her sister, Francis P. Barnes of Dallas, North Carolina; her sister, Virginia P. Westbrook and husband Louis Westbrook of Charlotte, North Carolina; her brother, Ralph 'Buddy' Phillips and his wife Nancy Phillips of Lake Wylie, South Carolina; brother-in-law, Jim Pettus and his wife Vicki Pettus of Charlotte, North Carolina; and her mother-in-law, Mary Elizabeth Pettus Dixon of Charlotte, North Carolina. Many nieces, nephews, and cousins survive Eleanor with special mention to Donna Adkins and Shirley Hoffer.
Eleanor is predeceased by her sister, Ann Phillips Aycock.
Eleanor will be dearly missed on this earth but Heaven will most certainly have a new star.
Visitation will be on Saturday, May 15, 2010 between 6:00pm and 8:00pm at the River Hills Community Church at 104 Hamilton Ferry Rd., Lake Wylie, SC 29710 at the corner of Highway 49 and Hamilton Ferry's Rd. Funeral services are at River Hills Community Church on Sunday, May 16 at 1:30pm with Pastor Bruce Jones officiating. Her interment will follow at Pleasant Grove United Methodist Cemetery located on Pleasant Grove Road in Charlotte in the Oakdale neighborhood, at 3:30pm.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to the non-profit Hospice and Community Care, 993 P.O. Box, Rock Hill, SC 29731.
The family would like to thank all the special caregivers who have spent so many hours taking care of Eleanor.
Condolence messages may be sent online to www.mcleanfuneral.com.
McLean Funeral Directors of Belmont is serving the family of Mrs. Pettus.