James Pershing Harrelson

GREEN POND -- Former State Senator, James Pershing ("Prea-cher") Harrelson, 83, of Green Pond passed away on Wednesday, April 30, 2003 at Roper Hospital in Charleston, S.C. Senator Harrelson was born June 28, 1919 in Marion County near Mullins, South Carolina.

He attended Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, TX and was ordained to the ministry at the First Baptist Church of Henderson-ville, NC. He began his ministry in Florence County, SC. Preacher Harrelson then moved to Walterboro in the late 1940's where he served Cottageville Baptist Church, Black Creek Baptist Church, Pleasant Grove Baptist Church at Canadys and Bethlehem Baptist Church at Round O until he was admitted to the Bar on June 11, 1952. He was on the Board of Trustees of the Baptist General Board of South Carolina from 1948-1953. He established his law practice in Walterboro and remained there until his semi-retirement in the late 1990's. In 1957 he was elected to the SC House of Representatives where he served for four terms. In 1963 he was elected to the state Senate and served four terms. He was active in the Colleton Young Democrats Club and was a delegate to the national Democratic Convention in 1964, 1968, and 1972.

He was a disabled veteran of the United States Army Air Corps serving in World War II. He served in various positions for numerous charities. He was the first exalted ruler of the Walterboro Elk's no. 1988, and was a member of the Masons, Shriners, and Woodmen of the World. From 1979 to 1988 he served on the SC Wildlife Commission. On June 24, 2001, he was honored with the Order of the Palmetto, the highest civilian honor a Sought Carolina resident can receive.

J.P. Harrelson was the son of Carson A. Harrelson and Bertha M. Harrelson of Saint Augustine, Florida. He was preceded in death by two brothers, Hubert Earl Harrelson, Carl Edward Harrelson and a sister, Evangeline Renee Laidlaw. He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Hazel Richardson Harrelson of Green Pond; a daughter, Janice H. (T.K.) Alexander of Walterboro; a son, James P. (Marlene) Harrelson, Jr. of Beaufort; five granddaughters, Amy Alexander- (Emanuel) Leprette of Charleston, Michelle Alexander, Catherine A. (Micheal) Fanchette, Ashleigh A. (Shannon) Cook, Natalie A. (Luke) Driggers, all of Walterboro; a grandson, James P. ("Trey") Harrelson, III of Beaufort; and eight great-grandchildren, Christian J.S. Leprette, James L. Leprette, Schuyler R. Alexander-Still, David N. (Nick) Fanchette, Chase A. Fanchette, Luke T. (L.T.) Driggers, Remme A. Driggers, and Skyler Driggers.

Visitation will be at Parker-Rhoden Funeral Home Saturday May 03, 2003 from 6-8 p.m. Funeral services will be held at First Baptist Church, Walterboro, SC at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, May 04, 2003 and internment will take place at Black Creek Baptist Church Cemetery. In lieu of Florence, memorials may be made to the Parkinson's Foundation or the South Carolina Wildlife Preservation Fund.

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