Pearleen Tolen Speaks

Services for Pearleen Tolen Speaks will be 12:00 noon on Saturday, April 5, 2025 at St. James CME Church,.133 Summerland Ave, Batesburg-Leesville, SC 29006. Pastor Davis will be officiating.
Mrs. Pearleen Tolen Speaks was born on March 18, 1938 in Johnston, S.C. to the late Ernest (Jack) and Marie (Merritt) Tolen. She departed her life on Friday, March 28, 2025 in the Lexington Medical Center Hospital, Lexington, S.C. Pearleen was a graduate of Twin City High School Class of 1956, Batesburg, S.C. After graduating high school and pursuing a career as a cook which she loved, she met and married Willie Speaks, Jr. To this union four children were born Burnelle, Willie lll, James Frank (deceased) and Gregory Speaks.
Pearleen was employed at LMC, Lexington, S.C. and at Roberts Restaurant in Leesville, S.C. Also years later after the restaurant closed, she re-opened it and was the proprietor. She also sold Amway and traveled to different parts of the world.
Pearleen loved her children, family and everyone she came in contact with. She loved her church, and the missionary society, where she was the president until her death. She also loved doing work of the Lord, her pastor, Rev. Davis and first lady Evangelist Joyce Walker Davis, and her members. She believed in trying to keep us straight!
She leaves to cherish her memories loving children Brunelle Speaks Pace, of the home, Willie Speaks lll (Tina) of Gaston, SC and Gregory Speaks of Lexington, SC, adopted sister Mary Jennings (Charlie) of Batesburg, SC; Lucille Dubin, Johnston, SC, Ann Ethel Weaver of NY City, and Liz Dozier of Pennsylvania, all cousins; Mamie Lee Tolen, sister-in-law of Newberry, SC, Shamtrice Speaks, daughter-in- law of Batesburg, SC, two step- daughters Jenelle and Dorothy Gortman, of Prosperity, SC; 27 grandchildren, 25 great-grandchildren and other nieces, nephews and cousins who will miss her; two great friends Patty and Amy. Special thanks to the staff of LMC, caregivers over the years she was sick Tracie Williams, Charidy Powell, Regina and Daisy Mae Broadwater & Shalonda Smith, also who we might have missed.