LEESVILLE - Inez Connelly Pearson, 89, passed away at her home, Saturday, October 20. 2012. Born in Saluda County on December 28, 1922, she was the oldest of seven children of Wilbur Fletcher and Willette Taylor Connelly. She graduated from Hollywood High School as Valedictorian of her class in 1939 and attended Winthrop College. She met her husband, William Aubrey Pearson, while working as a welder at the Savannah Shipyard building Liberty Ships during World War II. They were married November 16, 1945 and went to Key West, Florida where he retired from the Navy Power Plant. Upon his death in 1975, she returned to South Carolina where she has resided since. She was predeceased by her parents, her sister, Olivia Bennis, husband, Fred, brothers, James and wife, Mattie Connelly, Willard and wife, Nita Connelly, and Fred Connelly.
Surviving are two sisters, Louise Williamson (Ken) and JoAnne Connelly, both of Leesville, sister-in-law, Hazel Connelly of Kennesaw, GA, son, William Pearson (Susie) and daughter, Linda Judy (Julius), both of Leesville and David Morin (Cathy) of Aurora, Colorado who was taken into her family as a teenager, five grandchildren, Jamie, Tracy and Michael Cathcart all of Leesville, Lauren Pearson of Deland, Florida, and Kyle Morin of Aurora, Colorado, six great-grandchildren, Steven, Christi, Matthew and Nicholas Driver all of Leesville, and Marcus, Jr. and Makenna Moore both of Deland, Florida. Mrs. Pearson is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews.
Services will be conducted 3:00 p.m., Tuesday at Barr-Price Funeral Home and Crematorium, Historic B-L Chapel.
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