October 1, 1935 – February 4, 2022
Helen Joanne Pettus Reeder of Camden, South Carolina | 1935 – 2022 | Obituary
Helen “Joanne” Pettus Reeder passed away peacefully on Friday, February 4, 2022. She was born in Rock Hill, SC and was 86 years old upon her passing.
She was the oldest daughter of the late Dennis Horton Pettus and Helen Alene Ross Pettus. Joanne was raised on a working farm during the Great Depression era; however, she expressed she never really experienced want or hunger during this time because of the farm. There was a root cellar where all root vegetables were kept, cows for milk and making butter. The family still has the butter churn! Hogs were butchered for hams and bacon and salted down in the smokehouse for preservation. There were chickens and eggs to be gathered. Joanne even helped with the gathering of the cotton crop. The family home was built by her father’s father, and what a home it was! It sat upon a high hill with tall brick columns, high to the sky ceilings, and a huge porch that ran the length of the house. The ceiling of the porch was painted sky blue in the manner of most Southern homes.
Joanne graduated from Indian Land High School as Salutatorian of her class. During high school she played basketball, was a staff member of both the school newspaper and yearbook, a Beta Club member, May Court member on May Day, and a class officer throughout her high school years. She held the honor of “Miss Indian Land”, voted on by her teachers, and rode on Christmas floats in both Fort Mill, SC and Indian Land, SC. While in high school, Joanne met the love of her life, Allen Evans Reeder, Jr. from Fort Mill, SC. They were married for 69 years until his passing on December 25, 2021. They were destined to be together.
Joanne was a beautiful woman in every manner from birth to passing. She was the epitome of a lady, elegant and graceful in both manner and appearance. She was soft-spoken and kind. She loved flowers and belonged to the garden Club and bridge club in Camden. Joanne was well known for her culinary skills and to say it fairly…boy, she could cook! She won 1st place for her fried chicken at a large family reunion and has many published recipes in What’s Cooking in Camden.
Joanne and Allen raised four children in an idyllic family setting, always in the church. Their love produced a burgeoning and ever-growing line of descendants. Joanne and Allen loved the Lord and family. There were always picnics, family dinners every night with Joanne’s good cooking, holidays, birthdays, graduations, baptisms, weddings, Easter egg hunts, steeplechase events, attending sports events and family gatherings, all in the name of love.
Together they traveled the world. Joanne was a superior homemaker, worked for the Red Cross, and retired from the South Carolina Forestry Commission. She was a “Steel Magnolia”.
Joanne is survived by four children, Sandra Reeder Hornsby; Robin Reeder Nettles; Dennis (Ruth) Reeder; and Brent (Emily) Reeder; eight grandchildren, James Hornsby, Jr.; Aaron (Andrea) Nettles; Matthew (Kristin) Nettles; Phillip (Sarah) Nettles; Katie (Mitchel) Cooper; Thomas (Lauren) Reeder; Ben (Alex) Reeder; and Caroline Reeder; and nine great-grandchildren, Natalie Hornsby, Molly Hornsby, George Nettles, Walter Nettles, Ryland Nettles, Palmer Nettles, Riggs Cooper, Annabelle Cooper, and Weezie Reeder; two sisters, Judy Pettus Anderson (David) and Janet Pettus Ricketson (James); nieces Tara Cooke, Amy (Troy) Moss, Kelly (Robbie) Haire; great-nephews Christopher Cooke, Zachary Cooke; great-nieces Hannah Honeycutt, Raylee Honeycutt, Hilary (Will) Crowe; great-great nephews Robby Haire, Dylan Hair, Koa Crowe; great-great niece Claire Moss.
A celebration of Joanne’s life will be held on Tuesday, February 8, 2022,at Lyttleton Street United Methodist Church, beginning with a viewing from 9:45 – 10:25 AM, followed by a service at 10:30 AM . Bishop Gary Rivas will officiate. Burial will follow at Fort Jackson National Cemetery at 12:00 PM, at her husband’s burial plot. Pallbearers will be grandsons of Joanne and Allen: James R. Hornsby, Jr., Aaron Nettles, Matthew Nettles, Phillip Nettles, Thomas Reeder, Ben Reeder.
While flowers are gratefully accepted, in lieu of flowers donations may be made to St. Judes Children’s Research Hospital.
Kornegay Funeral Home, Camden Chapel, is in charge of arrangements.
SERVICES
Celebration of Life Service
Tuesday, February 8, 2022
10:30 AM
Lyttleton Street United Methodist Church
1206 Lyttleton Street
Camden, SC 29020
2024
On March 8, 2024, Helen Joanne Pettus Reeder was mentioned as the deceased mother in the obituary of Sandra Ann Reeder Hornsby.