Obituary for Gary Nesbitt
Gary Nesbitt, passed through Heaven’s gate on Sunday, August 29, 2021.
He was born September 25, 1960, to the late Theodore C. “T.C.” Nesbitt, Sr. and the late Emelie Geddings Nesbitt. Mr. Nesbitt was an Alumni of Furman High School and the University of North Dakota, where he earned an Associate’s Degree in Nutrition and Finance. Gary also received his National Restaurant Certification from Clemson University. Gary enjoyed using his knowledge of nutrition to provide healthy meals for residents at various facilities including Lake Marion Nursing Center, Camp Bob Cooper, Methodist Manor (Florence), Springdale (Camden) and Grady Hipp (Greenville). Mr. Nesbitt also managed the food service programs at the Lee State Correctional Facility as well as the Sumter County Regional Detention Center. Gary also worked for many years in the finance business with various companies which included Transouth, United Finance and World Finance. Gary had a special love for his little town of Pinewood and served as a councilman for the town from May 2014 through July 2020 at which time his health began to decline. He was also a former member of the Sumter Jaycees and the National Food Managers Association. Gary was a lifelong member of Bethesda Church of God and was a former member of the Voices of Praise Choir. He occasionally attended Green Acres Assembly of God.
Gary is survived by his wife Brenda Ratliff-Nesbitt of Pinewood and his former wife Beth Mims of Sumter. Gary and Beth were blessed with a beautiful daughter Ashlie (Adam) Johnson whom he loved dearly. When he married Brenda, his childhood sweetheart, he was blessed to receive three additional children. They are Brooky “Mark” (Jenni) Evans and Amanda Evans (D.J.) Mathis of Sumter and Tomilyn Evans (Ryan Barnhill) of Bishopville. He was also blessed with a bonus daughter Lisa (Shawn) Blair of Alaska. Also surviving are two sisters Emily Rae Osteen of Sumter and Audrey Clowrey of Florida, and many nieces, nephews, cousins and other loved ones. Gary’s pride and joy were his six grandchildren. Alexis Evans, his only granddaughter was his heart and he was so proud of her and the young woman she is becoming. Loving grandsons include Jayden and Jordan Green, Tripp and Keegan Mathis, and Logan Evans.
In addition to his parents, Gary was preceded in death by his grandparents Jesse and Lula Pritchard Geddings and Robert and Cora Nesbitt, three brothers including Theodore “Ted” Nesbitt, Jr., Wayne Mathis and Fred “Chubby” Mathis. His grandson, Bristol Lee Mathis also preceded him to Heaven.
A memorial service will be held at 5 p.m. Friday September 3, 2021 at Bethesda Church of God officiated by the Rev. Al Sims and the Rev. Michael Bowman.
The family will receive friends from 4 to 5 p.m. Friday at Bethesda Church of God and other times at the home 313 E. Clark St., Pinewood, SC.
Elmore-Cannon-Stephens Funeral Home of Sumter is in charge of the arrangements.
He was born September 25, 1960, to the late Theodore C. “T.C.” Nesbitt, Sr. and the late Emelie Geddings Nesbitt. Mr. Nesbitt was an Alumni of Furman High School and the University of North Dakota, where he earned an Associate’s Degree in Nutrition and Finance. Gary also received his National Restaurant Certification from Clemson University. Gary enjoyed using his knowledge of nutrition to provide healthy meals for residents at various facilities including Lake Marion Nursing Center, Camp Bob Cooper, Methodist Manor (Florence), Springdale (Camden) and Grady Hipp (Greenville). Mr. Nesbitt also managed the food service programs at the Lee State Correctional Facility as well as the Sumter County Regional Detention Center. Gary also worked for many years in the finance business with various companies which included Transouth, United Finance and World Finance. Gary had a special love for his little town of Pinewood and served as a councilman for the town from May 2014 through July 2020 at which time his health began to decline. He was also a former member of the Sumter Jaycees and the National Food Managers Association. Gary was a lifelong member of Bethesda Church of God and was a former member of the Voices of Praise Choir. He occasionally attended Green Acres Assembly of God.
Gary is survived by his wife Brenda Ratliff-Nesbitt of Pinewood and his former wife Beth Mims of Sumter. Gary and Beth were blessed with a beautiful daughter Ashlie (Adam) Johnson whom he loved dearly. When he married Brenda, his childhood sweetheart, he was blessed to receive three additional children. They are Brooky “Mark” (Jenni) Evans and Amanda Evans (D.J.) Mathis of Sumter and Tomilyn Evans (Ryan Barnhill) of Bishopville. He was also blessed with a bonus daughter Lisa (Shawn) Blair of Alaska. Also surviving are two sisters Emily Rae Osteen of Sumter and Audrey Clowrey of Florida, and many nieces, nephews, cousins and other loved ones. Gary’s pride and joy were his six grandchildren. Alexis Evans, his only granddaughter was his heart and he was so proud of her and the young woman she is becoming. Loving grandsons include Jayden and Jordan Green, Tripp and Keegan Mathis, and Logan Evans.
In addition to his parents, Gary was preceded in death by his grandparents Jesse and Lula Pritchard Geddings and Robert and Cora Nesbitt, three brothers including Theodore “Ted” Nesbitt, Jr., Wayne Mathis and Fred “Chubby” Mathis. His grandson, Bristol Lee Mathis also preceded him to Heaven.
A memorial service will be held at 5 p.m. Friday September 3, 2021 at Bethesda Church of God officiated by the Rev. Al Sims and the Rev. Michael Bowman.
The family will receive friends from 4 to 5 p.m. Friday at Bethesda Church of God and other times at the home 313 E. Clark St., Pinewood, SC.
Elmore-Cannon-Stephens Funeral Home of Sumter is in charge of the arrangements.