Jean Durant Wheless

Jean DuRant Wheless Olanta Jean DuRant Wheless, age 76, passed away Wednesday, December 4, 2013 at McLeod Hospice House, surrounded by her loving family. A service will be held at 12 Noon Saturday, December 7, 2013 at Olanta Baptist Church. The family will receive friends at the Olanta Baptist Church Fellowship Hall from 10-12 Noon. Private burial will be held at Olanta Baptist Church Cemetery. Mrs. Wheless was born in Florence County and was a daughter of the late Roy Tarte and Lucy Lemon Tarte. While living in Olanta, she was a member of The Gardenia Garden Club, Town Council, Business Association, and owner of DuRant Furniture Company. She served as President of the WMU, member of the choir, Lois Cole Sunday School Class of Olanta Baptist Church. After her marriage to Albert, she served as President of Driftwood Garden Club, and was a member of Friends In Christ Sunday School Class, N. Myrtle Beach Baptist Church. She is preceded in death by her husband of 38 years, James Merritt DuRant; a niece, Gina Elizabeth Floyd; a nephew, R. B. DuRant, Jr.. She is survived by her husband of 15 years, Albert E. Wheless; two daughters, Deborah DuRant (Dale) Locklair of Florence, Catherine DuRant Coutu of Seneca, SC; a step-daughter, Ann Marie (John) Wessinger of Columbia; two sons, James Merritt (Lisa) DuRant,III of Lake City, Joseph LeRoy DuRant of Detroit, MI; two stepsons, Albert Wheless, Jr. of Scotsdale AZ, Art (Holly) Wheless of Longs; two sisters, Beth (Talbert) Gerald of Athens GA, Anne(Bobby) Floyd of Greenville, SC; a brother-in-law, Ryan B. DuRant; sixteen grandchildren and thirteen great-grandchildren. She will forever be remembered for her beautiful smile, and the joy of life she shared with all. Memorial may be made to John Thomas Truluck Scholarship Fund, Olanta Baptist Church, P.O Box 188, Olanta, South Carolina 29114 and McLeod Hospice Gardens 1203 E. Cheves St. Florence South Carolina 29506. Also, friends and family may also visit on Friday, December 6, 2013 from 6-8pm at the home of Dale and Debbie Locklair, 3795 Byrnes Boulevard, Florence, SC, 29506. Online condolences may be viewed at www.floydfuneral.com Paid Obit to be printed in the Friday, December 6th 2013 edition. To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Jean DuRant Wheless please visit our Sympathy Store.