Jane Pearlstine Meyerson

Jane Pearlstine Meyerson 92, passed away on August 24, 2024 in Charleston, South Carolina.

Jane Pearlstine Meyerson was born on January 13, 1932, at the old Baker Hospital on Colonial Lake in Charleston, SC. She rightly considered herself a true Charlestonian. She was the daughter of Edwin Strauss Pearlstine and Jeanette Felsenthal Pearlstine. Jane enjoyed a childhood first on Bee Street then beginning in kindergarten on Moultrie Street where she visited Hampton Park and Citadel Dress Parades. Her grandmother and grandfather Pearlstine lived at the corner of Rutledge and Bogard Streets where she often visited. She recalled so much Charleston history like WWII patrol, submarines off the coast, and rationing coupons in WWII, shagging on the piers at Folly Beach and the Isle of Palms, the polio epidemic, Citadel dances, and summers living on Sullivan’s Island. She and her brother, Edwin Pearlstine Jr., had a billy goat and cart for transportation on the island and their family had the first telephone on Sullivan’s Island. Many family vacations were spent with her mother’s family in Memphis TN. Jane had an old Model T at age 13. Apart from her time at college, she always lived in Charleston.

Jane married Gerald L Meyerson (OBM) in 1953. Jane and Jerry had 3 daughters Cathy Meyerson Kleiman, Ellen Meyerson Sheridan and Carol Meyerson Rice (Seth); 6 grandchildren Jennifer Kleiman, Robert Kleiman (Julia Bass), Graham Sheridan (Victoria Ball), Elliot Sheridan, Annie Rice (Harry Lempriere), and Jane Frances Rice. She had one great grandchild, Sully Sheridan. She is survived by her brother, Edwin Pearlstine, Jr. Jane also had especially close relationships with her nieces Susan Pearlstine and Jan Pearlstine Lipov. She was the matriarch of the Pearlstine and Meyerson families with a vast array of nieces and nephews and just known as “Aunt Jane” to countless others. She is also survived by her lifelong friend, Bobbi Steinberg Spitz. She was a sixth generation Charlestonian and a lifelong member of Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim Temple on Hasell Street.

That said, she was always interested in everything, everyone and everywhere. She loved, in no particular order books, reading, bridge, theater, flower arranging, licorice, sandwiches, cobb salads, worldwide travel, movies, peppermint and peach ice cream, shopping, doing the New York Times crossword puzzle, and asking questions. Accordingly, she was an exceptional student. She graduated from Memminger High School, attended Connecticut College (where she said she learned to think and study) and graduated in 1953 from Sophie Newcomb College of Tulane University (where she learned to shop and have fun). Later in the 1970’s she went to the Citadel and received a Masters in Library Science and another in Education. She was the Librarian at Middleton High School for decades and just loved it. Since Jerry was such an avid golfer, she said she never wanted to be a golf widow and to have her own life. However, she and Jerry loved going to the Country Club of Charleston with friends for dinners and parties. Jane always wanted to celebrate family members’ birthdays at the Club.

Jane and Jerry built an extraordinary house on Confederate Circle in South Windermere in 1963. It was a happy home and the scene of countless teen slumber parties and “street parties.” Every night the family had dinner together at the breakfast room table.

During Hurricane Hugo, 57 trees were lost in the yard and the house destroyed. She and Jerry lived in a camper in the front yard for a year while the house was rebuilt. Jane lived there for over 60 years. When the gardeners came, she would go outside to plan and direct the groundskeeping. 

After retirement Jane and Jerry spent 22 winters in Palm Springs, CA in Rancho Mirage. She reconnected with many old friends and sorority sisters from Sophie Newcomb and made tons of new ones. She loved everything about the desert and its landscape and especially enjoyed hiking, socializing, bingo, and playing bridge. During the days Jerry was on the golf course and at night they were having fun with friends

Together Jane and Jerry traveled the world to China, Hong Kong, Morrocco, Turkey, Russia, all across Europe and the USA. They would travel to the NC mountains in the fall for the leaves and every few years to Sarasota FL to see Jerry’s sister, Janet Meyerson Wetstone. In 1970 Jane and Jerry rented a villa for a month for the family in Marbella Spain and traveled all over southern Spain with Cathy, Ellen and Carol. One of the most vivid memories was the mountainous drive on the road to Rhonda, Spain. Then in summer of 1972 they rented a house in Avignon France where they all traveled together with too much luggage in a little European car around Europe. Later, She and Cathy went to Cuba in 2016.

Jane was a lifelong member of Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim Temple (KKBE) and a founding member of the book club--- way before book clubs were a “thing”. Before becoming a “working woman”, she was very involved in KKBE sisterhood and the National Council of Jewish Women. She and Jerry dedicated a beautiful stained-glass window in KKBE in 2004. 

Jane was an avid bridge player and became a Life Master. She took lessons once a week, played at the Bridge Center and the Country Club, would travel to bridge tournaments and have a ball with her bridge partners. Additionally, she really enjoyed participating in events with Friends of the Library and the Southern Jewish Historical Society. She would travel to NYC to see shows on Broadway and saw the first run of the musical “Hair” and much later took her grandchildren to NYC to see “Hamilton.” She loved all of her grandchildren and they loved her. Each one had their own special relationship with “Grandmommy” or “Grandma.” 

Jane’s entire family would like to give a special thank you to Nadine Grant, her long-term caregiver and companion. We all greatly appreciate Nadine’s love, concern, and devotion. Additionally, we want to extend a major thank you the entire staff of The Kempton of Charleston for the wonderful care that they gave her. 

Jane’s graveside funeral will take place on Monday, August 26 at 11:00 am, in KKBE's Huguenin Avenue Cemetery. The family will sit Shiva on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday from 3:00 - 8:00 pm at Cathy's home: 19 Lord Ashley Drive, Charleston, SC in South Windermere. A Shiva service will take place on Monday at 6:00 pm.

If so inclined, donations in Jane’s memory may be made to the KKBE fund of your choosing. 

Arrangements by J. Henry Stuhr, Inc. Downtown Chapel.