Jack Felder Stoudemire

Entered into eternal rest after a short illness on the afternoon of March 11, 2011at Summerville, Medical Center, Jack Felder Stoudemire, widower of Elizabeth Bouknight Stoudemire of Charleston, SC.  The relatives and friends are invited to attend his funeral services in J. HENRY STUHR, INC., DOWNTOWN CHAPEL Tuesday, March 15, 2011, at 11:00 a.m.  Interment following in Live Oak Memorial Gardens.  Friends may call at Stuhr's Downtown Chapel Monday between 5:30 and 7:30 p.m.

Mr. Stoudemire  was born October 1, 1919 in St. Matthews, SC, son of the late John David Stoudenmire and Estelle Elizabeth Rickenbaker Stoudenmire.  He was the last of seven children who grew up in the farming community of St. Matthews, SC.  He lived with his sister, Ruby Mae Stoudenmire Meetze and her husband Moody Wessinger Meetze in Columbia, SC during his young adult life where he met his wife of 65 years, Elizabeth and was married on December 18, 1938 at the West Columbia Baptist Church in West Columbia, SC.  Their daughter, Sadie Mae Stoudenmire and first son, Jack Felder Stoudemire, was born in Columbia, SC.  Their last son, John David Stoudenmire, II, was born in Charleston, SC.

Jack first began his horticulture training in a nursery at 18, later worked in a steel plant in Maryland, and worked as a welder at the Charleston Naval Base during World War II.   Jack began working for the City of Charleston's Parks and Playground Department in 1946 and continued working until he retired as Superintendent of Parks for the City of Charleston after 37 years of service.  He was loved and respected by the many workmen who worked under his supervision and especially those in "The Tree Gang" and his fellow staff members. He was affectionately known as "Mr. Jack" and was honored by Joseph P. Riley, Mayor of Charleston, for his long and dedicated service to the city of Charleston upon his retirement.

He was formerly a longtime member and deacon, ordained in 1969, at the Rutledge Avenue Baptist Church now known as Rutledge Memorial Baptist Church and currently a member of Ashley River Baptist Church where he worshipped through their Media presentation each Sunday.  Jack loved gardening and was known as the man with the "green thumb", cooking for his family, and his church because he loved the Lord.  He was the caregiver for his beloved wife, Elizabeth, in her battle with cancer who died on June 6, 2004; his sister, Ruby Mae, after the loss of her husband, who died on July 1, 1996; and his eldest sister, Vernon Dozia, who also lived with him and his wife for 56 years before her death on August 9, 2004.

He is survived by a son, John David Stoudenmire, II and his wife, Myungsook Song Stoudenmire, of Summerville; a daughter, Sadie Mae Stoudemire of Summerville; three grandchildren, Larry Wilson Stoudenmire and his wife, Ashley Johnson Stoudenmire, of Charleston and Lori Elizabeth Wilson Meredith and her late husband, Marcus Albert Meredith, children of Sadie Mae Stoudemire, and Esther Hyunju Song Stoudenmire, daughter of John Stoudenmire; and four great-grandchildren, Ashby Jackson Stoudenmire and Addison Felder Stoudenmire, children of Ashley and Larry Stoudenmire and Hunter Christian Meredith and Leah Elizabeth Meredith, children of Lori and the late Marcus Meredith.  He was much loved by many nieces, nephews, grand nieces, grand nephews and family of the Stoudenmire and Bouknight clan.

Mr. Stoudemire is predeceased by six siblings to include Vernon Dotia Stoudenmire Hair Spradley, Sadie Pauline Stoudenmire, Ruby Mae Stoudenmire Meetze, Harry Clayton Stoudenmire, Willie Dreher Stoudenmire, and John Elvin Stoudenmire; a son, Jack Felder Stoudemire, Jr.; and grandparents Mary Ann Hare, wife of Mathias Luther Lewis Stoudenmire, and Elizabeth Margaret Crider, wife of Andrew Govean Rickenbaker.

The family wishes to express gratitude for the kind, tender care of Jack's new found physicians, Dr. Claudius S. Dawson, III and Dr. S. Nicole DeBerry, and the Summerville Medical Center -Three North professional staff especially Ms. Rutledge.

Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society, 5900 Core Road, Suite 504, North Charleston, SC 29406 and/or the Ashley River Baptist Church, Memorial Prayer Garden, 1101 Savannah Highway, Charleston, SC 29407.