Obituary of Herbert Jeffers

Herbert H. “Jeff” Jeffers, a veteran of WWII, the Korean conflict, Vietnam War, and retired school bus supervisor for Richland One, died Monday, June 4, 2018. He was 89 years old. Jeff enlisted in the Army at the age of 17 and served his country in Japan in World War II during the occupation, in Korea, and Vietnam. SGM Jeffers earned the following awards: Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster, Army Commendation Medal, Vietnamese Gallantry Cross with Bronze Star, Service Medal with Four Battle Stars, as well as numerous other awards and citations. SGM Jeffers and his wife lived at Fort Jackson. He considered Fort Jackson his home, beginning his first tour there in June 1948 and again in 1966. He retired from the Army in 1973. He would often tell friends that he once lived in the Walmart parking lot, formerly Fort Jackson. He retired from the Army in 1973.

Jeff loved to dig in the dirt, growing vegetables and flowers. He won the Fort Jackson Quarters Yard-of-the-Month award for four years in a row before his health forced him to retire from the hobby he enjoyed greatly. He will be missed by his loving family and friends, as well as local car dealerships.

Funeral services for SGM Jeffers will be held at Asbury United Methodist Church on Monday, June 11, at 10:00 AM, with viewing beginning at 9:00. Burial with full military honors will be held at Fort Jackson National Cemetery following the funeral service.

Visitation will be held at Thompson Funeral Home, 845 Leesburg Rd, Columbia SC on Sunday, June 10th from 1-3 PM.

He was preceded in death by his parents and siblings, James, Gene, Berman, and Louise. He is survived by his loving wife of 68 years, Vonceil; brother Benny Jeffers (Sandra); son, Roy Jeffers (Nancy); daughter, Gail Ballentine (Doug); grandchildren, Donna Stearne (Brian), Jennifer Davis (John), Jeremy Ballentine (Trisha), Amanda Vasquez (Greg), Richard Jeffers, and Kevin Jeffers (Saman); great-grandchildren, Bailey and Afton Davis, Mackenzie, Natalie, and Alexander Vasquez, Madison Ballentine, Brian Quinn, and Kyle Stearne.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Asbury Methodist Church Foundation.