Obituary of Oneta Jordan Eleazer

Oneta Jordan Eleazer died January 27, 2023, in Lexington, SC, at age 93. Born in Conway, SC, she graduated from Conway High School in 1947. That same year, she moved to Columbia, SC where she attended a commercial college and worked as a secretary for Siebels Bruce Insurance Company. Oneta and her friends from their boarding house, enjoyed going to square dances at Valley Park. Story is that one night Jimmie Eleazer saw her standing by the water fountain across the dance floor and immediately informed his best friend Harry that “he was going to marry that girl.” And, he did just that in 1951.

A decades-long member of Heyward Street Methodist Church (formerly Wesley Memorial Methodist Church), Oneta taught children’s Sunday School for many years and was an active in various church positions and activities. She was also active in the Rosewood Elementary School PTA, where her children attended school.

In 1975, Oneta became a “Pink Lady” volunteer at Baptist Hospital, spending most years in Chaplain Services. In 2010, she was given the Lifetime Membership Award in the Palmetto Health Baptist Auxiliary of Volunteers. When she retired in 2016, she had given 10,000 hours of service to the hospital.

In 2016, Oneta moved to Holiday Deepwoods Estates, Lexington, where she had many friends and enjoyed participating in activities including cut-throat Hand and Foot Canasta games and trivia. The family would like to thank the wonderful staff of Deepwoods Estates, and we are grateful to the amazing caregivers of Assisting Hands of the Midlands (Team Jayne) for the help and care they gave to Oneta as her health declined.

Oneta was the daughter of Franklin O’Neal Jordan and Lucy Jordan and was preceded in death by her parents and sisters, Olean and Flossie, brothers, Curtis and Everette, as well as her husband Jimmie. She is survived by her sister, Joyce Ann; daughter, Patricia Eleazer Fetner (Jeff); son, Jimmie Eleazer, Jr.; as well as grandsons, Bryan (Natahli Mills) and Nathan (Welina Mills); and great-grandchildren, William, Sharon, and Ora Ann. Pallbearers will be Jeff Fetner, Bryan Fetner, Nathan Fetner, William Fetner, Kenneth Edwards, Eddie Edwards, and Bobby Eleazer.

Funeral services, led by Pastor Tammy Blom of Heyward Street Methodist Church, will be at Thompson Funeral Home Greenlawn located at 845 Leesburg Road Columbia, South Carolina 29209 on February 4, 2023. Visitation will begin at 10am with a memorial service at 11am. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made to South Carolina Special Olympics.