James W Pruitt

On September 9, 2015 James W. Pruitt passed away peacefully at the home of John and Betty Barton. Mr. Pruitt was born on May 15, 1932 in Beaufort, the son of Bessie Kruger Pruitt and John Ed Pruitt. He was 83. He was predeceased by his parents and brothers Ed Roulston Pruitt, August Laymon Pruitt (Mamie, daughters Irene and Annette, son August Laymon Pruitt Jr), John Davis Pruitt (Lois, sons Jim and Douglas) Mr. Pruitt opened his first store in 1952 on Ribaut Road where it became a gathering point for neighbors and kids. How many of us can remember going to Mr. Pruitt's store, empty drink bottles in hand to sell and leaving with bulging sacks of candy. Regardless of how many bottles were stacked in his small cluttered store he could always be depended on to buy the bottles from the kids. This has to be one of bright spots of growing up in Beaufort. During this time, Mr. Pruitt found time to serve 10 years in the South Carolina National Guard. Traveling with the guard marked the longest trips Mr. Pruitt made from his beloved Beaufort. In 1988, the county condemned his little store for a parking lot, so he reopened his deceased brothers Ed's store on Greene Street. In 1998, his longtime friend Edna Barton passed away and her last request of her son John and his wife Betty was to watch out for Mr. Pruitt. In 1999, he underwent major open heart surgery at MUSC which he narrowly survived. After being released from MUSC he was unable to return home, so John and Betty Barton moved him into their home and decided to adopt him into their family. Mr. Pruitt gradually recovered on a steady diet of long walks on Cat Island and doses of John and Betty's kids, grandkids, and great grandkids. Mr. Pruitt was considered to be a full-fledged member of the family and he thoroughly enjoyed all the grandkids as they grew from babies to teens. Mr. Pruitt also had a close companion in Snowball, the family Maltese, who loved to sleep on Mr. Pruitt's bed while Mr. Pruitt napped or indulged in his love for jigsaw puzzles. Mr. Pruitt was such a blessing to John and Betty, their children Glenda Londono (Rafael) of Beaufort, Greg Wilson (Julie) of Spartanburg, and Gena Wilson of Glasgow, Scotland. Also the children of Glenda and Rafael, Jessica McClam (Zack), Brianna Londono, Luke Londono, Christian James Londono. The children of Greg and Julie, Kyle and Carley. And not to forget the Great, great Grandkids, the children of Jessica and Zack McClam; Presley, Riley and Renley. Mr. Pruitt will be greatly missed by all his customers with whom he would gladly spend hours talking with and occasionally dispensing small much needed loans. Many of Mr. Pruitt's small loans would never be repaid but this did not deter him from making more. Mr. Pruitt never lost his faith in humanity even after countless break-ins and armed robberies. Mr. Pruitt has closed his store for the last time and believed surely his Lord will have an opening for a little baldheaded man, with 63 year's experience, in the Lord's storehouse. Mr. Pruitt leaves behind so many memories to the lives he touched and surely Beaufort was a better place for his having been there. Visitation will be at Anderson Funeral Home 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm Sunday, September 13, 2015. Funeral services will be held at the Parish Church of St. Helena at 11 am Monday, September 14, 2015 followed by burial in the church cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Preservation Trust at the Parish Church of St. Helena or the Cancer Society.