Julius C. (Jay) Pearson, 89, died of complications from COVID at Agape House in Columbia on February 13, after a heroic fight against the virus. Known as Sonny to family and his oldest friends, he was preceded in death by his wife of 60 years, Margaret Anne Lowery, of Orangeburg, and his sister, Myrl Bordes Carroll, of New Orleans.
Jay was born September 27, 1931, at the Sisters of Mercy Hospital in New Orleans, the son of Julius C. Pearlstine, an attorney, and Hazle Blanche Stevens. He graduated from Alcée Fortier High School in 1947 and attended The Citadel as a member of the class of 1951, but graduated from Tulane University. Commissioned that spring as a second lieutenant in the US Air Force, Jay retired in 1971 as a lieutenant colonel, with service as a navigator in the Korean War and as a crew member of the 86th Bomb Squadron at RAF Station in Sculthorpe, England, where he flew with the only US nuclear bomber unit assigned to NATO. At Rhein Main AFB in Frankfurt, Germany, he joined a transport squadron and flew diplomatic missions throughout Europe, North Africa, and the Soviet Union. Returning to the United States in 1963, Jay received the prestigious assignment to the US Air Force Command and Staff College at Montgomery, Alabama, where upon graduation, he was retained on the faculty. Other postings included teaching positions at the Virginia Military Institute and Louisiana State University. He held a Master’s degree in Public Administration from The George Washington University. Upon retirement from active duty in 1971, Jay spent nine years as Director of the Orangeburg District Five AFJROTC at Orangeburg-Wilkinson High School, earning national recognition three times as instructor of the year.
Jay was an active member of the First Baptist Church where he served on the board of deacons and taught Sunday school for over 30 years. A former commander of American Legion Post 4, he was a Master mason and life member of Osiris Masonic Lodge of New Orleans.
He is survived by four children: Clint Dale Stevens (Columbia), Elizabeth Lynn Robeson (Columbia), Julianne Lowery Leary (Lexington), and Lee Douglas Pearson (New Orleans); five grandchildren: Patrick Leary (Phoenix), Anna Leary, Rebecca (Trae) Carson, both of Lexington, Moss Robeson (Columbia) and Remy Teal Robeson (Seattle); and one great-grandchild, Blaise Leary (Lexington). He also leaves behind two nieces and a number of cousins in New Orleans, as well as his cherished Citadel roommate and friend of 73 years, Robert P. Fulmer (Orangeburg).
Interment will be at Fort Jackson National Cemetery on Thursday, February 25, after a private family ceremony.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the First Baptist Church of Orangeburg, the Shriner’s Children’s Hospital (Greenville), or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (Memphis).
Jay was born September 27, 1931, at the Sisters of Mercy Hospital in New Orleans, the son of Julius C. Pearlstine, an attorney, and Hazle Blanche Stevens. He graduated from Alcée Fortier High School in 1947 and attended The Citadel as a member of the class of 1951, but graduated from Tulane University. Commissioned that spring as a second lieutenant in the US Air Force, Jay retired in 1971 as a lieutenant colonel, with service as a navigator in the Korean War and as a crew member of the 86th Bomb Squadron at RAF Station in Sculthorpe, England, where he flew with the only US nuclear bomber unit assigned to NATO. At Rhein Main AFB in Frankfurt, Germany, he joined a transport squadron and flew diplomatic missions throughout Europe, North Africa, and the Soviet Union. Returning to the United States in 1963, Jay received the prestigious assignment to the US Air Force Command and Staff College at Montgomery, Alabama, where upon graduation, he was retained on the faculty. Other postings included teaching positions at the Virginia Military Institute and Louisiana State University. He held a Master’s degree in Public Administration from The George Washington University. Upon retirement from active duty in 1971, Jay spent nine years as Director of the Orangeburg District Five AFJROTC at Orangeburg-Wilkinson High School, earning national recognition three times as instructor of the year.
Jay was an active member of the First Baptist Church where he served on the board of deacons and taught Sunday school for over 30 years. A former commander of American Legion Post 4, he was a Master mason and life member of Osiris Masonic Lodge of New Orleans.
He is survived by four children: Clint Dale Stevens (Columbia), Elizabeth Lynn Robeson (Columbia), Julianne Lowery Leary (Lexington), and Lee Douglas Pearson (New Orleans); five grandchildren: Patrick Leary (Phoenix), Anna Leary, Rebecca (Trae) Carson, both of Lexington, Moss Robeson (Columbia) and Remy Teal Robeson (Seattle); and one great-grandchild, Blaise Leary (Lexington). He also leaves behind two nieces and a number of cousins in New Orleans, as well as his cherished Citadel roommate and friend of 73 years, Robert P. Fulmer (Orangeburg).
Interment will be at Fort Jackson National Cemetery on Thursday, February 25, after a private family ceremony.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the First Baptist Church of Orangeburg, the Shriner’s Children’s Hospital (Greenville), or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (Memphis).
Julius C. (Jay) Pearson, 89, died of complications from COVID at Agape House in Columbia on February 13, after a heroic fight against the virus. Known as Sonny to family and his oldest friends, he was preceded in death by his wife of 60 years, Margaret Anne Lowery, of Orangeburg, and his sister, Myrl Bordes Carroll, of New Orleans.
Jay was born September 27, 1931, at the Sisters of Mercy Hospital in New Orleans, the son of Julius C. Pearlstine, an attorney, and Hazle Blanche Stevens. He graduated from Alcée Fortier High School in 1947 and attended The Citadel as a member of the class of 1951, but graduated from Tulane University. Commissioned that spring as a second lieutenant in the US Air Force, Jay retired in 1971 as a lieutenant colonel, with service as a navigator in the Korean War and as a crew member of the 86th Bomb Squadron at RAF Station in Sculthorpe, England, where he flew with the only US nuclear bomber unit assigned to NATO. At Rhein Main AFB in Frankfurt, Germany, he joined a transport squadron and flew diplomatic missions throughout Europe, North Africa, and the Soviet Union. Returning to the United States in 1963, Jay received the prestigious assignment to the US Air Force Command and Staff College at Montgomery, Alabama, where upon graduation, he was retained on the faculty. Other postings included teaching positions at the Virginia Military Institute and Louisiana State University. He held a Master’s degree in Public Administration from The George Washington University. Upon retirement from active duty in 1971, Jay spent nine years as Director of the Orangeburg District Five AFJROTC at Orangeburg-Wilkinson High School, earning national recognition three times as instructor of the year.
Jay was an active member of the First Baptist Church where he served on the board of deacons and taught Sunday school for over 30 years. A former commander of American Legion Post 4, he was a Master mason and life member of Osiris Masonic Lodge of New Orleans.
He is survived by four children: Clint Dale Stevens (Columbia), Elizabeth Lynn Robeson (Columbia), Julianne Lowery Leary (Lexington), and Lee Douglas Pearson (New Orleans); five grandchildren: Patrick Leary (Phoenix), Anna Leary, Rebecca (Trae) Carson, both of Lexington, Moss Robeson (Columbia) and Remy Teal Robeson (Seattle); and one great-grandchild, Blaise Leary (Lexington). He also leaves behind two nieces and a number of cousins in New Orleans, as well as his cherished Citadel roommate and friend of 73 years, Robert P. Fulmer (Orangeburg).
Interment will be at Fort Jackson National Cemetery on Thursday, February 25, after a private family ceremony.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the First Baptist Church of Orangeburg, the Shriner’s Children’s Hospital (Greenville), or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (Memphis).
Jay was born September 27, 1931, at the Sisters of Mercy Hospital in New Orleans, the son of Julius C. Pearlstine, an attorney, and Hazle Blanche Stevens. He graduated from Alcée Fortier High School in 1947 and attended The Citadel as a member of the class of 1951, but graduated from Tulane University. Commissioned that spring as a second lieutenant in the US Air Force, Jay retired in 1971 as a lieutenant colonel, with service as a navigator in the Korean War and as a crew member of the 86th Bomb Squadron at RAF Station in Sculthorpe, England, where he flew with the only US nuclear bomber unit assigned to NATO. At Rhein Main AFB in Frankfurt, Germany, he joined a transport squadron and flew diplomatic missions throughout Europe, North Africa, and the Soviet Union. Returning to the United States in 1963, Jay received the prestigious assignment to the US Air Force Command and Staff College at Montgomery, Alabama, where upon graduation, he was retained on the faculty. Other postings included teaching positions at the Virginia Military Institute and Louisiana State University. He held a Master’s degree in Public Administration from The George Washington University. Upon retirement from active duty in 1971, Jay spent nine years as Director of the Orangeburg District Five AFJROTC at Orangeburg-Wilkinson High School, earning national recognition three times as instructor of the year.
Jay was an active member of the First Baptist Church where he served on the board of deacons and taught Sunday school for over 30 years. A former commander of American Legion Post 4, he was a Master mason and life member of Osiris Masonic Lodge of New Orleans.
He is survived by four children: Clint Dale Stevens (Columbia), Elizabeth Lynn Robeson (Columbia), Julianne Lowery Leary (Lexington), and Lee Douglas Pearson (New Orleans); five grandchildren: Patrick Leary (Phoenix), Anna Leary, Rebecca (Trae) Carson, both of Lexington, Moss Robeson (Columbia) and Remy Teal Robeson (Seattle); and one great-grandchild, Blaise Leary (Lexington). He also leaves behind two nieces and a number of cousins in New Orleans, as well as his cherished Citadel roommate and friend of 73 years, Robert P. Fulmer (Orangeburg).
Interment will be at Fort Jackson National Cemetery on Thursday, February 25, after a private family ceremony.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the First Baptist Church of Orangeburg, the Shriner’s Children’s Hospital (Greenville), or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (Memphis).
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