Mrs. Pearl Geddens

Mrs. Pearl Duncan Geddens, 86, of Columbia, South Carolina, passed away on Thursday, July 24, 2025 after a long battle with Parkinson’s Disease and Breast Cancer. Born September 29, 1938, in Richlands, Virginia, to Mr. Paul Duncan and Mrs. Grace Whited Duncan. She grew up in Richlands, Virginia, graduating from Richlands High School in 1956. Pearl attended Stratford College in Danville, Virginia and obtained her Bachelor's and Master's degrees in education from the University of South Carolina in Columbia, SC. Pearl spent a special summer during her youth at Myrtle Beach, SC. It was there on the pearly white sand of Myrtle Beach she met her beloved husband of 60 years, Mr. Gary Thomas Geddens, Sr. It was truly love at first sight. They later married at Pearl’s family home in Bluefield, West Virginia, and moved to start a family in Westminster, SC. Together they had two children, Mr. Gary Thomas (“Tom”) Geddens, Jr, and Dr. Robert (Beth) Duncan Geddens. There was nothing Pearl valued in life more than education. She spent 30 years in the South Carolina Public School System, teaching in both Lexington School District 2 and Richland School DIstrict 1. Affectionately known as Mrs. Geddens to her students, she contributed to the education of hundreds of South Carolina’s young scholars. Mrs. Geddens was a beacon of excellence and strong leadership through education to her students, children and grandchildren. Pearl’s last dying wish was that her Grandsons, Caleb and Aaron work hard to obtain a college education. In December of 2025, Caleb will graduate from the University of South Carolina with his Bachelors of Science degree in Nursing. In just a few short weeks, Aaron will begin his Bachelors of Science in Wildlife Fisheries Biology at Clemson University. Aaron aspires to become a State Game Warden. Her Grandchildren, Caleb and Aaron Geddens, quickly became her pride and joy immediately after their birth to Robert and Beth Geddens. For some time, Pearl kept baby Caleb and Aaron at her Downtown Columbia home while their parents worked nearby. In their later adolescent years, Caleb and Aaron spent many days of the summer with their grandparents Pearl and Gary Geddens at their Blythewood home. A major highlight of Pearl’s life was vacationing in the summer to Pawleys Island, SC with her grandchildren and family. Together, each year, they spent time fishing, cooking, shopping, swimming and sitting on the beach of Pawleys Island. In the Sandpiper Run pool of Litchfield by the Sea, the Geddens Family witnessed Pearl’s husband Gary, do a cannon ball each year at 76, 77 and 78 years old. These precious moments were cherished deeply by Pearl and will continue to be by her family for decades to come. When not watching her husband do cannonballs into the pool on Pawleys Island, Pearl and Gary lived a relatively quiet retirement at their home in Blythewood, South Carolina. Pearl and Gary cherished moments spent together on the sunporch of their Blythewood home, overlooking her garden of many blooming species and watching TV together. In her later years, her Grandsons Caleb and Aaron took great pride in caring for her garden. Pearl shared her love of Azaleas, Camelias, snowball viburnums, hydrangeas and pink roses with her Grandsons Caleb and Aaron, teaching them how to provide meticulous care for them in her absence. Pearl’s built-in best friend, her sister, Mary Lee Williams of Atlanta, GA. shared an inseparable bond. Pearl looked forward to any moment she got to spend together with her sister either at their homes in Blythewood and Atlanta, shopping together, or on the beaches of Destin, FL and Pawleys Island, SC. Both Her husband Gary, and Brother-in-law, Mr. Zack H. Williams both joked that Pearl and Mary Lee were a force to be reckoned with when together. Nothing could be more true. Pearl was a huge fan of all things Gamecocks sports. From Football to baseball and, especially Gamecock ladies basketball, Pearl never missed watching a game. She truly bled Garnet and Black. She was the beginning of a Gamecock Family legacy stretching to a third generation with her eldest Grandson Caleb. Caleb is sure that there will be many more generations of Gamecocks in the Geddens family for decades to come. Affectionately known as Nana, to her grandchildren, Caleb and Aaron, she was the quintessential southern Grandmother that every southern boy needs. During visits and time spent with her grandchildren, she made sure that they were taught how to be true southern gentlemen. Nana shared secret family recipes, teaching how to cook them and how to prepare large family meals. Pearl never missed an opportunity to capitalize on a “teaching moment” with her Grandsons. She taught her Grandsons any and everything she thought they would need to be a proper and successful Southern Gentlemen. Pearl’s faith in her Lord and savior Jesus Christ was first and foremost in her life. Mrs. Geddens and her husband are long standing members of Westminster Presbyterian Church in Columbia, SC. Pearl enjoyed her time spent with her Westminster Church Family, worshiping the Lord. In her final years here, she and her husband Gary became a resident of The Wildewood Downs Retirement Community. Mrs. Geddens and the entire Geddens family are eternally grateful for the high quality and compassionate care she received during her time as a resident. The Geddens Family extends its sincerest heartfelt gratitude to the following Nurses, CNAs and Staff of Wildwood Downs; Priscilla, Melissa, Erica, Shakimah, Tiara, Susie and both Jasmines. The Geddens Family also thanks Eboni and Angie of Agape Hospice of Columbia for their care of Pearl during their final moments. The Geddens Family recognises Shakimah and Jasmine of Wildwood Downs for being with and ensuring the comfort of Mrs. Pearl Geddens during her final moments on the night of July 24th. Mrs. Pearl Geddens is survived by her husband of 60 years, Mr. Gary Thomas Geddens, Sr, her brother-in-law, Mr. Zack H. Williams of Marietta, GA, her sons, Mr. Gary Thomas Geddens Jr of West Columbia, SC, and Dr. Robert (Beth) Geddens of Blythewood, SC, two grandsons, Mr. Caleb Robert Geddens, and Mr. Aaron John Geddens of Blythewood, SC. She is survived by many cousins residing in the greater area of Richlands, Virginia including Mr. Steve Chapell and Ms. Mozelle Corgele. She is predeceased in death, by her Father and Mother, Mr. and Mrs. Paul and Grace Duncan of Richlands, Virginia. Her beloved sister, Mrs. Mary Lee Williams of Atlanta, GA, and Cousin, The Reverend Phillip Horton of Richlands, Virginia and many cousins. A time of visitation for the family to receive friends will be held starting at 2 o'clock until 4 o'clock, Friday, August 1, 2025, at Shives Funeral Home, Trenholm Road Chapel, 7600 Trenholm Road Ext. Columbia, SC 29223. Friends and Family are encouraged to wear pink and their Birkenstock sandals in Pearl’s memory. Dress code is casual and light refreshments will be served. To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Mrs. Pearl Geddens please contact the Blythewood Gloriosa Florist at (803) 691-8120, in Memory of Mrs. Pearl Geddens. Donations may be sent in Pearl’s Memory to the Lexington Medical Center Foundation online at https://lexmed.com/giving/donate/.

Tributes

Mrs. Pearl Geddens

September 29, 1938 - July 24, 2025