Surrounded by loved ones, Dr. Harold Benjamin Jayroe, 85, husband of Nellie Baker Sanchelli Jayroe, passed away peacefully at his home on March 25, 2025, after a short illness. Harold was born in Georgetown, South Carolina, on October 12, 1939, the 6th of 10 children born to the late William Henry Jayroe, Sr., and Annie Mae Cooper Jayroe. He spent an idyllic childhood in Georgetown where he attended Duncan United Methodist Church and graduated from Winyah High School in 1958. Harold obtained a Bachelor of Art in history, with a minor in English from Wofford College in 1962. At Wofford, he was a proud member of the Kappa Sigma fraternity. Harold went on to obtain several post-graduate degrees: a Master of Divinity in Pastoral Counseling at Duke University; a Master of Education at the University of South Carolina, and a PhD in Education at the University of South Carolina.

Harold's career included two years as a Methodist minister, six years as a vocational rehabilitation counselor and supervisor, four years as a training and development coordinator in state government, and 25 years as a public educator in the fields of learning disabilities and social studies. At Richland Northeast High School, he served as Project Director of an award-winning JTPA Youth Services Program and developed a Special Needs program that received the best in state program award and an honorable mention at the national level. Dr. Jayroe wrote and secured several grant awards totaling over $500,000 to serve special needs students. He also served as a social studies teacher in the Adult Education Program at Richland School District Two. He was a member of the Phi Delta Kappa Fraternity, International.

Harold loved life and took full advantage of the gifts God bestowed on him. He was brilliant, talented, patient, kind, and generous, a true Renaissance man and Southern gentleman. He was a talented artist who sketched and painted southern architecture and wildlife. He was a gifted musician who played the guitar and loved classical, bluegrass, and gospel music. He was an excellent carpenter who built furniture, as well as his own personal library in his home, a room that one of his nieces always referred to as the most beautiful, perfect room in the world. He was a historian who loved reading about American history and studying genealogy. He was an avid reader, counting among his favorite authors Steinbeck, Faulkner, and Thomas Wolfe. He and his wife read the Bible cover to cover numerous times together. He was an exceptional chef and grill master who loved cooking for family and friends and making late-night omelets for his stepsons. He was a traveler who enjoyed many cross-country adventures with his wife Nell. But above all, Harold was a man who deeply loved his family and the Lord. He was immensely proud of his two daughters, Beth and Ellen, and their families. He was loving and patient with his five stepsons and taught them how to be good husbands and fathers, not with words, but by example. He adored his grandchildren, who all adored him in return. And there are no words sufficient to describe the depth of his love and appreciation for his beloved wife of 47 years, Nell. They were soulmates.

Harold was a long-time member of Shandon Baptist Church in Columbia. He was a devout Christian and was always immensely grateful for the many blessings God provided. The world has lost a beautiful human being who made this earth a better place and made those who knew him better people, but his family takes great comfort in knowing he is now in the loving arms of Jesus Christ.

In addition to his wife, Harold is survived by his daughters Elizabeth Gwynne Jayroe-Aykilinc (Ali) and Sarah Ellen Jayroe; stepsons John Sanchelli, Jr., Gary Sanchelli (Lori), Gregory Hampton Sanchelli (Kim); and Joseph Baker Sanchelli (Kimberly); daughter-in-law Nolley Cruikshank Sanchelli; grandchildren Rachel McPherson Jones (Cory), Caitlin McPherson Thrash (Casey), Elizabeth Sanchelli Fisher (Nick), John Vincent Sanchelli, William Jackson Sanchelli, Caroline Necole Sanchelli, Joseph Nicholas Sanchelli, John Ethan Sanchelli, James Alexander Sanchelli, and Beck Robert Jayroe and great grandchildren, Walter Grayson Jones and Kara Skye Jones. He is also survived by sisters Connie Jayroe-Owens (Wesley), Vivian Jayroe Wall (Jimmy), Linda Jayroe Hardee, Nora Jayroe Overturf, numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, his brothers James L. Jayroe, William Henry Jayroe, Jr., John B. Jayroe, Richard L. Jayroe, his sister Shirley J. Hutto, and his stepson James Vincent Sanchelli.

A service celebrating Harold's life will be held at 1 o'clock Friday, March 28th, at Shives Funeral Home, Trenholm Road Chapel, 7600 Trenholm Road Ext., Columbia, SC. The family will receive guests prior to the service at the funeral home beginning at 12 o'clock. A private burial will precede the service in Greenlawn Memorial Park.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Shandon Baptist Church, 5250 Forest Dr., Columbia, SC 29206.