Jefferson Jay Hubbell, 44, died Sunday, February 18, 2018 after a brief illness.

He was born in Redondo Beach, California, January 13, 1974, and moved to Columbia, South Carolina in 1978. A graduate of Heathwood Hall, he also attended the Governor's School for the Arts. In summer studies, Jay studied archaeology at Kampsville, Illinois and Crow Canyon, Colorado. He attended Sarah Lawrence College and the University of South Carolina.

Jay was a stonemason who took great delight in creating obelisks or spires as public art. In addition, he did pathways at Darla Moore's farm in Lake City, did stonework for the pergola at the historic Hampton-Preston Mansion in Columbia, and hardscapes for private homes in Columbia, Augusta, Georgia, Beech Island, South Carolina and Denver, Colorado. One of his friends said that he had "chipped at his craft from youth." Jay was also the drummer for the band From Safety to Where.

He is survived by daughters, Cleome Hubbell of Columbia, Karlyn Hubbell of Dallas, Texas; his mother, Janet B. Hubbell of Denver, Colorado; and his father, Jeffrey J. Hubbell of Columbia; brothers, Karl Hubbell (Sarah) of Denver, Colorado and Wilson Hubbell (Jessica) of Nashville, Tennessee; two nieces and two nephews; and his stepmother, Toni G. Hubbell of Columbia; and a stepbrother, Edward Goodwin (Lane) of Columbia.

Shives Funeral Home, Trenholm Road Chapel, is in charge. The family asks that in lieu of flowers, memorials be made to Morris Animal Foundation ( www.morrisanimalfoundation.org ) or Historic Columbia ( www.historiccolumbia.org ).

A memorial service for Jay will be held at a later date in Columbia.