JOHN W. LESANE

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John Wesley Lesane entered this world on May 13, 1939, in Mayesville. He was born the eighth of 14 children to Henry Lesane Sr. and Agnes Watson Lesane. He was married to Susie Arlene Perkins in 1964 and from this union they were blessed with two daughters, Karen Patrice Lesane and Tammy Terrell Lesane. The union of John and Arlene continued until her death in 2001.

As a child, Mr. Lesane was educated at Goodwill School in Mayesville under the guidance and direction of the Rev. Warren J. Nelson. While there, he played on the men's basketball team as well as football, baseball and participated in several other contact sports with his brothers and other friends in the community. From Goodwill School, he attended Eastern High School, where he became a member of the football, basketball and baseball teams. He continued his education at Morris College in Sumter and thereafter enlisted in the U.S. Army. Soon after this enlistment, he met the love of his life, Susie Arlene Perkins, at a local laundry mat. This courtship continued through his enlistment and evolved into holy matrimony. They resided in Washington, D.C., and Mr. Lesane entered the workforce, serving and protecting in numerous capacities over the years. Most recently, he worked as an engineer for General Service Administration (GSA), a branch of the federal government. He fed his entrepreneurial spirit by owning and managing laundromats, rental properties and taxi cab service in the Washington, D.C., area.

Several years after the death of Susie Arlene, Mr. Lesane was married to Gladys James in 2005 and this marriage continued until 2010.

Mr. Lesane accepted Christ as his Lord and Savior at an early age. He first became a member of Goodwill Presbyterian Church and attended there until his military commitment took him away from the local area. While fulfilling his military responsibilities, he attended Mount Pleasant Baptist Church in Washington, D.C., and served there until he returned home to South Carolina in 2005. He immediately recommitted his attendance to Goodwill Presbyterian Church, where he served faithfully as a trustee, a member of the Presbyterian Men's Council and many years as a captain of the church's homecoming drive.

The light of this man will shine through his two daughters, Karen Patrice and Tammy Terrell LeSane, both of Maryland; two sisters, Nellie James of Miami and Wilhelmina Titus of Mayesville; five brothers, Henry (Delores) Lesane Jr. of Washington, D.C., Willie Lesane, Oneal (Vernice) Lesane, Eddie (Minnie) Lesane and Jerry (Virginia) Lesane of Lynchburg; one granddaughter; and a host of nieces, nephews, close relatives, classmates and friends.

Public viewing will be held from 1 to 6 p.m. today at Job's Mortuary.

Mr. Lesane will be placed in the church at 10 a.m. on Saturday for viewing until the hour of service.

Funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday at Goodwill Presbyterian Church, 295 Brick Church Road, Mayesville, SC 29104. Interment will follow at Mayesville Community Cemetery.

The family will be receiving friends at his residence, 502 Flake Drive, Sumter, SC 29153.

Job's Mortuary Inc., 312 S. Main St., Sumter, is in charge of arrangements.

Online memorials may be sent to the family at jobsmortuary@sc.rr.com or visit us on the web at www.jobsmortuary.net.