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Pearl Arant, 108, lifelong resident of Pageland, died Thursday, Dec. 29, 2022 while surrounded by her loved ones.
She was the seventh of twelve children born to H.B. Sowell and Jessie Blakeney Sowell of Pageland. She carried the mantle of Miss Pageland from 1931-2022 with dignity and grace; appearing at functions with the younger beauty queens and in serving as the Grand Marshal twice in the Watermelon Festival. She wore her tiaras with pride for the town she loved.
On her twenty-first birthday in 1935, she married John Amos Arant, a local farmer. For this union there were three children, Joan Arant Cook, Judy Arant Lackey and John Amos Arant, Jr.
Pearl operated Pearl’s Beauty Shoppe in Pageland for sixty-three years, finally retiring at the age of eighty-three. She was very active at the Pageland Methodist Church for years serving the church in various offices. Her favorite area of service was the MYF where she could be with young people. During those years she served as president of the Congenial Study Club and was active in the Pageland Garden Club. After the children were grown, Pearl decided to take up golf, and she was a natural. She won several tournaments, which was surprising for someone who took up golfing later in life. John Amos and Pearl enjoyed traveling the world, but Hawaii was her favorite place to be. Pearl truly had a zest for life. There were two mantras we will always hear “The more the merrier.” And “Don’t be anxious.”
She was preceded in death by her parents; her eleven siblings; her husband; her grandson, Gregory Lackey and her son-in-law, Owen Cook.
Surviving are her children Joan Cook, Judy (Curt) Lackey and John (Jane) Arant; her grandchildren, Lisa (Taylor) Cook Rees, Mark (Sam) Cook, Brett Lackey, Becca (Dan) Lackey Anderson, Meg (Kyle) Franklin, and Will (Regina) Arant; her great grandchildren, Tatum Rees, Christina Rees, Ellie Cook, Myles Cook, Bill Franklin, Agnes Franklin, Margaret Franklin, Isaac Franklin, Jasper Arant and Elisabeth Arant. Also surviving is the best friend and caregiver anyone could ever hope for... Dawn Smith... who promised Pearl 10 years ago she would stay with her to the end... and she kept that promise.
Visitation was held from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 1, 2023 at Baumgartner Funeral Home. The funeral was 2:00 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 2, at Pageland United Methodist Church.
The burial followed at Rose Hill Cemetery. Following the graveside there was a reception at the church. For those wishing to watch the service via Livestream, please go to the Pageland United Methodist Church Facebook Page.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Pageland United Methodist Church, PO Box 25, Pageland, SC 29728.
Baumgartner Funeral Home of Pageland, South Carolina (www.baumgartnerfh.com) is assisting the Arant family.
