Doris Roach Jeter

AIKEN, SC – Doris Roach Jeter, 82, passed away on Friday, March 29, 2012 in Aiken, SC. She was the daughter of the late James Louise and Bessie Lee Harbin Black, born December 16, 1929, in Anderson, SC Mrs. Jeter was educated in the public schools of Shelby, Statesville, and Charlotte, NC, and Anderson, SC, where she graduated high school. She married her high school sweetheart, Clyde Watson Roach, who passed in 1992 after 43 years of marriage. In 1995 she married John M. Jeter, Sr., whom she met while taking square dance lessons. They were former members of the Carolina Round and Square Dance Club. Mr. Jeter passed away in 2003. In 1952, Doris and Clyde relocated to Aiken, both accepting employment at the Savannah River Plant with the DuPont Company. After working as a secretary for several years, she elected to change her occupation to that of a mom. When her children started school, she worked in other clerical positions before returning to SRP in 1976. During this term of employment, she began studying at the Aiken Technical College to prepare for a career as an illustrator, which she accomplished in 1978. She remained in that position until her retirement. Mrs. Jeter was an active member of Millbrook Baptist Church for almost 60 years. In retirement, Doris had become very fond of antiques and collectibles. She encouraged Clyde to join her in buying a motor home and a small truck to tow, and go “on the road” with their newest hobby by exhibiting and selling some of the treasures they had accumulated. “After all” she said, “how else can we ever see the country unless we work our way across it?” So they crisscrossed the U.S. for several years doing all the shows they could in such places as the Atlantic City Convention Hall in NJ, Sun Valley in Idaho, and the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, CA. She had the business license (known as “Collectibles by Doris”) and he did the driving. They were seeing our great land, and having a ball! Doris was an avid reader and she was a former member of the Tellers of Two Cities Storytelling Troup. During her marriage to John, they did a bit of traveling visiting folks they knew including, children, other relatives, and long-time friends. After his death she still had a little time leftover before old age set in to see a few things she’d missed along the way. Her favorite declaration was that she had a “charmed life” and when it ended she was looking forward to the home the Lord had prepared for her in Heaven, singing His praises, and a family reunion along with all her sisters and brothers in Christ. Surviving Mrs. Jeter are her son, Stephen Lee (Rosemary) Roach, Aiken; two granddaughters, Casey Lee Roach, Charleston; Jenna Caroline Roach Parris, Philadelphia, PA; sister, Evelyn Skaggs, Edmonton, WA; sister-in-law, Frances (Parker) Lowry, Acworth, GA; five step-children, John M. Jeter, Jr., Elizabeth Carpenter, Linda Windham and Deborah Grice; step-grandchildren and step-great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. In addition to her parents and two husbands, she was predeceased by her beloved son, David Watson Roach who was living in Philadelphia, PA at the time of his death and also a sister in law Joyce (Mike) O’Neil of Goodlettsville, TN and daughter-in-law Andrea Roach Parris. Funeral service will be held Tuesday at 10:00 AM at Millbrook Baptist Church with the Rev. Dr. Eddie Leopard officiating. Interment will follow at Sunset Memory Gardens. Memorial contributions may be directed to Juvenile Diabetes Research Fund, JDRF 26 Broadway, 14 Floor, New York, NY 10004. The family will receive friends from 6-8 Monday at SHELLHOUSE – RIVERS FUNERAL HOME, 715 EAST PINE LOG RD., AIKEN, SC Please visit her online guest book at www.shellhouseriversfuneralhome.com. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Doris Roach Jeter, please visit our flower store.