Aurie Jackson Gosnell

Aurie Jackson Gosnell died Thursday, June 11, 2009. A memorial service will be held at 2 pm Sunday, June 14, 2009 at First Baptist Church in Aiken SC with the Rev. Dr. Fred Andrea III officiating. The family will greet friends immediately following the service in the fellowship hall. In lieu of flowers, Mrs Gosnell has requested that memorials be made to First Baptist Church, P. O. Box 3157, Aiken, SC, 29802-3157. Aurie Gosnell was born on August 26, 1916 in Spartanburg County. She was the daughter of the late Evie Blackwell Jackson and Walter Lee Jackson. After graduating from Spartanburg high & completing many advanced educational opportunities, she began her career in Cosmetology Education. She became a teacher and (by 1936) she owned the first of two stylist salons in Spartanburg which she operated until she and her husband Rufus moved to Aiken in 1953. She was a “WW II Widow” for two years while Rufus was overseas. She supported her husband while he was on the City Council, active nationally in the VFW and a leader in many civic organizations while in Spartanburg. In 1947 Strom Thurmond, then Governor, appointed her to the S. C. State Board of Cosmetic Art where she was elected Chairman. Since that time thru Republican and Democratic Governors alike she was appointed consecutively for 36 years. The State Board sets criteria for licensure of stylists, salons and schools of cosmetology. She was also a member of the National Interstate Council of State Boards of Cosmetology (NIC) and was elected President for two terms. NIC has established an annual scholarship in Aurie Gosnell's name for Cosmetology students. She was inducted into the National Cosmetology Hall of Fame as well as the S. C. Cosmetology Hall of fame. Her permanent plaque is placed in Chicago at the National Cosmetology office. She received the prestigious Cimaglia Award, a national honor given by the Association of Cosmetology schools. All previous winners had been men. She was founder of the NIC National Cosmetology Examination which is used in almost all states. At the time of her death, she was serving as NIC Coordinator Emeritus of testing. In appreciation of her distinguished service, a national award known as the Aurie J. Gosnell Award is given to professionals who have given outstanding service to the Cosmetology Profession each year. She was a member of First Baptist Church of Aiken and a former member of 1st Baptist Church in Spartanburg. She was a former member of and Past President of Country Gardeners. She participated in many volunteer civic activities which are too numerous to list. The move to Aiken occurred when Rufus accepted the Shell Oil distributorship for Aiken County. She supported his role as President of the Chamber of Commerce as well as President of many other civic organizations there. She was active in bridge clubs in Aiken and was an avid Gamecock supporter. Known for impish sense of humor, Aurie loved a good hearted practical joke and brought smiles to many. She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, sister and aunt. She adored her “adopted” six great grandchildren as well as the children of her nieces and nephews who were treated like grandchildren as well. She was loved and will be missed by friends and family alike She is survived by Rufus, her beloved husband of over 70 years and one daughter, Resel Gosnell Bourne (John) of Columbia, S. C. She is also survived by granddaughters Rebecca Pope (David) of Irmo and Catherine Marshall (Bill) of Columbia and six great grandchildren. Surviving nieces and nephews include Jacquie Corley (Wayne) of Columbia; Kay Rich of Aiken and Columbia; Susan Morris (Terry) of Chester; Aurie Lou Richardson of Lexington; Buzz Rich (Sallye) of Aiken; Steve Pavese (Raynette) of Chester; Scott Parker of Chapel Hill, NC; Larry Gosnell (Connie) of Spartanburg; and Bill Gosnell (Judy) of Surfside Beach; and one sister-in-law, Emily Gosnell of Spartanburg. She has also been predeceased by five sisters: Ora Mae Davis (Harry) and Darice Parker (John) of Chapel Hill, NC; Beulah Splawn (Ray) of Spartanburg; Nell Pavese (Frank) of Chester and Dora Rich (Art) of Aiken. She was also pre-deceased by niece Patsy Russell of Lexington; brothers & sisters in-law Joseph Dillard (Dot) of Columbia; Lawrence Elizie Gosnell (Lib) of Conway, SC; and Silas Emit Gosnell of Spartanburg. Mrs. Gosnell's online guest book may be signed at www.shellhousefuneralhome.com. Shellhouse Funeral Home, Inc., 924 Hayne Ave., Aiken, SC To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Aurie Jackson Gosnell, please visit our flower store.