Nelle Jeannine Campbell Gahagan

Nelle Jeannine Campbell Gahagan, 81, passed away on Thursday, March 30, 2023 at home in Walterboro, SC. She entered eternal life peacefully, surrounded by her family, after a long illness. A celebration of her life will be held on April 16, 2023 from 4 to 7 at The Colleton Museum & Farmers Market, 506 East Washington Street, Walterboro, SC. Family and friends are invited to attend. Jeannine “Neani” was born on December 31, 1941 to the late Trenholm Kermiller “T.K.” Campbell and the late Edna Marie Smallwood Campbell, in Walterboro, SC. She graduated from Walterboro High School, class of 1959, where she was a basketball player and cheerleader. Her maternal grandfather, the late Rev. Titus W. “Papa” Smallwood was a big influence in her life. She often drove him to church to preach sermons. Neani was a Methodist and taught Sunday School for many years. In her youth she worked at the soda counter in Hiott’s Pharmacy. She was a typesetter, darkroom operator, and proofreader at The Press & Standard for several years. Neani ran Gahagan Print Shop with her husband, Bernie, since 1972. She was an excellent photographer and artist as well. Neani and Bernie were high school sweethearts, married on September 25, 1960 for 62 years. She was a mentor and friend to many people. She was a great wife, mother, aunt, and grandmother. Neani is dearly loved by family and friends for her kindness and steadfast nature. She was the most beautiful person inside and out. We were well and truly blessed to have known her. Neani is survived by: her husband, James Bernard “Bernie” Gahagan III, her sisters-in-law, Avis Kathleen Finley, of Barnwell, SC, Teresa Lynn “Terry” Beach Campbell, of Walterboro, SC, her son, James Bernard “Jami” Gahagan IV (Patricia Ramsey Gahagan), of Walterboro, SC, her daughter, Heather Nell Gahagan Billera, of Walterboro, SC, her grandson, Marshall Scott Sanders, of Charleston, SC, her granddaughter, Aubrey Rhame Billera, of Walterboro, SC, her nephews, Robert Hance “Bob” Finley III (Belinda Creighton Finley), of Greenville, SC, Charles Bethea Ware III (Donna Lynn Phifer), of Walterboro, SC, William Trenholm Todd Sr, of Walterboro, SC, her nieces, Avis Kathleen “Keemie” Flaherty, of Barnwell, SC, Jeannine Charlotte Ware, of Walterboro, SC, Sarah Martha Emily “Sallie” Ware Turner (Randolph “Randy” Turner), of Walterboro, SC, Sabrina Todd Holmes (Marshall Lee Holmes) of Weatherford, TX, Penny Michelle Purvis (Ben Purvis), of Walterboro, SC, Camilla Bush, of North Charleston, SC, Amy Lynn Mathers (Allen Mathers), of Walterboro, SC, Karen Leigh Campbell (James Pendarvis), of Hanahan, SC , Lori Strickland, of Manning, SC, Amber Shay Thompson (Bryan MIzzell), of Moncks Corner, SC, many beloved cousins and friends. Neani was predeceased by: her aunt, Nelle Campbell Platt (Walter Platt), of Walterboro, SC, her sisters, Patricia Anne Campbell Todd (Dekle Dean Todd), of Wadley, GA, Gwendolyn Rebecca Campbell Ware (Charles Bethea Ware, Jr), of Walterboro, SC, Edna Kermiller “Millie” Campbell Saltzgaber, of Panama City Beach, FL, her brother, Trenholm Kermiller “T.K.” Campbell. Jr, of Round O, SC, her brother-in-law, Robert Hance Finley, Jr, of Barnwell, SC, and her nephews, Kevin Jerome Flaherty, of Augusta, GA, Truman Addison Todd, Jr, Michael David Todd, and her niece, Eva Marie Todd Whalley, of Beaufort, SC.