Jesse "Jack" P. Pratt II

Dr. Jesse P. "Jack" Pratt, a resident of the Columbia Presbyterian Community, 700 DaVega Drive, Lexington, S.C., passed away on December 16, 2016. Born on September 19, 1932 in Barnwell, SC, he was the son of the late S.J. Pratt and Earldene Price Pratt Rainey. He grew up in Savannah, Georgia and returned to South Carolina in his teens. He attended Catholic School and public school and graduated from Walterboro High School. He received Bachelors and Masters Degrees from the University of South Carolina, where he was awarded the Distinguished Alumnus in 1982 from the College of Applied Professional Sciences. He also taught Criminal Justice courses at the University. In 2004 he received a PhD in Business Management, Summa Cum Laude, from Southern California University. After serving in the United States Navy Seabees and on the USS Castor, he was employed by the State of South Carolina where he worked for 33 years. At retirement he was the Deputy Director of the Pardon and Parole Board. He was a member of several professional organizations. Following retirement, for 11 years he worked for Protection and Advocacy for People with Disabilities. This interest was spurred by his beloved son, Tony, who had severe disabilities from the age of three months until his death in 2010 at age 53. Dr. Pratt is also preceded in death by his wife of 58 years, Margaret Bryant Pratt. He is survived by a son, Jon Pratt (Barbara) of East Booth Bay, Maine, a grandson, Alex Pratt (Kelly) of San Diego, California and one great-grandson, Calvin Alexander Pratt of San Diego, California. Until health prevented his attendance, he was an usher and greeter at his church, Mt. Hebron United Methodist in West Columbia where he was a member of the Friendship Sunday School class. Funeral services will be held at Mt. Hebron United Methodist Church, West Columbia, S.C. on Saturday, January 14, 2017 at 12 p.m. Visitation will be held prior to the service at the church from 11:30-12pm; Interment will follow in the church cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to Mt. Hebron United Methodist Church. Funeral arrangements by Thompson Funeral Home, Lexington, S.C.