Jean Kaminer Hendrix

Jean Marchant Kaminer Hendrix, loving mother, grandmother & devoted wife, died peacefully at home on Thursday, October 22, 2020 at the age of 85.  A grave side service to honor her life and praise God will be held at Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church on Sunday November the 1st at 2 PM.  Social distancing will be observed, and attendees will be able to participate in a safe manner.

Born on June 14, 1935 at her current residence, she was a daughter of the late Wilbur Earl & Beatrice Marchant Kaminer. 

Growing up on a small family farm, she attended grade school at the original two-story Oak Grove School at Oak Drive & Mineral Springs Road. She took music lessons at the nearby home of Luritha Cromer. At the age of 14, Jean began work after school at Efird’s Department Store in Columbia, SC to help her family financially. She attended Lexington High School where her activities included serving as news editor of the school paper, studying piano under Mae Boozer and playing trombone in the school band. There she met her sweetheart & future husband, H. Walter Hendrix III. They graduated in 1953 & married in 1956.

Her post-graduation employment included working at the Lexington County Court House (what is now the Department of the Register of Deeds) and on the staff of the Clerk of Court. She was hired as a pianist and music assistant at The Little Red School House in Lexington where she also taught 3-year olds. She later worked in the office of Compton’s Department store in West Columbia alongside family members and neighbors.

All the while, she stood beside and assisted her husband Walter with his various construction activities- from managing paperwork to driving trucks and tractors- in hard times and in good. She served formally until her death as the secretary/ treasurer of Hendrix Builders and its associated entities – developing thousands of homesites and building over 900 homes in the Lexington/ West Columbia area. Hendrix Builders was honored as the Builder of the Year in 1994 by the Home Builders Association of Greater Columbia.  

Importantly she was a lifelong member of historic Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church on Corley Mill Road in Lexington where she was involved in many roles, but most significantly served as volunteer organist for over 34 years. She enjoyed all aspects of that position, but most enjoyed playing the hymns of all denominations. She passed her love of music to her children and extended family.   

She demonstrated her gentle strength and loving Christian spirit in all she did.

Jean is survived by her beloved husband of 64 years, H. Walter Hendrix; her son Steve (Althea) & daughter Wanda H. Wingard (Bert); grandchildren Clayton Hendrix (Sarah), Casey Purcell (TK), Chandler Hendrix (Cameron), Brent Wingard (Andrea) & Rebekah Wingard (Shawn), and loved nieces & nephews, Tim Driggers, Donna Corley, Dale Driggers, Kathy Bigham and Beth Jebali, along with many loving relatives of the Hendrix, Kaminer, Monts and Marchant families. She was preceded in death by her dear sister Miriam Kaminer Driggers.

The family would like to thank Lexington Cardiology, especially R. Taylor Williams MD & Eric Holberton, PA, for their years of compassionate care, Amedysis Hospice & caregiver Twanda Nesbitt.

Memorials may be made to Zion Lutheran Church, 226 Corley Mill Rd., Lexington SC, 29072. Barr-Price Funeral Home and Crematorium, Lexington Chapel is assisting the family.

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