JoEtta Gantt Belk

JoEtta Gantt Belk passed away peacefully in her dream home on Sunday morning, October 26, 2025, in Monetta, South Carolina. JoEtta was born in Wagener, South Carolina, to Carl Rudolf Gantt and Frances Williamson Gantt. She was a graduate of Brookland-Cayce High School, and upon graduation, she began her career at Southeastern Freight Lines in West Columbia. JoEtta worked for many years as Executive Assistant to the company’s President, Mr. W. T. Cassels Jr. During her time at Southeastern, she met her late husband, George R. Belk. Upon their retirement, they founded Belk Insurance Agency, which became a leader in trucking insurance throughout South Carolina and the Southeast, and one of the first women-owned businesses in the industry.

JoEtta is survived by her sister, Gloria Ryan (William); brother, Charles Gantt; daughters, Lynn Wade, Laura Eck, and Sally Crapps (Kevin); grandchildren, Kristen Wade, Ashley Wade, Jessica Bryant (Rusty), and Spencer Eck (Frida); and great-grandson, Asa Ryan Eck.

She was preceded in death by her husband, George Redwine Belk; her parents, Carl Rudolf and Francis Williamson Gantt; and her brother, Edward Gantt.

The family would like to thank JoEtta's caregivers, Ms. Maggie Cyrus, Ms. Mary Hendrix, and Dana Kneece. They would also like to extend their gratitude to Traditions Hospice of Greenwood, Dr. Ransford, and Dr. Massey.

Services for JoEtta will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, November 1, at Cedar Grove Lutheran Church in Leesville, South Carolina, with Rev. Leon Rawl officiating. The family will receive friends 30 minutes prior to the service at the church. Barr-Price Funeral Home and Crematorium, Historic Batesburg-Leesville Chapel is in charge of arrangements.

Psalm 23, John 14: 1-6

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