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Surrounded by her family, Jean Bruce Hunter Redfearn passed away peacefully on December 18, 2025, at the age of 98. Born on November 12, 1927, at her grandparents’ home in Cassatt, South Carolina, Jean was a child of the Great Depression whose early years fostered resilience, curiosity, and an appreciation for life’s simple joys. Because her father’s government work required frequent moves during World War II, Jean and her sister, Bobbie, lived in St. Louis, Missouri, Coral Gables, Florida, New Orleans, Louisiana, and Louisville, Kentucky, before returning to Hartsville for her high school years. She held especially fond memories of New Orleans, where her father worked on steamships and where she discovered her lifelong love of movies, riding cable cars, and slipping into theaters, a pastime she continued well into her later years. Jean graduated from Hartsville High School as part of the last class to complete eleven grades. With a deep love of art, she attended Bob Jones University before continuing her education at Coker College and beginning her adult life in Hartsville. Her life changed the day she first saw a young man, James Berry “JB” Redfearn Jr., whom she lovingly called “B,” walking his mother down the steps of the First Baptist Church chapel. They married on May 7, 1949. In 1950, Jean and JB opened the Redfearn Motor Court, where they lived until building their home behind the property. Together, they built a thriving business and a warm, loving home for their three children. Jean poured her artistic eye into every part of her life; her home and the homes of her children are filled with her oil paintings, particularly still lifes and landscapes. A lifelong member of First Baptist Church and proud Cradle Roll Baby, Jean spent many years teaching Sunday School, a role she cherished deeply. She was also a founding member of the Pine and Lake Garden Club, where her love of flowers and design flourished. Beyond Hartsville, she was active in the Daughters of the American Revolution, where she served in leadership roles, including State Regent. In 1973, she and JB opened their second motel, the Landmark Inn, which became one of the Pee Dee’s premier full-service properties. Jean was known for her style, her humor, her aesthetic eye, and the spark she brought into every room. She loved to travel and visited destinations around the world, including a memorable trip to Russia in 1994. Jean was the daughter of the late Lewis John Hunter and Hattie Reed Elliott Hunter; the sister of the late Barbara “Bobbie” Hunter Reeser; and the beloved wife of the late James Berry “JB” Redfearn Jr. She is survived by her three children, Brucie (Carl) Pennington, Harriet (Scott) Gupton, and James (Tracy) Redfearn; ten grandchildren, Kathryn Batson, Michael (Michael) Northcutt, Mel (Kerri) Pennington, Elizabeth (Robert) Williams, Fearn Gupton, Scott (Kayla) Gupton, Benjamin (Carrie) Gupton, Laken (Jason) Fields, Katelyn (Roddy) Byrd, and Joanie (Hunter) McCutchen; and thirteen great-grandchildren. A graveside funeral service to honor her life will be held at 3 o'clock on Sunday, December 21, 2025, in Magnolia Cemetery, with The Rev. Bert Welch officiating. The family will receive friends at the residence immediately following the service. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in Jean’s memory to the Pine and Lake Garden Club or First Baptist Church. The Directors of Brown-Pennington-Atkins Funeral Home & Crematory are caring for the family.

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Mrs. Jean Bruce Hunter Redfearn

November 12, 1927 - December 18, 2025