Joe Tessier Wheeler

Mr. Joe Tessier Wheeler, 93, of Scranton, passed peacefully on Tuesday, November 25, 2025, at McLeod Hospice, Florence.

Mr. Wheeler was born on August 11, 1932, son of the late Joe Reedy Wheeler and late Estelle Eugenia Tessier Wheeler of Saluda, SC. He was a graduate of Hollywood High School. He served for four years in the United States Navy where he was a First Class Boatsman. After being discharged from the Navy, he graduated from Droan Business School in Columbia, SC. He then joined the South Carolina Highway Patrol where he worked many years until he transitioned into the South Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles. He worked as the Office Manager for the Lake City Department of Motor Vehicles branch until his retirement. In addition, he owned and operated an upholstery interior design business until finally retiring completely at the age of 90. He shared his creativity and talents and worked well past the age that most typically retire because he loved to stay busy and enjoyed making others happy through his transformation of their furniture and homes. He was an avid golfer and loved spending time on the course with his son, grandson, and friends. He also gave of his time to serve as a deacon, choir member, and/or Sunday School teacher in both the Scranton Baptist Church and the Lake City Baptist Church for many years during his membership in those churches. Joe was a devoted, loving husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather who always put his family first and took great pride in providing everything he could to make their lives better.

Surviving are his wife, Jane Burrows Wheeler of Mt Pleasant SC; his daughter, Melissa (Lisa) Wheeler Thomas, of North Myrtle Beach, SC; his granddaughter, Tessa Ann Shelburne (Thomas) of Greenville, SC; his grandson, Blair Justin Wheeler (Alexandra) of Wilmington, NC; his daughter in law, Terri Eaddy Wheeler, of Myrtle Beach, SC; his great-grandchildren Barrett John Wheeler, Wesley Parker Wheeler, Charles Alexander Wheeler of Wilmington, all of NC and Millie June Shelburne of Greenville, SC;  several beloved nieces and nephews and their families.

Mr. Wheeler was predeceased in death by his parents; his son, Barney Joe Wheeler, Esquire; brother, Carl Darnell Wheeler; sisters, Pearle Wheeler Griffith and Patricia Jean Wheeler; brother- in law, Willliam Lowery Griffith, Jr.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 PM, Saturday, December 6, 2025, at Carolina Funeral Home, with visitation one hour prior to the service. Burial will follow at Lake City Memorial Park.

Memorials can be made to the Scranton Baptist Church, PO Box 130, Scranton, SC 29591 or The Alzheimer's Association, P.O. Box 96011, Washington, DC 20090-6011.

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