Esther Jordan Higginbotham

Esther J. Higginbotham, 90, of Orangeburg, SC, passed away peacefully at her daughter’s home in Athens, Georgia on Sunday morning, January 12, 2025. She was the widow of W. Clarence Higginbotham, Jr., her husband of 59 years.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 pm, Friday, January 17, 2025, at St. Andrews United Methodist Church, with Rev. Dr. Cindy Muncie officiating. Burial will follow at New Hope Cemetery in Rowesville, SC. The family will receive friends at 1:00 pm, same day as the service, in the church fellowship hall. Honored to serve as pallbearers will be her grandsons, Boone, Forrest and Wilkes; grandson-in-law, Kyle; and as well as Taylor Garick and Russ Hewitt.

Esther was born in Appling, Georgia, a daughter of the late Jack Dorsey Jordan and Norma Kelley Jordan. She was raised one of eight siblings in a loving, faithful family. Clarence and she were married on January 2, 1958, after meeting at Fort Gordon, where she was a civilian secretary, and he was in the U.S. Army for a short while after graduation from Clemson University. He often said that meeting Esther was the best luck of his life. In her deep, yet quiet, faith in Jesus, she was always a selfless example of kindness, patience, consideration, and grace. Her focus was her family, without exception, and she became the best homemaker upon the birth of their children. Saint Andrews United Methodist Church was a focal point in their lives, and she often said that church and congregation “helped us raise our children well.” There was rarely a time the church doors opened without the Higginbothams’ presence. As an active member for seven decades, she was a member of Aldersgate Sunday School Class, UMW Treasurer for over 4 decades, retiring at 88 years old, UMW President more than once, and was honored as Saint Andrews UMW woman of the year twice. She served on the Worship Committee, was Bazaar chairman, taught VBS, worked in the Shepherds Ministry, and valued her church family highly. She was also active in her community, enjoying gardening and flower arranging with her Hoe and Hope Garden Club, family history with her local DAR chapter, served on the Orangeburg Arts Council board, and enjoyed the social fun of her “Card Club” ladies in later years. She also highly valued education. Clarence and she were strong supporters of Clemson University for their children, as well as any other young person they could encourage. She loved easily and was easy to love. She was predeceased by six of her seven siblings.

Esther is survived by her brother, Joseph Jordan, of North Augusta, SC; three children, Rose Marie Craft (Jim) of Orangeburg, Carol Elaine Johnson (Tim) of Athens, Georgia, and W.C. “Billy” Higginbotham III (Mary) of Chapin, SC, each of whom she adored as her favorite. She is also treasured by six grandchildren: William Boone Johnson (Jenny,) Dorsey Craft Olbrich (Kyle,) Lainee Rosemarie Craft, Forrest Tillman Johnson (Lexi,) W. C. “Wilkes” Higginbotham IV, and Landry Kenneth Higginbotham. Six great grandchildren, Ila Kate, June, August, Eason, Tillman, and Gillis, all fell in love with her the minute they were held in her lap. It was always, indeed, the best seat in the house.

Memorials may be made to St. Andrews UMC, 1980 Columbia Road, Orangeburg, SC 29118 or New Hope Methodist Church, P.O. Box 54, Rowesville, SC 29133.

Dukes-Harley Funeral Home in Orangeburg is in charge of arrangements. Announcement courtesy of Bernstein Funeral Home, which handled local arrangements.