Jayson "Jay" Eric Jordan

Jayson, known as “Jay”, was born July 19, 1940 in Detroit, Michigan, a son of Ralph Merrill Jordan and Frances Echoe Canada (Jordan).  Jayson grew up in Homestead, Florida and graduated from South Dade High School in 1958.  He served in the U.S. Coast Guard (Florida) before serving in the Army from 1960 -1963 in Fort Benning, Georgia, Fort Sill, Oklahoma, and Germany, and then in the Army Reserves from 1963-1965, from which he received an honorable discharge and was decorated with a Good Conduct Medal and for Marksmanship (M-14).  He graduated from the University of South Florida with a degree in business and married Carol Lynne Claire in Homestead, Florida on August 12, 1966. He and Carol were married almost 53 years before she passed away in July 2019.

Jay was a self-proclaimed workaholic, and made a lifetime career in the automotive industry.  He went to work for General Motors.  After finishing a training program in Atlanta, Georgia, General Motors hired him to work in fleet management for the Carolinas moving them to Raleigh NC where their first daughter, Julie, was born. GM then moved him to Charleston SC in 1973 where daughter Jeannine and son Jared were born. He earned his MBA in night school from the Citadel before moving to Moncks Corner, South Carolina in 1981, when he bought the Berkeley Motor Company on Main St, Moncks Corner. He moved it to Hwy 52 and built Jay Jordan Chevrolet that later became Royal Chevrolet, and has changed ownership many times since.  Over the years, he worked in fleet management, sales and finance for various other dealerships like Love Chevrolet, Cumbie Chevrolet, McElveen, and, in his final years before retirement, Michael Chevrolet in Summerville SC. He was lovingly notorious for his salesmanship charisma and highly persuasive negotiating skills.

Jay was extremely social, and loved playing golf, bowling, and shooting pool with family and friends. He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Moncks Corner since 1981.  Lifelong hobbies included boating trips with family on the local lakes & rivers, watching Berkeley Stags High School Football, staying up on the latest computer technology, reading political warfare and espionage novels, watching movies, listening to country music, talking politics and chatting with old high school friends online.  When he was able, he enjoyed family vacations and attending South Dade High School reunions with his wife, Carol.

Surviving are two daughters - Julie C. Jordan of Pinopolis, SC; Jeannine J. Hogue and her husband, Josh, of Charlotte, NC; a son - Jared E. Jordan and his wife, Alana, of Columbia, SC;  six granddaughters - Jordan McCayla Metts, Victoria Rose Metts, Anna Isabella Hogue, Macy Grace Hogue, Nina Claire Jordan and Nola Jane Jordan; two brothers- Jeffrey Jordan of Pinopolis and Jeremy Jordan and his wife, Jennifer Stanfield, of Stanton, Va.

He is also survived by several nieces and nephews: nephews Steve Frizzell and wife Brenda; A.C. Frizzell and wife Natalie; Rev. Daniel Claire and wife Elise; David Claire and wife Amy; John Jordan; Matthew Jordan and wife Katharine; and Joel Jordan; and by nieces Cheryl Frizzell, Catherine Claire Larson and husband Mark, Jennifer Jordan and husband Creston Spiers, Joanna Jordan McClain and husband Mark; Jeannie Jordan Swank; and Jennifer Jordan Wrenn and husband Sparky.

A memorial service, with military honors, will be held at First Presbyterian Church of Moncks Corner, Sunday February 16, 2020, at 4 o’clock. The family will receive friends at the church from 3 o’clock until the hour of service.

Memorials may be made to First Presbyterian Church of Moncks Corner, 419 West Main Street, Moncks Corner, SC 29461.