James C. Pitts

Reverend James Colleester Pitts, 90, of Columbia, passed away peacefully on Saturday, December 27, 2025 at The Heritage At Lowman. The funeral services will be held at 11:00am, Friday January 2, 2026, with the family receiving friends, prior to the service beginning at 9:30am. The service will be conducted at Riverland Hills Baptist Church, 201 Lake Murray Blvd., Irmo, SC 29063 with entombment in Bush River Memorial Gardens Mausoleum. Honorary pallbearers will be Jim Griffin, Denny Gibbons, Mike Orr and Mitchell Hardwick. Dr Ed M. Carney, along with Rev. Bill Haseldon, from Riverland Hills Baptist Church, will be officiating the service. Temples Halloran Funeral Home will be assisting the family with the arrangements.

James C. Pitts was born in Ware Shoals, SC on May 19, 1935. The son of the late Rev. Carroll and Florence Pitts, Sr.. James (Jimmy) graduated from Edmonds High School in Sumter, SC and after graduation, he married his high school sweetheart Edna Louise Pitts. They lived most of their married life together in Columbia, SC where Jimmy worked with Winn-Dixie Grocery before retiring after 45 years of service. Jimmy also served in several different branches of military service/reserves for 20 years.

Jimmy and Louise were members of Riverland Hills Baptist Church since 1970 and after the death of Jimmy’s mother, Florence Pitts, Jimmy and his younger brother Carroll Pitts, Jr. both decided to rededicate their lives to God, which was an answer to prayer that their mother had been praying for years. Both surrendered their lives, totally and completely, to Jesus Christ. Jimmy was 55 at this time, and he spent the remainder of his life dedicated in service to God, serving on staff at Riverland Hills Baptist Church as Minister of Benevolence and Single Adult Ministries. Jimmy’s primary focus and passion was sharing the good news of Jesus Christ locally, and all over the world during mission trips to Romania, Peru, Colombia, Nova Scotia, England, Alaska, and Kentucky to name a few.

Matthew 22:37 NIV “Love the LORD your God with all of your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind”, which Jimmy did until his last breath.

James C. Pitts is survived by; son, David C. Pitts (Florence) of Chapin, SC; daughter, Julie R. Pitts of Cumberland, Kentucky; his beloved grandson, D. Austin Pitts of Charlotte, NC; brother, Carroll Pitts, Jr. (Becky) of Woodstock, Georgia.

James was preceded in death by his; wife, Edna Louise Pitts; parents, Rev. Carroll and Florence Pitts, Sr.; sister, Jane Carolyn Hargis; and sister, Nancy June Byers

The family request that in lieu of flowers any memorials or donations can be made to the Riverland Hills Baptist Church Benevolence Fund, 201 Lake Murray Blvd., Irom, SC 29063 or Willing Hearts, Inc., Director Julie R. Pitts, 503 Main Street, Cumberland, Kentucky 40823