Andrew C. Jacobs, 59, electrician with a passion for cooking
June 20, 2024
Andrew Corbit Jacobs of Pawleys Island died May 26 at his home with his family by his side. He was 59.
He was born April 18, 1965, in Charleston, the son of Janie Ackerman Jacobs Dennis and the late Preston Corbit Jacobs. Growing up in Charleston, Andy volunteered at Charlestown Landing, spending many hours at the colonial village and the old ship, riding his bike to work. He became a lifelong history buff.
He also had a special passion for Foxfire books, the outdoors, camping and anything at all to do with the water, especially the creeks and marshes. He was a Cub Scout and a Boy Scout, and loved magic tricks and performing them. He collected stamps and coins, always looking for the history behind them.
Andy spent his summers in Pawleys Island, fishing, crabbing and helping his grandparents. With his grandfather, he worked on cars and handyman projects. With his grandmother, he helped plant, garden and cook.
Cooking became one of his greatest joys. He spent hours helping his grandmother prepare the fresh shrimp, crab and fish as well as the home grown produce. He was also close with his paternal grandmother in Charleston, spending many days and hours fishing and playing card games with her.
Moving to Moncks Corner in his teens, he graduated from Berkeley High School. He then joined the Army and was stationed in Germany and served as a combat engineer. This furthered his passion for engineering and construction.
After leaving the military, he worked as an electrician, creating his own company Jacobs Electric Unlimited. He worked in many states but ultimately returned to the Pawleys Island and Murrells Inlet area. He worked with businesses such as Hard Rock Park, Rowe Enterprises, the Reserve Golf Club and on several buildings throughout the area.
Working with his hands remained rewarding throughout his life. He even built his own ramp to his house when he could barely walk unassisted.
His passion for cooking led Mr. Jacobs to work at the Reserve Club in the kitchen alongside the chefs and assisting with special events.
His home was filled with hundreds of cookbooks and books about growing and preparing food. Cooking supplies, utensils and prep items were witness to this love.
Mr. Jacobs also had a passion for music and dancing. He taught himself to play acoustic guitar and had begun learning the violin. He played with local bands in the Murrells Inlet area and also taught country line dancing. His harmonica was often with him.
As his health failed, Mr. Jacobs was able to spend a great deal of time with his sister, Allene, at her farm in the Upstate. He found another passion in her cattle, and in sharing experiences with her and her family, especially his niece and nephew Cyprys and JingHui. When he could no longer work and was limited in many of his daily activities, he would spend time with the cattle or discussing them.
What never left him was his love of the creek at Pawleys. During some of his last days, he still made an effort to walk to see the creek near his house.
Mr. Jacobs had several round brimmed hats that he wore everywhere, and you could pick him out in a crowd. He always took time to talk with people and listen to their stories. He always wanted to know their name and “who people were.” He loved to tell stories and share experiences with people.
He put no value in material things, unless they were sentimental or useful in his work or his passions, his family said. Instead, he chose to value learning and experiencing life, especially simple things.
In addition to his mother, he is survived by his wife, Darlene Taylor Jacobs; his step-daughters, Sindy Williams and Stephanie Williams; his step son-in-law, who he considered a son, Timothy Beahn; his grandchildren, Dakota Beahn, Austin Beahn and Tristen Haleigh Royce; three great-grandchildren; his siblings, Margaret Jacobs Pipkin (Tim), Allene Jacobs Wiley (Chris), Ryan C. Dennis; several step siblings; and his aunts, Sara Elizabeth Ackerman and Linda Jacobs; and many extended family members.
In addition to his father, his grandparents, Preston Corbit Jacobs Sr. and Lucille Bunch Jacobs and Bernard L. Ackerman and Elizabeth Bourne Ackerman, died before him.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Foundation for Sarcoidosis Research, 320 W. Ohio St., Suite 300, Chicago, IL 60654 (stopsarcoidosis.org) or Meals on Wheels of Horry and Georgetown County, 2050 US-501, 1100 B, Conway, SC 29526.
A memorial service will be held Aug. 17 at 2:30 p.m. at the Goldfinch Funeral Home, Beach Chapel. Visitation begin at 1:30 p.m.
There is a guest book at goldfinchfuneralhome.com.
