Ron Jolly, 67, had career as computer programmer
July 6, 2022
Ron Jolly of Murrells Inlet died July 6 at home surrounded by his loved ones after a seven-year battle with brain cancer. He was 67.
Born Nov. 14, 1956, he grew up on Peachtree Street in Gaffney. His role models and motivators were his parents (Maynard and Mildred Jolly), his four older brothers (Kenny, Melvin, Stanley and Jimmy Jolly), his granny next door (Granny Jolly) and his football coach (Jack Huss).
High school and college afforded Ron an opportunity to excel on the football field as a running back. He often remarked that because he was never the biggest or fastest guy out there, he had to work a lot harder.
After college, he entered the IT world before IT was a thing. He was never sure if this showed great foresight or just luck. By the end of his computer programming career, he was employed by his own company and flew to Washington, D.C., every week to work a high security clearance government contract.
He loved what he did, but his greatest pleasures were simple ones: being surrounded by family, hanging out with friends, meeting with his small group from church, keeping up with sports and politics, enjoying his front porch, building an outdoor fire and drinking a beer.
Though three craniotomies, radiation and chemo slowly stole parts of who he was, he never lost his goodness, humility, faith, sincerity or sense of humor.
Mr. Jolly was always more concerned about the other guy, making sure no one was inconvenienced on his account, determined to do the right thing in every situation, and honest to a fault. As in, “Yes, officer, I was speeding.”
He refused to be limited by medical experts’ forecasts. Less than two weeks before his death, he ran a mile and a half around his house, lifted weights and completed his entire core exercise routine on his back porch. A football mentality of “get up and run it off” drove him to push himself.
He approached his diagnosis with optimism and a strong, quiet faith in Jesus Christ. He never complained. He was upbeat to the end, insisting he’d had the best life anyone could ever have. He remained true to himself, loved big, and refused to leave anything on the field.
He is survived by his wife, Cindy; his daughters, Casey and Emily, and his sons-in-law, Will and Andrew; and his grandchildren, Ruth, Elizabeth, Henry, Sam, Matthew and David.
A celebration of life service will be held at 11 a.m. today at All Saints Church. A reception will follow.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Legacy Fund of Lenoir Rhyne University, Attn: Bears Club, P.O. Box 7280 Hickory, NC 8603 or to All Saints Church, 3560 Kings River Rd., Pawleys Island, SC 29585.
Condolences may be sent at burroughsfh.com.
