MANNING – Jackie “Jack” Lee Secor, 89, husband of Cena Anne Hodge Secor, died Friday, February 14, 2025, at his home.

Born at Los Angeles County Hospital, Los Angeles, California on September 11, 1935, he was the son of the late Arthur Emmett Petersen, a native of Cleveland, Ohio, and the late Lily May Abernathy Secor, a native of Inglewood, California.

Jack was raised by his mother and maternal grandparents on the family rabbit ranch, “H. W. Abernathy, Wholesale Rabbit Dealer,” in Inglewood, California and later in Gardena, California, along with his half-sister and uncles and aunts. The family also raised hogs and cattle. Jack grew up during the Great Depression and World War II, a time when all members of his family were required to work in the family business. As a result, he only finished the 9th grade of high school.

Jack joined the United States Air Force in 1954, and retired in 1974 as a Senior Master Sergeant, while serving as the Wing Aircrew Life Support Branch Superintendent, 93rd Bombardment Wing, Castle AFB, Atwater, California. He chose to retire after 20 years despite being recommended for promotion to Chief Master Sergeant, a rank he declined 18 months prior to his retirement.

During his military career, Jack earned his GED, responded to the Key West Naval Air Station during the Cuban Missile Crisis, and served two tours of duty (1965-1967 and 1971-1972) in Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War. Among his collateral duties, he served as a firearms instructor, life survival instructor, and member of the 13th Air Force Inspector General team. He was hand-picked by Brigadier General Chuck Yeager to go along with several pilots to New Zealand, Australia, and New Guinea to brief prime ministers and other dignitaries regarding a particular jet fighter aircraft and to demonstrate related life support systems equipment. He was also selected to participate in a test project to improve the design of parachute gear so that pilots who were shot down in Vietnam could easily free themselves from their parachutes, especially if they landed in trees. In addition, he was chosen to participate in the Mach 2 Windblast program, which involved the design and testing of high-tech jet pilot helmets designed by Robert Shaw Controls that were ultimately sold to Canada.

Jack’s military service took him to Texas, South Carolina, Washington, Illinois, Louisiana, New Jersey, Delaware, Florida, Colorado, Nevada, California, Kansas, Michigan, Massachusetts, Virginia, Japan, Panama, Philippines, New Zealand, Australia, New Guinea, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam (in-country). His outstanding service to his country can be summed up by the words of the Major and Colonel who were his rating officials in 1972. Major: “In recognition that MSgt Secor is a Senior Master Sergeant selectee, recommend that he be promoted to Chief Master Sergeant at the earliest opportunity.” Colonel: “I wholeheartedly concur with the rating and comments of the reporting officer. I have observed the absolutely superior performance of this NCO on a day-to-day basis, and I would rate him at the top 1% of all the MSgts I have known. It has been an extreme pleasure to work with MSgt Secor and I would not hesitate to request him for any future assignment requiring an outstanding Life Support NCO. He is capable of work at any level.”

Jack’s military awards and decorations included the Meritorius Service Medal (2), Air Force Commendation Medal (3), Presidential Unit Citation, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, Air Force Good Conduct Medal, Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Vietnamese Service Medal, Air Force Longevity Service Award Ribbon, Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon, and Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal.

Nevertheless, Jack believed his greatest accomplishment was meeting the love of his life, Cena Anne Hodge, while he was stationed at Shaw AFB, Sumter, South Carolina. They were married in 1960, and Cena faithfully fulfilled the role of an Air Force spouse and mother, including “holding down the fort” during the many years that Jack served overseas without his family.

After retiring from the Air Force, Jack, Cena, and their children settled on a farm located on Briar Branch Road off the Old Manning Road in southern Sumter County, which abutted the farm where Cena was raised. For the next 29 years, Jack was employed by Sumter Electric Rewinding Company (l/k/a Smith Services) as a long-haul trucker and route salesman. He was also a part-time farmer, owning Secor Rabbitry and Worm Farm, growing hay and large gardens, and raising Black Angus cattle, hogs, and chickens.

Despite not being able to play sports during his youth because of family farm obligations, Jack became an accomplished athlete in his adult life, namely in bowling (high average 194) and fast-pitch softball. Jack enjoyed hunting, fishing, farming, gardening, and cooking. He was a pitmaster and was also well-known for his catfish stews, clam chowders, and chili. Jack was a Master Mason (1966), 32nd degree Mason (1966), and Shriner (1967). Most of all, Jack enjoyed spending time with his family and friends.

He is survived by his wife of 64 years of Manning; two children, Dean Hodge Secor (Sonya) of Mt. Pleasant and Jackie La Cena Secor (Stephanie) of Columbia; a daughter-in-law, Patricia Darlene Russell “Darla” Lee (Adam) of Manning; three grandchildren, Thomas David Secor, Jr. of Sumter, Grace Anne Secor and Brenda Ashleigh “Ashleigh” Secor, both of Mt. Pleasant; two step grandsons, Greyson Parker Wessinger and Peyton Miller Wessinger of Columbia; a great grandson, Jackie “Jack” Lee Secor, II; a great granddaughter, Katherine “Katie” Darlene Johnson; several cousins, nieces and nephews; and special friends, J.B. Hodge and Sellarhea Jordan.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a son, Thomas David Secor, Sr.; a grandson, Zachary Douglas Secor, and his half-sister, Evelyn Lee Secor Edwards. He was also predeceased by his maternal grandparents, Harvey Wilson Abernathy, a native of Catawba County, North Carolina, and Josephine Marion Perret Abernathy, a native of Los Angeles, California, and his paternal grandparents, James H. Petersen, a native of New York City, and Mary Gallagher Petersen, a native of Cleveland, Ohio.

A funeral service will be held at 3 p.m. on Sunday, February 23, 2025, at Providence Baptist Church with the Rev. Dr. Harold Greene officiating. The Rev. Wayne McElveen will read scripture. Music will be provided by Marlene Hodge and Christine Hodge.

Urn Bearers will be Hansel Gregory Hodge, Troy Patton Hodge, Brandon Charles Hodge, Shawn Erick Hodge, Andrew Garret Hodge, and Jason Marion Dollard.

Honorary Urn Bearers will be Charles Lamar Hodge, Dean Harmon Hodge, J.B. Hodge, David William Duke, Jr., Ernest Marion Dollard, Dallas Marvin Baker, Jr., and Adam Eugene Lee.

Burial with full military honors will follow in the Secor Family Cemetery, 2590 Old Manning Road, Sumter.

Visitation will be one hour prior to the service from 2 to 3 p.m. at Providence Baptist Church and other times at the residence, 1031 Calico Avenue, Manning.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Providence Baptist Church Cemetery Fund, 2445 Old Manning Road, Sumter, SC 29150.

Stephens Funeral Home & Crematory, 304 N. Church Street, Manning, is in charge of arrangements, (803) 435-2179. www.stephensfuneralhome.org