Christine Fowler Gerald

Columbia, SC – Christine F. Gerald, age 92, passed away peacefully at Wellmore of Lexington on March 11, 2026. Christine’s passing followed the death of her husband of 67 years, Elwood Gerald, on March 9, 2026.

Christine was born on May 18, 1934. She was the daughter of the late Ransom and Missie Fowler of Tabor City, NC. She grew up on a farm on the edge of Tabor City with her late brother, Major, and her two older sisters, Myrtle and Catherine. The siblings were very close throughout their lives. They traveled together, vacationed together, and spent holidays together.

Christine was a loving and devoted daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. Her commitment to and love for her family were felt by all who knew her.

Christine (“Chris”) graduated from Tabor City High School in 1952 and later attended business school in Florence, SC. While working in Florence, she met her life partner, Elwood Gerald. They were married in April 1958. This couple was inseparable in both life and death. Chris and Elwood began their life together in Florence, where both of their daughters, Christie Ann (1960) and Linda Gail (1962), were born.

After the birth of Christie Ann, Chris devoted herself to being a homemaker and a supportive partner in Elwood’s career. During the first 20 years of their marriage, the family moved throughout South Carolina, including Florence, Sumter, Johnston, and finally Columbia, SC, where they lived for eight years before moving to the Washington, DC area from 1978 to 1981. In 1981, they returned to Columbia, where she resided until her passing.

After her children were grown, Chris worked at First Palmetto Bank and later at Ole Timey Meat Market in the St. Andrews area. For many years, she and Elwood attended St. Andrew’s Baptist Church in Columbia. Together, they were lifelong Clemson supporters. She enjoyed traveling to Clemson for games and attending bowl games for as long as they were able.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her sisters, Myrtle Suggs (Jimmie Lagrande) and Catherine Dew (R.C. Dew), and her brothers, Vernon and Major Fowler. She was also preceded in death by her husband, Elwood Liston Gerald.

She is survived by her daughters, Christie Gerald Derrick (Karl) and Linda Gerald Plisco (Jonathan); three grandchildren, Krystal Derrick Graham (Mitchell), Jennifer Plisco Langhals (John), and Michael Liston Plisco; and five great-grandchildren, Tyler Graham, Rachel Graham, Emily Graham, Rylan Langhals, and Ezra Langhals.

Celebration of Life services will be held at 1:00 PM on Saturday, March 14, 2026, in the chapel of Bush River Funeral Home, with burial to follow at Bush River Memorial Gardens.

The family will receive friends from 12:00 PM until 1:00 PM prior to the service at Bush River Funeral Home.