Elwood Liston Gerald

 Columbia, SC – Elwood L. Gerald, age 92, passed away peacefully at Wellmore of Lexington on March 9, 2026.

Elwood was born January 13, 1934, to Audie and Ora Gerald in the farming community of Allsbrook near Loris, South Carolina, where he and his brother Talbert were raised. He graduated from Loris High School in 1952 before attending Clemson College, where he earned a degree in Vocational Agricultural Education. During his time at Clemson, Elwood joined the active Army Reserves and proudly served for 13 years.

One of his favorite stories from his high school years was being asked to drive a school bus at age 15 (10th grade). The principal would request him to drive the bus to major events throughout his senior year. After graduating from Clemson, Elwood started his first teaching position in Bishopville, SC. While living in Bishopville, he met the love of his life, Christine Fowler. She was working in Florence, SC at the time. They were married in April 1958 and moved to Florence, where both of his children, Christie Ann (1960) and Linda Gail (1962), were born.

In 1958, Elwood took a position with Clemson Extension Services, where he stayed for 7 years. In 1965, he moved to Farmers Home Administration in Sumter, SC for 2 years. In 1967, he was promoted to County Supervisor in Edgefield and McCormick Counties. He then moved his family to Johnston, SC, where he built his first house. In 1970, he was promoted again and moved to Columbia, SC.

In 1978, he earned a promotion to a Loan Specialist with Farmers' Home Administration that moved the family to Washington, DC. They lived in Springfield, VA for 3 years before moving back to Columbia, SC. In 1981, he became the Chief, Community Programs. The agency then fell under Rural Development, and he became the acting State Director on two occasions. He retired from Rural Development in 1996.Elwood didn’t stay retired long; in 1997, he went to work for the South Carolina Water Association and stayed until his final retirement in 2003.

Elwood Gerald dedicated his life to supporting rural communities in South Carolina and beyond. What his employment history doesn’t cover is his impact on rural communities, mainly in the State of South Carolina. As a leading lender for the Department of Agriculture, he was responsible for underwriting countless grants and loans for rural development projects in water/sewer, essential infrastructure upgrades like rural hospitals, along with business loans in rural communities. If you grew up in rural South Carolina, he probably had some positive impact on your life.He also spent a lifetime supporting his Clemson Tigers. He was a longtime IPTAY donor and loved football Saturdays in Clemson. He flew the Tiger Paw proudly in his yard, right alongside the American Flag.

In addition to his parents, he is predeceased by his brother, Talbert R. Gerald.Those left to cherish his memories include Christine Gerald, his wife of 67 years; two daughters, Christie Gerald Derrick (Karl), Linda Gerald Plisco (Jonathan); three grandchildren, Krystal Derrick Graham (Mitchell), Jennifer Plisco Langhals (John), Michael Liston Plisco; 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 at Bush River Funeral Home.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Parkinson’s Foundation.