Kay Anderson, fashion director for J.B.White and Ann Hudak, designer buyer reminisce about their days working at the department store. Photo by Jim Covington
Many Columbians may think J. B. White is gone from our community. About half- a hundred local folks know better. It lives in their hearts and their monthly meetings.
The employees at this respected Columbia emporium were a close knit group who worked hard and grew to know each other intim ately, they now say.
“We’ve been getting together for 20 years,” said Kay Anderson. “We share a lot of memories, and we want to stay in touch.”
For those who are too new in Columbia, J. B. White was a popular store that anchored Richland Fashion Mall and Columbiana Centre for many years before being bought by Belk. The employees, mostly women with a sprinkling of males, became close friends during their years of working together.
A handful of these “alumnae” are now employed at Belk. The others are enjoying retirement and the chance to spend time together socially.
The group went all- out for their Christmas party at the Fort Jackson Officers Club last week. Several tables around the dining room were covered with memorabilia from the old store: placards, photographs, scrapbooks, newspaper clippings, and framed awards.
Employees of J. B.White who have retired: (l- r) Front row:Nona Pollard, Kay Anderson, Lucille Edmonds,Vera Tucker,Marie Kistler, Doris Wilson- Woest, Ann Hudak, Freddie Deloache. Back row: Alice Milton, Mary Kepner, Sue Campbell, Bobbie Martin, Helen Sanders, Jeannine Callahan, Ann Bauck, Jack Hammond, Cecilia Whitley, Dan Mueller, Ann Hawkins, Verlon Stone, Charles Reese, Ben Edmonds, Jo Ann Carter,Wanter Smothers, and Daisy Sumpter.
These employees, who gave of themselves outside their regular working hours, won an impressive assortment of awards, including severals Order of the Palmetto awards.
Kay Anderson was fashion coordinator at J. B. White during its heyday. Mary Kepner was head of customer service. These two organizers saw to it that White involvement in the community was active and positive.
“We put on fashion shows for a lot of charities,” said Anderson. “The March of Dimes, the Columbia Symphony, the Girl Scouts – we helped out most of the worthy causes in this community.
“We also had some memorable emergencies and obstacles. We put on a fashion show at the downtown Marriott, which involved lots of arranging and details. When we got there we learned there had been a mix- up on the dates and our show had been moved forward. We were already there, so we just put it together outside the front door of the Marriott on the plaza.
Employees of J. B. White who also worked elsewhere: (L- r) Front row: Kay Compton, Libby Rawlins- Gober, Linda Chastain, Sherrie Abbott, Willie Mae Coleman. Second row: Cindy Maxheimer, Gwen Ross, Vicki McCracken, Gert Spann- Thompson, Mike Polyok. Back row: Renee Bolden, Sandra McCoy- Branham, Bill Lawther, and Bob Hubble.
“Another time, we braved a howling snowstorm to do a fashion fundraiser, when people were being told to stay off the streets. To our surprise, we had a good crowd and the money was raised.”
The J. B. White Senior Fashion Board was “a Who’s Who of Columbia,” said Anderson. “Marjorie Stands, Virginia Ann Singletary, Inez Watson, Miriam Breckinridge, and Carolyn Holderman. We had the very best on our team.”
Linda Geddings Hammond claims the title of longest- tenured employee, having logged in 45 years in the hair salon. Her husband Jack Hammond was manager of that salon.
When the J. B. White store had its grand opening at Columbiana Centre, it was treated like a Hollywood premiere: klieg lights, symphony music, several former governors, and giveaway prizes.
As far as these alumnae are concerned, it continues to
be an important landmark in their lives. J.B. White was a department store chain
in the Southeastern United States founded in Augusta, Georgia in 1874 by James
Bryce White, an Irish immigrant. Owned by now- defunct Mercantile Stores for
most of its existence, most locations of the chain were in South Carolina,
though locations existed in Augusta and Savannah. Most locations became
Dillard’s when the Mercantile Stores chain was sold in 1998; some J.B. White
locations in overlapping areas became Belk. In Augusta, the original downtown
store added three suburban branches over time. The last of these opened at
Augusta Mall in 1998 after relocating from failing Regency Mall and was quickly
changed over. The Savannah location opened at Savannah Mall in 1990. The
original downtown Augusta store is being converted into loft apartments.
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 Verlon Stone who worked in J. B. White’s shoe department for 35 years stands with memorabilia collected by employees.  Employees of J. B.White who remain with Belk as new owner: (L- r) Front row: Carol Vella, Regina Serio, Sue Campbell,Willie Mae Coleman. Back row: Debbie Miller, Scott Spears, and Sandra McCoy- Branham |
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