Ms. Arelia Jacqueline Fields Mathis

Passed 05/01/2023

Funeral services for Ms. Arelia Jacqueline Fields Mathis, 62, of 1897 Dellwood Drive, Orangeburg, SC, will be held 2:00pm, Saturday, May 6, 2023, at Bull Swamp Baptist Church, 112 Purity Street, Orangeburg, SC, with interment to follow in Belleville Memorial Gardens. Rev. Dr. Ephriam Stephens is officiating.

Arelia “Jackie” Jacqueline Fields- Mathis was born on April 14, 1961 to the late Mr. Alphonso Fields and Mrs. Essie Brown- Fields in Orangeburg, SC. Jackie transitioned to be with God on May 1, 2023 at the Medical University of South Carolina of Orangeburg, SC.

At a young age, Jackie accepted Christ as her Savior and joined The Bull Swamp Baptist Church, where she sang on the Young Adult Choir.

Jackie attended schools in Orangeburg School District 5 and graduated from Orangeburg-Wilkinson High School in the Class of 1979.

Jackie attended South Carolina State College, studied Counseling and graduated with the class of May 1986, earning a Bachelor’s Degree.

Jackie worked at the family’s restaurant, The Brown Derby, for many years where she was well known for her sass, wit, smart mouth and her infectious loud laugh. In addition to working at The Brown Derby, Jackie also worked as a Substitute Teacher in Orangeburg District 5 schools. Jackie’s final career phase and place of retirement was the Orangeburg County Detention Center, where she was a lieutenant. Jackie retired from the Orangeburg County Detention Center in 2021 after a tenure of 15 ½ years.

Jackie loved singing, shopping, cooking, fine dining, and talking trash. To know Jackie was to love Jackie.

Jackie loved her family, friends, church family, coworkers from The Brown Derby and the Orangeburg County Detention Center.

Jackie was preceded in death by her father, Mr. Alphonso Fields; her brother, Mr. Alan O. Fields, Sr.; her nephews: Alan O. Fields, Jr., and Marshawn Green- Williams; and her Special Friend, Mr. Lester “Pookie” T. Johnson.

Jackie leaves to cherish treasured memories: her loving mother, Mrs. Essie Brown-Fields of the home, the love of her life and who she adored with all her heart, her daughter, Ms. Amarah Aaliyah Johnson of Orangeburg, SC; her grandson, DeMauri C. Hilliard of Orangeburg, SC; her brothers: Mr. Donald (Michelle) Fields of (Orangeburg, SC) and Mr. Gregory (Karen) Fields of Moncks Corner, SC; uncles: Melvin Brown of (New York, NY) and Edward Lee Jamison, Sr. of (Orangeburg, SC); special caretakers: Ms. Nicole Mack and Ms. Mae Margaret Bookard: very dear & special friends: Ms. Tylisha J. Glover, Mrs. Tomseanor Jackson-Shuler, Evangelist Tammie Wideman, and Ms. Angel Fersner; and a host of nieces, nephews, relatives, friends, and co-workers.

Visitation will be held Friday, May 5, 2023, from 1:00pm - 6:00pm.

Family and friends may visit the residence, 1897 Dellwood Drive, Orangeburg or call Simmons Funeral Home and Crematory of Orangeburg, SC.

Please adhere to all COVID-19 precautions, and masks are required during visitation and funeral services.

Online condolences may be expressed at www.simmonsfuneralhome.com