Jack Elmer Shaw Obituary
Jack Elmer Shaw, 90, went to be with his Lord and Savior on Wednesday, February 19, 2025. After a brief hospital stay, he passed away peacefully at his home.
Jack Shaw was born and raised in the Upstate of South Carolina by William Erby and Mittie Lou Saxon Shaw.
Jack was an entrepreneur from the beginning. As a young boy he delivered Watkins Products that his father had sold in a red wagon with his older brother, Larry and sold newspapers on the street corner in downtown Greenville. That was just the beginning for Jack.
After graduating from Emmanuel College in Franklin Springs, Georgia, and Elon University in Elon, North Carolina, he returned to Greenville. In 1958, Jack founded his company, Jack E. Shaw Builders, with the tongue-in-cheek tagline, "The House that Jack Built.". In 1966, he was elected to represent Greenville County in the South Carolina General Assembly, House of Representatives.
Jack was the founder, Chairman of the Board, and President of Shaw Resources, Inc., and owned numerous other businesses. His company specializes in residential and commercial real estate development and property management, serving the Upstate, parts of the Lowcountry, and North Carolina.
Over the course of his career, Jack served as a Corporate Director of the BB&T Corporation, now Truist Financial Corporation. Additionally, he was elected as a trustee for the Greenville Health System, now Prisma Health.
Jack was also actively involved in education leadership and he served as: Regent of Oral Roberts University, President of the Emmanuel College Alumni Association, Chairman of the Emmanuel College Board of Trustees, Trustee at Holmes Bible College, Board member of the Clemson University Foundation, Vice Chairman of the Anderson University Board of Trust.
In addition to his civic and professional contributions, Jack served on the Executive Committee of the Southern Baptist Convention, was a trustee of the Southern Baptist Foundation, and served on the boards of World Medical Missions and Samaritan's Purse.
In 2009, he authored and published his first book entitled, "Little by Little: A Journey to Success and Significance for Life.". He attended Taylor's First Baptist Church and co-taught the Senior Adult Life Group for about 20 years.
Though Jack enjoyed significant business success, nothing was more important to him than his relationship with his Savior and his service to others. He was a devoted friend and mentor.
Other than husband and father, his favorite title was simply "Granddaddy.". He never missed an opportunity to be his grandchildren's biggest cheerleader and prayer-warrior. He never ended a visit or a conversation without telling them how special they were and how much they were loved. His life has been a great example to generations of our family, demonstrating what a Christian walk should be and prioritizing support for numerous Christian organizations.
Jack is survived by the love of his life and wife of 65 years Jane Leslie Shaw, sons Waldo Donald Shaw (Angela) and William Ronald Shaw (Sandy), daughter Deborah Jane Shaw Winkler (Tim), grandchildren Meagan Leslie Shaw, Jordan Lindsay Shaw, Timothy Mitchell Winkler Jr. (Kasey), Baleigh Angeline Winkler Holt (Jack), Anna Jane Shaw, Abbey Joan Shaw, Carson Graham Winkler, sister Martha Shaw Franks (Joe), and sister-in-law Joyce Morris Shaw.
He was predeceased in death by parents William Erby and Mittie Lou Saxon Shaw, brother Larry Glenn Shaw, sister Ruby Shaw Shepherd, father and mother-in-law Waldo and Angeline Leslie.
A funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, February 23, 2025 at Taylors First Baptist Church. Visitation will immediately follow from 3:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. at the church. A private burial will be in Woodlawn Memorial Park.
Family and friends who are unable to attend the service can view the Live Stream by visiting https://watchlive.taylorsfbc.org. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Salvation Army Rebuilding Hope, Restoring Lives Campaign for the shelter campus. For those wishing to contribute, gifts may be made payable to: The Salvation Army Greenville Capital Campaign, In Honor of Mr. Jack Shaw PO Box 1237, Greenville, SC 29602 Online donations can be made at: https://migration.salvationarmy.org..
