Preston Short

CHESTERFIELD, SC – On Thursday, August 7, 2025, Mr. Jesse Preston Short, 92, passed away peacefully in the comfort of his home with his family at his bedside.

Funeral services will be 2:00 PM Wednesday, August 13, 2025 at Morven United Methodist Church with Rev. Amy Lambert and Rev. Earl Bradshaw officiating. Interment will follow in Morven Cemetery.

The family will greet friends from 5:00 PM until 7:00 PM, Tuesday, August 12, 2025, at Leavitt Funeral Home in Wadesboro and other times at the home.

Preston was born in Morven, NC on January 7, 1933, and was a son of Ellison Ross Short and Barnice Williams Short. He was a graduate of Morven High School, where he fell in love with classmate Barbara Dawkins. They married on June 7, 1952, and in the following years welcomed four children.

He was a life-long farmer, beginning in his teenage years growing crops of cotton. Throughout his life, Preston was happiest when he was outside in nature and working on his farm.

Preston was a longtime member of Morven United Methodist Church. Throughout the years he served the church as a Sunday School teacher, choir member, Church Superintendent and Trustee of the church. He was instrumental in the building of the church’s fellowship hall.

He was a member of Kilwinning Mason Lodge No.64 in Wadesboro.

His love of community service led Preston to serve the town of Morven over forty years in various capacities as a volunteer fireman, town councilman and mayor. He served on the Board of Directors of Anson County Farm Bureau and the Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D) Program.

Those who are left to cherish his memory are his beloved wife of 73 years, Barbara Dawkins Short; his children, Kate Walton (Greg) of Pinehurst; Terri Hardison (Bill) of Chesterfield, SC; Lindy Lenz (Henry) of Morven; and Jeff Short (Salena) of Burnsville; his grandchildren, Nikki Phillips (Tony) of Chesterfield, SC; Shane Flake (Cindy) of Concord; Pagan Curry (Matthew), Athens, OH; Cody Short; Matt Pitino of Burnsville; Lacy Pitino of Orange County, CA; and Chance Hardin (Audrey) of Freeland, MI; his great-grandchildren, Trevor Flake, Trevor Brewer, Ava Phillips, Kiersten Flake, Preston Phillips, Colton Hardin, Ryker Hardin, and Grayson Hardin; his sisters, Margaret James of Seneca, SC, and Martha Burns (Collier) of Wadesboro; a special nephew, George Short (Melanie) of Morven and many other nieces and nephews and their families.

In addition to his parents, Preston was preceded in death by his brothers, Harold Short, Vero Short, George Short and Ben Short.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Masonic Home for Children, Oxford, NC and Gentiva Hospice of Chesterfield, SC.

The arrangements are in care of Leavitt Funeral Home and online condolences may be made at www.leavittfh.com