~ Son John Michael Minerd ~

Son John Michael Minerd (1932-2010) was born Feb. 10, 1932 in Uniontown.

While a student at California University of Pennsylvania, he met Anna "Marian" Mihaly (1930-=2016), daughter of Andrew and Josephine Mihaly of Connellsville. They were wed in 1955.

Marian obtained her teaching degree in 1952 and later taught school after the family relocated to South Carolina.

They were the parents of three daughters -- Leslie Minerd, Laura Kathryn Beaulieu and Kelly Varnadore. 

John also obtained a master's degree from Case Western University.

In 1971, leaving his employment as manager of manufacturing for A.O. Smith Corporation's Clark Control Division, John and Ted J. Solomon purchased White Printing Co. in Rock Hill, where John became vice president and treasurer. The Minerds remained prominent in South Carolina business, civic and charitable life for decades.

In 1974, the Minerds founded White Office Furniture in Rock Hill, NCs. John later "bought two neighboring buildings to expand the operation and turn it into a state of the art office furniture showroom and dealership," said the Uniontown Herald-Standard. The expansion not only helped save an old building on Hampton Street, but allowed the company to have 23,000 sq. ft. of warehouse and showroom space. Said the Rock Hill Herald, "The Minerds transformed the barren building into a plush showroom with high ceilings, paneling and carpeting." Marian was considered "a gracious hostess, a wonderful chef and a talented interior decorator," said the Herald.

John was a member of the Rock Hill Chamber of Commerce, Lancaster Chamber of Commerce, York Businessmen Association, Rock Hill Rotary Club and York Tech Foundation board of directors, where he served as treasurer and chairman of the foundation's board. Active in the Saint Anne Parish Council, he was president in 2005-2008 and on the finance council from 2006 to his death. 

John passed away at the age of 78, at Carolina Medical Center in Charlotte, on July 2, 2010. He was laid to rest in Forest Hills Cemetery.

Marian survived her husband by nearly six years. She died at home at the age of 85 on May 3, 2016.

Daughter Leslie Minerd ( ? -living) attended Cornell University and the University of South Carolina. She married Lucien Bruno III ( ? - ? ). She is the mother of Lucien Bruno IV and Sessy Minerd. Leslie has owned the Hip-Wa-Zee business in Columbia, SC for more than a decade. The store specializes in men and women's recycled fashions, vintage clothing, accessories, costumes and rentals. In 2010, she was a candidate for state Attorney General on the South Carolina Green Party ticket which included candidate Dr. Morgan Bruce Reeves for South Carolina Governor. According to her campaign literature, Leslie "is known across the state for her dedication to environmental and human rights causes. Clean Air, No Nukes and Social Justice could well be Minerd's tag line. Voted one of South Carolina's most successful activists, Minerd has a long history in the center of South Carolina progressive politics. In 1999 she and two other activists in South Carolina helped re-establish the United Citizens Party. She led the effort to place Ralph Nader atop the UCP ticket in 2000. She is a member of the Five Points Association, serving on their Future 5 Committee and Green Committee, pointing to her commitment to the Green Values of Future Focus and Ecological Wisdom."

• Grandson Lucien V. Bruno IV ( ? -living) entered into marriage with Kansas City resident Kelly Gillean on Oct. 26, 2019 at Petit Jean Mountain, AR.

• Granddaughter Sessy Minerd ( ? -living)

Daughter Laura Kathryn Minerd (1960-2021) was born on June 2, 1960 in Cleveland, OH and grew up in Rock Hill, SC. She received her bachelor's degree in 1981 from the University of South Carolina at Columbia. She was joined in wedlock with Michael Beaulieu ( ? -living). The two children born to this union were Jason Michael Beaulieu and Kathryn "Kat" Beaulieu. The couple divorced. Laura's early career was spent as an early-childhood educator with St. Peter's Catholic School in Columbia. She relocated in 1994 to Brevard, NC, where she was a substitute teacher and known by students as "Ms. Beaulieu." She eventually took back her maiden name. Three years after the move to Brevard, in 1997, she established a novelty and costume shop known as 336 Exchange which she later re-named to Penny Lane Exchange. She also learned Hatha Yoga and in 2005 began teaching its principles of restorative health to senior citizens. Reported the Transylvania Times:

Eager to share her infectious smile, she was a woman of remarkable kindness, empathy, wit and humility... Through her yoga practice, attentive care, and loving spiritual and physical guidance, she was able to enrich and better the lives of all who joined her, providing peace and prana... She always put her family first and was a tremendous influence and role model to her children and grandchildren. With a deep reverence for nature, she spent as much time outdoors as life made possible, always giving thanks to the Earth with a childlike wonder. An enthusiastic traveler that took every opportunity to explore both familiar and foreign lands, she lived her life to the utmost fullest, respecting and admiring all people, places and cultures. She was a being of boundless love, care, patience and grace. Her compassion exceeded the limits of most. She was undoubtedly a light in this world and we need to continue shining her light by carrying it with us in our lives... She lived her life standing up for those who faced injustice.

Tragically, on Thanksgiving Day on Nov. 26, 2021, while en route to spend the holiday with family, the 61-year-old Laura was struck and killed by a moving truck as she was walking in a McDonald's restaurant parking lot at the intersection of Highway 74/East Dixon Boulevard and Dekalb Street in Shelby, NC. Interment of the remains was in Carolina Memorial Sanctuary in Mills River. A candlelight vigil was held at Broad Street Plaza several weeks later, followed by a celebration of her life at Brevard Music Center. In an obituary, the family asked that any memorial donations be made to The Innocence Project.

• Grandson Jason Michael Beaulieu ( ? -living) received a bachelor's degree in business in 2008 from the University of South Carolina. On Oct. 1, 2011, he was united in wedlock with Alyson Nicole Shipman ( ? -living), daughter of Darrell and Sherri Shipman. His mother officiated their nuptials ceremony. Alyson is a 2005 alumna of Rosman High School. The couple's two chidlren are Kyrra Shipman-Lutz and Gracie Beaulieu. They dwell in Lexington, SC, where he has been employed by the Department of Veterans Affairs.

• Granddaughter Kathryn "Kat" Beaulieu has studied fashion merchandising. She resided in Miami in 2021.

Daughter Kelly Minerd spent her early years in Los Angeles and then in first grade moved with her family to Lancaster, SC. She studied at York Technical College. She wed Kenny "K.V." Varnadore ( ? -2016), son of James and Laura Varnadore. Kenny was a member of the Catawba Indian Nation and at one time worked for his father in law's furniture company as a lead installer. Kenny "loved playing sports and loved the outdoors," reported a newspaper. "Most of all he enjoyed spending time with his family and friends." The couple produced a son, Cory W. Varnadore, and later divorced. On the fateful day of July 6, 2016, while riding in a motorboat at Lake Wylie, in southwest Charlotte, Kenny drowned when he jumped or fell from the boat operated by a companion under the influence. Joining in the search for his body were the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the Charlotte Fire Department and the York County Sheriff’s Office. He was only age 52, and it was the year's sixth drowning in the lake. Funeral services were held at the Catawba Indian Nation's long house, officiated by Rev. Eddie Philip Williams.

• Grandson Cory W. Varnadore ( ? - ? )

Copyright © 2007-2010, 2013, 2021 Mark A. Miner