James Kenneth Sullivan (Jim), of Rock Hill, South Carolina, entered into eternal rest on April 20, 2026. He was preceded in death by Father, Rev. James Garness Sullivan; Mother, Daisy Belle Sullivan; and sister, Rev. Billie Glenn.

Jim served 25 years as a certified Data Processor at Belk Store Services in Charlotte, North Carolina. After retiring from Belk, he started his own Business, Rosewalk Group, Inc. He operated as a sole proprietor until 2013, when he began to enjoy full retirement. He was a member of Epworth United Methodist Church, a member of Rock Hill Civitan Club, and was a 1965 Graduate of Wofford College.

Jim was, among other things, an avid traveler. He and his wife, Gayle, visited all 50 states, and mostly enjoyed touring those with lighthouses. They traveled thousands of miles together by road, often taking Gayle's home-cooked meals with them. Across the years, he loved camping in tents, travel trailers, and motorhomes, and took his children to many U.S locations. He enjoyed visiting a wide variety of restaurants, many small, out-of-the-way ones that rarely appear in guides or reviews. Though it took him most of his life to learn to enjoy green vegetables, he loved ice cream, and often made it while camping or at their second home in Lake Junaluska, NC.

Jim loved vehicles, having owned a wide variety of them including a 1966 Ford Galaxy 500, a late-60's Dodge Dart Swinger, two Chevrolet Suburbans (before they were posh), four pickup trucks, a Volkswagen Rabbit Mark I, a 1983 Mazda RX-7, and several KIAs, along with dozens of model cars and trucks which he displayed in his home office with great pride and pleasure. He was an early adopter of diesel-powered passenger vehicles beginning with the fuel crisis of the early 1980's, and a programmer of various computing technologies, dating back to the age of punch cards. He counted playing cards while engaged in games, making him a formidable opponent. Not much one for formal sports, nevertheless, he did pushups most every morning of his adult life, and endowed his sons with a love of being outdoors, often to simply toss baseball or frisbee. He retrieved an untold number from the roof and gutters of their home. He also helped them to build volcanoes, electromagnets, and model toys.

He was a disciplined father to his sons in their childhoods, and a guide and advisor as they matured. He wrestled on the floor with them when they were small, suffering a broken rib as he allowed their exuberances. He provided them balls, toys, swing sets, bikes, skateboards, a go-cart, and motorcycles as they grew, along with ample spaces for them to enjoy. He never told them what they should or should not choose for careers, but supported their educations and endeavors with enthusiasm.

Jim was a devoted Christian in the Methodist tradition of active faith in prayer, daily devotions, generosity, and support for others, growing his mind and heart to embrace an expanding array of people, preferences, and proclivities. He nurtured and supported his parents and in-laws as they aged and suffered their own infirmities, and he was a loving brother to his sister before she preceded him in death.

And he loved, loved, loved his wife, and her biscuits

Jim is survived by his wife of 62 years, Gayle Sullivan of Rock Hill; sons Dr. Brian Sullivan (Corley) of Daniel Island and Brent Sullivan (Grace) of Rock Hill, 7 grandchildren, and 1 great-granddaughter.

A visitation will be held at Cornerstone UMC on May 1st, 2026, at 2 pm, followed by a Celebration of Life starting at 3 pm.

In lieu of flowers, please make memorial donations to: Epworth Children’s Home, 2900 Millwood Ave., Columbia, SC 29205, in Jim's Honor.