Jessica Dargan “Cricket” Newman
Jessica Dargan “Cricket” Newman, wife of James Paul Newman Jr., died at home on Wednesday July 27, 2022 after a battle with cancer. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM on Tuesday August 2, 2022 at Trinity Cathedral, 1100 Sumter St, Columbia with The Reverend Dane Boston officiating. There will be a reception following the service in Satterlee Hall, Trinity Cathedral. Burial will be a private family service. Visitation will be on Monday August 1, 2022 at the family home from 6 PM until 8 PM. Shives Funeral Home is assisting the family.
Cricket was born June 3, 1959 in Darlington, SC, to Hettie Roscoe Dargan and the late George William Dargan. She finished St. John’s High School in three years, then attended and graduated from the University of South Carolina School of Journalism. While at USC, Cricket was an active member of Alpha Delta Pi sorority. She and her husband Jamie met at Carolina and married on January 2, 1982.
In addition to her mother and husband, Cricket is survived by her daughter, Austin Newman Smith and her husband Walter Michael Smith, Rock Hill, SC. She is soon to be survived by Walter Michael Smith Jr., due January 2023. Her son, James Paul Newman III and his wife Lauren Blake Newman, and their two sons, Blake Dargan Newman and Henry Locke Newman, Mt. Pleasant, SC.
Cricket is also survived by her sister Catherine Dargan Lumpkin and her husband, Robert Lucas Lumpkin Jr., Georgetown, SC, her niece, Dargan Lumpkin Postal and her husband William Andrew Postal, and their children, Lucas Allston Postal and Louise Dargan Postal, Georgetown, SC. As well as, her nephew Robert Lucas Lumpkin III, New Orleans, LA.
Cricket’s faith and commitment were important aspects of her life. She was raised, baptized, confirmed, and married at St. Matthews Episcopal Church, Darlington, SC. After she and Jamie married, they joined and became active members of Trinity Cathedral, Columbia, SC. Cricket served as President of the Daughters of the Holy Cross as well as on a number of other committees, taught Sunday School, and devoted her talents to other service groups. She was a public school volunteer and mentor in Richland County School District One. She was also a member of the Junior League of Columbia and The Columbia Ball.
Cricket founded Cricket Newman Designs in her kitchen in 2000. The business has grown to a large, multi-faceted enterprise with retail furniture, accessories and plant shop, wedding planning department, other event planning section, and a florist shop. Her outstanding, creative work has endeared her to many brides and their mothers throughout the Southeast.
Cricket especially wanted to include a big Thank You to the many family members and friends near and far who prayed with her and her family and supported them in so many ways during her illness.
The family suggests memorials be sent to the following:
SCOA Cares Foundation, 166 Stoneridge Drive #100, Columbia, SC 29210
Trinity Cathedral, 1100 Sumter Street, Columbia, SC 29201
Still Hopes Episcopal Retirement Home Resident Assistance Fund , 1 Still Hopes Drive, West Columbia, SC 29169 .
