Tenita Jordan Dreher

Tenita Jordan Dreher was born October 8, 1960 in Monroe, North Carolina.  She was the loving daughter of James and Ruth Jordan. 

Tenita attended the public schools of Richland County, South Carolina. She was a 1977 graduate of C.A. Johnson High School. During high school, Tenita won the coveted title of Miss Black Teenage World.  For that accomplishment, she was honored to receive the Key to the City Columbia.

After graduation, Tenita was accepted to Hampton Institute (Now Hampton University).  She matriculated there for one year before accepting a role in the original cast of Dream Girls and relocating to New York.  Thus, her musical career began to soar!  She enhanced the musical presentations of many stars; among them, Grammy award winning artists Teddy Pendergrass and Columbia’s own Angie Stone.

Tenita Jordan Dreher had a heart of gold.  She would help anyone at any time.  Her caring spirit was exhibited when she entered her second career in the health care industry and served as a caretaker for many people in the Columbia area.  Tenita was also the primary caregiver for her parents.

As a mother, Tenita showed love, patience and understanding for her baby girl. She adored Jhena Ruth with every breath in her body.  As she travelled worldwide, Tenita made sure Jhena was in the safe and protective care of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Jordan.    Tenita also endowed Jhena with her musical talent. Stay tuned Jhena is about to make her mark on the music industry.  Tenita and Jhena were like two peas in a pod. Although, it sometimes  got tight in that pod, they always remained single minded with their dedication to each other.

Tenita was raised in a God fearing military home.  Whether they were stationed in Alaska or Virginia, James and Ruth made sure their family had a church home.  Tenita loved the fellowship of the Saints of God and did not mind shouting and waving her hand to praise the Lord.  She did not mind sharing about the Goodness of the Lord and his “Grace and Mercy!”  She often spoke of her little country church in Pageland, South Carolina with the wooden floors.

Tenita and her family came to Saint John Baptist Church when she was just a child. She never forgot her roots and whenever she was in Columbia for any length of time, she would make it her business to stop by God’s house to visit her church family. At Saint John, she was a member of the Gist, Jordan, McLawhorn, Reid, Grant Family Ministry Unit, the Lewis Sunday School Class, the Bereavement committee and the Saint John Mixed Ensemble. She loved Saint John and Saint John loved her.

Tenita loved lifting a good common meter hymn and Tenita loved singing Gospel music. Tenita Jordan Dreher was not just a singer, she was a “Musical Stylist” who could articulate a story in song like no other!  Her incomparable style of performing will surely be missed not only in Columbia, but across America.

Tenita Jordan Dreher is survived by her daughter, Jhena Ruth Nightengale of Columbia, South Carolina; Her parents, Deacon James and Deaconess Ruth Jordan, of the home; her sister, Anna (Ben) Hines, of Glendale, Maryland; four aunts, Doreatha Jordan and Pansy Evans, of Pageland, South Carolina.  Beulah (Moses) Louallen of Jefferson, SC;  Louise Maske of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Nephews, Bennie Hines, II, of Washington DC, Shaunte’ (Christina) Hines of Bowie, Md.;  Neices, Alicia Hines of Bowie, Md. and Monique Hines of Glenn Dale, Md.; 8 Great nieces and nephews; and a host of cousins and friends who will miss her dearly.

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