64 www.ReadMPM.com | www.MountPleasantMagazine.com | www.MountPleasantPodcast.com had since become an acclaimed portraitist and asked him to paint a picture of her son, which he did. For decades, the painting hung on the wall without anyone noticing that Jones had never signed it, until in 2019, Johnson’s son asked her who the artist was. Again, Johnson did some sleuthing to find Jones so that she could have him autograph the portrait. This time when they met, each learned that the other’s spouse had since passed away and they realized that after 40-50 years, the spark still remained between them. The two married on April 23, 2023, during the whirlwind process of Jones painting more than 60 portraits for the “Payne-ful” Business: Charleston’s Journey to Truth exhibit featured earlier this year at the City Gallery and for a book by the same name, written by Margaret Seidler. Relating the things he loves most about Johnson, Jones said, “She is beautiful on the inside and out and a joy to be around.” Johnson, giggling like a teenage girl with a crush, replied, “What I love most about John is that he always holds my hand and people tell me that they feel good just looking at us. He sings to me, and we sing together. It’s never too late. At first I was content being on my own, although I did miss having a companion. I prayed for someone to come, but I didn’t go looking. And that’s when John came back on the scene.” ROOM FOR TWO While waiting for Overture to be built, a 55-plus community for active adults, Cornelia Spitz sold her house on Johns Island and moved to West Ashley to be closer to her two daughters and two grandsons. Having grown up in Greenville and lived her entire adult life in Charleston, Spitz had been divorced since 1996 and wasn’t looking for a partner because she was focused on enjoying this time spent with family and friends. Then, once she had settled into her new apartment at Overture, Spitz started attending weekly social gatherings in the lobby to meet and get to know her neighbors. On one of these occasions, so many people were there that only one empty seat was left. That’s when a man named Don Petitpain sat down next to her and introduced himself. As they started talking, they learned that they both love to play pickleball. At the insistence of his three sons and three granddaughters, Petitpain had moved to Charleston from Mississippi after his wife passed away. After their initial conversation, Spitz and Petitpain went their separate ways. Spitz said that as they lived in separate wings and on different floors of the Overture campus, they lost touch for a few weeks. Then, at another event at Overture, they reconnected, went for a walk and out to dinner. After that, they started visiting each other regularly, cooking every night either at her place or his. Nearly a year later, they decided to move in together. Logistically, this was a challenge, as when Petitpain moved into his one-bedroom apartment, he brought all of his belongings with him from the three-bedroom house he senior living This time when they met, each learned that the other’s spouse had since passed away and they realized that after 40-50 years, the spark still remained between them. Cornelia Spitz & Don Petitpain. ...at another event at Overture, they reconnected, went for a walk and out to dinner. After that, they started visiting each other regularly ...
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