圀䠀䄀吀ᤠ匀 夀伀唀刀
嘀愀氀攀渀琀椀渀攀ᤠ猀 䐀愀礀 匀吀䄀吀唀匀㼀
A FTER A YEAR OF USCHI AND CHARLES STRENGTHENING their
friendship and then falling in love with each other, Charles bought a diamond
ring. Being an artist, he chose to take a different path. Instead of trying to create
the perfect proposal setting, he decided to simply carry the ring with him and let
the proposal happen naturally. After weeks of nervous anticipation, while Uschi and
Charles were resting during a 500-mile charity bike ride, he knew the moment had
finally come. Bypassing his nerves, Charles asked Uschi to spend the rest of her life
with him, and, of course, she said “yes!” Six months later, cloaked in the love and
well wishes of their friends and family, the two were married in an intimate ceremony. Even in a time before Pinterest and Say Yes to the Dress, their wedding was
䔀渀樀漀礀 愀 刀漀洀愀渀琀椀挀 䐀椀渀渀攀爀
愀渀搀 䌀栀愀洀瀀愀最渀攀 昀漀爀 ㈀ 眀椀琀栀
礀漀甀爀 匀眀攀攀琀栀攀愀爀琀 瀀爀攀瀀愀爀攀搀 戀礀
䔀砀攀挀甀琀椀瘀攀 䌀栀攀昀 䠀椀氀琀漀渀 䴀挀䰀攀漀搀⸀
still something exquisitely special. Instead of worrying about the trivial details, love
was all that mattered. “It was as much about enjoying our friends and honoring our
family as it was about our union,” Charles said.
Soon after, life had a surprise in store for the lovebirds. Eleven months after Uschi
and Charles walked down the aisle, they became a family of three as they welcomed
㠀㐀㌀⸀㌀㤀⸀㐀㐀㌀㐀
㔀㐀 匀⸀ 䐀愀爀最愀渀 匀琀爀攀攀琀
their son, Charles, into the world. While having a child so soon after getting married
was definitely challenging, it helped strengthen their commitment to each other
much faster than they expected. Instead of spending the first few years living in bliss,
Uschi and Charles grew together as partners. As they faced pregnancy, late night
feedings, diapers, and daycare, these two separate individuals grew into one team.
“When you are engaged, everyone only tells you about the bliss,” Charles said.
“It’s funny how no one seems to mention how hard marriage is. It’s very hard work
sometimes, but always worth it.”
Having a child so early prepared Uschi and Charles to face the many obstacles that
have come their way. From moving all over the east coast for work to dealing with
the passing of their parents, Uschi and Charles have overcome challenges which
have only solidified their commitment to each other. Constant communication and
deep friendship became the cornerstone of their marriage.
For them, the area that has brought them together the most has been art, their
life’s passion. Both Uschi and Charles discovered their love of art at a young age, and
as they have grown older, that love has become a wonderful catalyst for their constant communication and friendship. Each piece of art brings up a different emotion
in each viewer, and being able to discuss those emotions has led to some of the most
㠀㐀㌀⸀㐀㔀㌀⸀㈀㘀㘀㈀
㘀 匀⸀ 䐀愀爀最愀渀 匀琀爀攀攀琀
important and lively conversations between Uschi and Charles. As artists, however,
they understand that art cannot always be explained; it must be felt, much like love.
Something else that has drawn them together is their shared passion for art in the
community. Art can improve the economy by bringing employment and attention to
different places within a community. Uschi and Charles both believe that art has the
ability to affect us and to bring out deep emotions. Pieces of art can express things that
words cannot and can bring about different ways of thinking.
These beautiful and inspirational ideas are what drive both Uschi and Charles in
their passion for the arts. Uschi’s passion and constant dedication to raising awareness about the importance of art resulted in her being awarded She Magazine’s 2015
Extraordinary Woman Art & Soul Award. When asked how she felt to have been
chosen for such a prestigious award, Uschi said that she felt incredibly lucky and
speechless.
“I was left without words. How incredible to be recognized in such a way for something [that I care for and love]?!? But at the same time, so many I know are doing
equal, if not greater, things.” Uschi said.
䤀渀搀甀氀最攀 椀渀 䐀攀挀愀搀攀渀挀攀
愀琀 䐀漀氀挀攀 嘀椀琀愀℀
㠀㐀㌀⸀㘀 ⸀㈀㌀㔀
㔀㈀ 匀⸀ 䐀愀爀最愀渀 匀琀爀攀攀琀
Charles and Uschi Jeffcoat reside in Florence, South Carolina.
He is an associate professor of visual arts at Francis Marion University. She is the Executive Director of the Florence Regional Arts
Alliance. They have two children: Phillip and Charles Jeffcoat III.
SHEMAGAZINE.COM FEBUARY 2016
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