Loyal Harn and her parents continue tradition set by store’s founder, John Henry Whitmire

Designing jewelry just seems to come naturally to 8-year-old Loyal Harn, daughter of Jason and Keenan Harn, who now own Whitmire Fine Jewelry at the Hammock Shops Village in Pawleys Island.

Working with her parents, Loyal drew the designs and helped create a new line of Pawleys Island Shell jewelry called the “Pawleys Island Halo Collection.” She even created four variations of the design with 14-karat gold and sterling silver that will be available for holiday shopping.

Perhaps one shouldn’t be too surprised by Loyal’s knack for jewelry design. It comes naturally to the folks connected to the Whitmire store.

The store’s original owner, John Henry Whitmire, was the first to create an original design based on the Pawleys Island Shell. It quickly became the store’s iconic design.

The Pawleys Island Shell, with its distinct markings, is also known as the Imperial Venus Clam, and although it can be found in other areas, the shell is often found in and around Pawleys. Local legend even suggests that those who find the shell are “blessed by the island.”

CONTINUING A LEGACY

John Henry Whitmire opened his eponymous Pawleys Island jewelry store in 1973 and soon established two lines of beach-memento jewelry, inspired by the sights he saw when relaxing on the beach. He died at age 72 on Jan. 18, 2023, following a heart attack. His obituary noted that he was an “adventurous, gregarious, and charming unofficial world ambassador for the community where he lived and worked.”

After opening the store, John Henry’s inspiration was soon obvious.

His modestly priced Treasures of the Sea line, which sold primarily to beach vacationers, consisted of silver and gold pendants, charms, and earrings. In addition to the casting of the Pawleys Island Shell as a charm, the store also offered a piece based on the Pawleys Island Chapel.

The higher-end Royal Sea Collection, which sold primarily to locals, offered pieces with gemstones or pearls attached, such as a diamond-covered Pawleys Island Shell or palm tree.

After John Henry’s death, Jason and Keenan worked closely with his brother, Clay, and eventually bought the store on July 19, 2023.

The couple are pleased to keep John Henry’s legacy of quality service alive, and they are even more happy that Loyal is continuing his legacy of creating Pawleys Island Shell jewelry.

“John Henry had an incredible love for people and for Pawleys Island,” Keenan reflected. “We have visitors every day who share their stories about how John Henry treated them like family. John Henry’s designs have connected people for over 50 years and celebrate the Pawleys Island lifestyle.”

She also loves how the Pawleys Island Shell has a such special meaning for everyone.

“The broader meaning is connection to this island that we love so much, the legend of good fortune that the shell brings, and the simplicity of the design,” Keenan said. “The part that is special, though, is the individual meaning it has to people.”

For some, it represents time spent on vacation with family, the place they fell in love, or got married, or a special memory of something as simple as collecting shells along the beach with loved ones.

“There are so many interpretations of the meaning of the shell,” Keenan said, “and that is what makes it such a prolific design element.”

As for Loyal’s design, the 8-year-old is very specific about how it all came about.

“I thought a circle (or halo) around the shell on a necklace would be nice,” Loyal recounted. “Then I added diamonds to it, so it is something that people can cherish for a long time.”

Surprising, considering her age, Loyal was mindful that her design be something everyone could enjoy. She suggested to her parents that a design of silver could be used instead of the more expensive gold and that engraving something around the edge of the halo, instead of using diamonds, should be considered.

“My mom suggested engraving ‘South Carolina’ or ‘Pawleys Island’ on the halo,” Loyal explained.

EARLY CREATIVE STREAK

Her father said Loyal began creating jewelry at the shop by making bead bracelets featuring the Pawleys Island Shell but soon she decided to design necklaces, too.

“She is just naturally this way,” Jason said. “It is just her. She’s naturally creative.”

Keenan remembers the first time her daughter expressed interest in designing jewelry. She said that as small business owners, their children often spend time in the store after school. Loyal has two sisters, Mary Alice, who is 9, and Susan, who is 1 and a half.

“When Loyal was 5 or 6, she would take copy paper and highlighters and make drawings that she would tape to the wall with price tags on them,” she said. “She would sit patiently at the door and greet every customer, asking which of her original drawings they would like to buy.”

Jason and Keenan encouraged Loyal but, at the same time, explained that if she really wanted to be a part of the business, she should find some type of jewelry that she could make. 

“Loyal came up with her own line of Taylor Swift-style beaded bracelets that each have a tiny sterling silver Pawleys Island Shell on them,” Keenan said. “Once she had her own jewelry in the store, she really got excited about coming in to work and would ask every day if I would drop her off at the store on the way home from school so that she could ‘clock in’.” 

After spending more time paying attention to what was going on in the store, Loyal declared one day, “I’m going to design my own Pawleys Island Shell!”  

“She immediately started sketching, and it didn’t take long for her to come up with her first fine jewelry collection, the ‘Pawleys Island Halo Collection’,” her mother recalled. “Once she refined her sketches on paper, we talked with her about the nature and cost of materials and the labor and processes involved in bringing her sketches to life.”

Keenan said that the Halo Collection is different than anything they have ever designed.

“It is something that we never could have come up with on our own,” she said. “We are so proud of Loyal’s creativity, determination, and interest in our family business.”

Loyal said she knows personally the thrill of finding a Pawleys Island Shell on the beach.

“I’ve only found ever found one, and it was a tiny one,” she said. “I felt so lucky because they are hard to find.”

CUSTOMER APPRECIATION

Bonnie Bair of Bainbridge, Pennsylvania, has been a customer of Whitmire’s Fine Jewelry for more than 20 years. She makes a point to shop at the store each October when vacationing in the area.

She said the Harn family has done a great job keeping John Henry Whitmire’s memory and legacy alive.

“The shop is basically the same as when John Henry was there, but they are doing some cool expanding of his pieces,” Bair said. “I love everything they are doing to keep him alive through all of his pretty things.”

She has also taken note of Loyal’s jewelry designs and has purchased some of them.

“I’m loving her creativity for an 8-year-old,” Bair said. “She somehow has a heart for John Henry, and she is helping keep his memory alive.”

Whitmire Fine Jewelry is located at 10880 Ocean Highway in Pawleys Island as part of the iconic Hammock Shops Village.

By Clayton Stairs / tourism manager for the Georgetown County Chamber of Commerce