The chaos of life can often prevent clarity of focus and purpose. Sentiments, quotes, or reminders can ground us in our truth. Affixed on Jillian’s fridge was a note that simply read:
“People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel” – Maya Angelou
Jillian Leigh Clinton, 32, passed away peacefully on June 11, 2025. Everyone who encountered her will remember how she made them feel loved, seen, cared for, and valued. She was a radiant light to all.
Family was foundational to her values. She was daughter, granddaughter, sister, aunt, cousin, niece, Jill, Jilly, Jillybug, Buddy, Aunt Jelly and more. She was the beloved daughter of Jim and Barb Clinton and granddaughter of Louise Clinton. She was a loving sister and sister-in-law to James Clinton (Nikki Clinton), and Brittany Clinton Strebel (Brett Strebel).
She was adored by her five nieces and sole nephew who lovingly called her ‘Aunt Jelly Donut’. She brought so much joy to them in the time they spent together playing games, making jewelry and just being silly. She cherished the time that she spent with all family members across all families (Clinton, Lorch, Turnbull, Costello, Cote, Kingery, Purdy, Watzek, White). She made so many memories with them over the years during beach trips, holidays, and the loooooong list of family traditions.
Graduating from Northwestern High School excelling in academics and sports (volleyball and soccer), she was known as a leader and motivator to her classmates and teammates. She attended Clemson University earning a degree in Food Science, and MUSC completing her dietetic internship (RDN LD).
Jillian had a passion for helping others through nutrition — publishing a healthy eating cookbook for SCDHEC SNAP-Education Team, appearing on multiple local news channels promoting healthy habits/recipes, and even creating a nutrition-based social media account. She transitioned her career from practicing dietetics to medical device sales at Insulet utilizing her clinical experience and education in dietetics to support patients with their insulin management.
Over the last two and a half years, Jillian worked for Intuitive Surgical helping surgeons integrate robotics into their care. Throughout her life in academics, athletics, sorority, service clubs and her professional career, she was known for being attentive, intentional, motivating and a pure joy to be with.
Jillian had a vivacious personality and was easy to love. Her friends described her as being a devoted friend who saw them for who they were. Raw / honest / truthful. Jillian moved to Denver late last year, but had already built a circle of friends with other strong, smart and adventurous young women. They, and friends throughout her life, appreciated her ability to ask deep questions, listen with an open heart, and be a total goofball making them cry with laughter. She loved her friends deeply and wholeheartedly, showing up for them in the big life moments and the day-to-day. She loved on them, their families, and their little ones with the same vibrancy that she did her own.
Jill loved people and was known to make friends in elevators, restaurant lines, or in her travels. She built a vast community around her, across many locations – Rock Hill, Clemson, California, Washington DC, and Colorado. People were drawn to her radiant personality and her innate ability to build connection.
To sum a life up in a singular word or phrase is an impossible task but if Jillian were here sharing a sentiment of how to live, she would simply say: Love God and love people.
“Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” Matthew 22:37-39
A visitation to celebrate Jillian’s life will be held on June 20, 2025, at 4:30 PM at Greene Funeral Home, located at 2133 Ebenezer Road, Rock Hill, SC 29732. Funeral service will be held on June 21, 2025 at 9:30 AM at St. Anne’s Catholic Church 1698 Bird Street, Rock Hill, SC 29732.
In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that donations be made in Jillian’s memory to the Clemson University Samuel J. Cadden Chapel at https://iamatiger.clemson.edu/giving/jillian-clinton
May her soul rest in peace with the Lord and the many loved ones who welcome her into heaven.