The Righteous Gemstones and Charleston – Original Poem

By Mark A Leon

In Charleston’s charm, where the cobblestones gleam,
The Gemstones reign supreme in their righteous dream.

Eli, the patriarch, with his holy command,
Built a megachurch empire in this Lowcountry land.

Jesse, the eldest, with swagger and pride,
Schemes like a pirate on Charleston’s tide.
He’d sip sweet tea at Husk, plotting his gains,

While scandals brewed like hurricanes.
Judy, bold as Rainbow Row’s hues,
Spoke her mind with no time to lose.
At Spoleto Festival, she’d crash the scene,
Dancing wildly where she shouldn’t have been.

Kelvin, the youngest, with muscles divine,
Flexed his faith like a Charleston skyline.
He’d preach at Folly Beach in flip-flops and flair,

Turning baptisms into a CrossFit affair.
And Baby Billy Freeman, the schemer so sly,
Sold timeshares near the Angel Oak’s sky.
He’d hawk shrimp and grits as part of the deal—

A televangelist twist on Charleston appeal.
They dined on she-crab soup at every prayer meet,
Their greed as thick as Charleston’s summer heat.
From Dock Street Theatre to the Gibbes Art halls,
Their antics echoed through historic walls.
But when locusts swarmed their holy stage,
Chaos erupted like a Battery rage.
Through scandals and schemes, they found their way—

A family united in their disarray.

So next time you stroll through Charleston’s streets,
Think of the Gemstones and their righteous feats.

For in this city of charm and Southern grace,
Even televangelists find their place!