October 2004
October 1, 2004
Curt R. Fowler
UNION, SCMr. Curtis Ross Curt Fowler, 83, husband of Dorothy Vaughn Fowler, of 312 W. Hillcrest Avenue, Union, died Friday, October 1, 2004 at 10:30 a.m. in Wallace Thomson Hospital after an extended illness.
Mr. Fowler was born in Chester, SC on February 16, 1921, a son of the late Clyde Thomas Fowler and Clara Austin Fowler. He was a 1939 graduate of Union High School, and a member of Mon-Aetna Baptist Church, where he had served as a deacon and was a member of the Tom Alexander Sunday School Class. Mr. Fowler served with the 94th Infantry Division of the U.S. Army during World War II and received the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart. Following his military service, Mr. Fowler was employed with the U.S. Postal Service at the Union Post Office. Following his retirement, he worked with the Union County Council on Aging, Winn Dixie, and Joyces Flowers. Active in his community, he had served as past Post Commander of American Legion Post #22, past Master of Rutledge Masonic Lodge #351 and a life member of Union Masonic Lodge #75.
Each Fall he helped co-ordinate the annual Veterans Day Parade in Union. He was also a member of the VFW and the DAV.
Surviving in addition to his wife, are a son and daughter-in-law, Andy and Pam Fowler, of Union; two grandchildren, Ross Fowler and Nicole Fowler, both of Union; and a number of nieces and nephews. Mr. Fowler was predeceased by three sisters.
Funeral services will be held 3:00 p.m. Sunday at Mon-Aetna Baptist Church, conducted by the Rev. Benny Green. Burial will be in Union Memorial Gardens with Masonic Rites.
The body will remain at the funeral home, where the family will receive friends Saturday from 5:00 until 7:00 p.m. and will be placed in the church at 2:00 p.m. Sunday to await the hour of service.
The family is at the home, 312 West Hillcrest Avenue, Union.
Memorials may be made to Mon-Aetna Baptist Church Building Fund, P.O. Box 72, Union, SC 29379.
October 2, 2004
Beatrice C. Gilliam
BUFFALO, SC-- Mrs. Beatrice Collins Gilliam, 84, of 919 Main Street, Buffalo, SC, widow of Grover Gilliam, died at her residence Saturday, October 2, 2004, at 8:35 p.m.
Mrs. Gilliam was born in Franklin, NC, on September 2, 1920, a daughter of the late George Russell Collins and Roxie Ann Hedden Collins. She was a member of the Buffalo Baptist Church. Mrs. Gilliam was retired from United Merchants-Buffalo Plant, and also retired from Conso Products.
Surviving are a son, Leon Gilliam of the home; a sister, Bonnie Smith of Chester; two grandchildren, Donna G. Alexander and Doug Gilliam; three great-grandchildren, Michael Alexander, Jessica A. Maynard, Hannah Gilliam; and a special friend, Rebecca Dawkins. Mrs. Gilliam was predeceased by three sisters, Cora Patterson, Thelma Clements and Marie Dalton.
Funeral services will be held 2:00 p.m. Tuesday at Buffalo Baptist Church, conducted by the Rev. Tim Anderson and Rev. Randy Smith. Burial will be in Union Memorial Gardens.
The body will remain at the funeral home where the family will receive friends Monday night 7-9:00 p.m. and will be placed in the church at 1:00 p.m. Tuesday, to await the hour of service.
The family is at the home, 919 Main Street, Buffalo.
Memorials may be made to the Christian Fellowship Baptist Church Building Fund, 557 Kelly Road, Union, SC 29379.
October 3, 2004
Margaret G. Boyd
UNION, SC-- Mrs. Margaret Gregory Boyd, 79, formerly of Springdale Drive, Union, widow of Walter P. Boyd, died Sunday, October 3, 2004, at 12:20 a.m. in Wallace Thomson Hospital after an extended illness.
Mrs. Boyd was born in Adamsburg, SC, on November 2, 1924, a daughter of the late John Wesley Gregory and Eura Burgess Gregory. She was a member of the First Baptist Church of Union. Mrs. Boyd was a retired switchboard operator and receptionist at Wallace Thomson Hospital.
Surviving are a daughter and son-in-law, Susan B. Teeter and husband Bill of Lexington; two sons and a daughter-in-law, Walter P. Dickie Boyd and wife Margie of Jonesville, and John Thomas Tommy Boyd of Buffalo; a brother, John Gregory, Jr. of Adamsburg; two grandchildren, Meg Bruce and husband Tradd Bruce and Erica Boyd, all of Union; a great-granddaughter, Caroline Bruce of Union; and a number of nieces and nephews. Mrs. Boyd was predeceased by a sister, Nancy G. Henson.
Graveside services will be held 11:00 a.m. Tuesday at Union Memorial Gardens conducted by the Rev. Robert Emory.
The body will remain at the funeral home where the family will receive friends Monday night from 6:30-8:30 p.m.
The family is at the home of her granddaughter, Meg and Tradd Bruce, 110 Wimbleton Road, Union.
Memorials may be made to the Ellen Sagar Nursing Home, 1817 Jonesville Highway, Union, SC; or to the First Baptist Church, 405 East Main Street, Union, SC 29379.
October 5, 2004
Timothy W. Cannon
Former Kohler employee
Timothy Wayne "Tim" Cannon, 37, of Buena Vista Apts., 863 Rice Ave., Union, died at 5:17 p.m. Monday, Oct. 4, 2004 in Spartanburg Regional Medical Center after an extended illness.
Mr. Cannon was born in Spartanburg on May 2, 1967, a son of James W. Cannon of Union and the late Brenda Callahan Cannon. He attended Ottaray Baptist Church and was formerly employed with Kohler Company of Spartanburg.
Surviving in addition to his father are a son, Justin Cannon of Pacolet; a daughter, Casey Cannon of Pacolet; a sister, Terry Horne of Jonesville, his paternalgrandmother, Ruby Cannon; two nephews, Corey Horne and Terry Horne, both of Jonesville. Mr. Cannon was predeceased by his paternal grandfather, James E. Cannon, his maternal grandmother, Minnie McCollough and his maternal grandfather, John Callahan.
Funeral services will be held Wednesday at 11 a.m. at Ottaray Baptist Church conducted by the Rev. Bobby Crocker. Burial will be in Jonesville Memorial Gardens.
Active pallbearers will be Gregg Sanford, Hal Garner, Ronnie Lipsey, Jeffrey Elder, Frances Trammell and Paul Dameron.
The family will receive friends at Holcombe’s Jonesville Chapel tonight from 6:30 until 8:30. The body will be placed in the church at 10 a.m. Wednesday to await the hour of service.
The family is at the home, Buena Vista Apts., 863 Rice Ave., Union.
Memorials may be made to the Timothy Wayne Cannon Memorial Fund, P.O. Box 293, Union, S.C. 29379.
Marie L. Shehan Smith
JONESVILLE, SC-- Mrs. Marie L. Shehan Smith, 80, wife of James A. Gator Smith, of 241 Harris Street, Jonesville, died Tuesday, October 5, 2004.
Mrs. Smith was born in Greer, SC, on October 20, 1923, a daughter of the late William Oliver and Florence Moore Shehan. She was retired from J. P. Stevens Jonesville Plant and was a graduate of Jonesville High School. She was a member of Truth Baptist Church and a member of Christian Fellowship Baptist Church.
Surviving in addition to her husband are one daughter, Sara S. Winstead of Pacolet; two sons, James Lewis Smith of Pacolet, and William R. Bill Smith of Pelzer; seven grandchildren; eleven great-grandchildren; and four great-great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held 2:00 p.m. Thursday at the Holcombe Chapel conducted by Rev. Randy Smith, Rev. Jonathan Hodges and Chaplain Gary Pindroh. Burial will be in Gilead Baptist Church Cemetery.
The body will be at the Holcombes Jonesville Chapel where the family will receive friends Wednesday night from 7:00-9:00 p.m.
Memorials may be made to Interim Hospice, Home of Grace Fund, 775 Spartan Boulevard, Suite 101, Spartanburg, SC 29301.
The family is at the home, 241 Harris Street, Jonesville, SC 29353.
October 09, 2004
Betty Brooks
Retired from Union Dry Cleaners
Betty Opal Pruitt Brooks, 81, of 709 Rice Ave. Extension, Union, widow of Lewis Dexter Brooks, died Thursday, Oct. 7, 2004 at 7:45 p.m. in Wallace Thomson Hospital after an extended illness.
Mrs. Brooks was born in Greenville on Jan. 12, 1925, a daughter of the late Dib Pruitt and Pauline Otts Pruitt. She was a Methodist. Mrs. Brooks was retired from Union Dry Cleaners.
Surviving are three daughters and sons-in-law, Arlene Earls and husband Jackie Earls Sr., Cheryl Black and Tammy Coile and husband Allen, all of Union; two sons and daughters-in-law, Lester Ingram and wife Linda Ingram of Walterboro and Donald Ingram and wife Martha Ingram of Enoree; two sisters, Naomi Curd and Dorothy Atkins, both of Danville, Va.; two brothers, James Pruitt and Jimmy Pruitt, both of Danville, VA.; 10 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. Mrs. Brooks was predeceased by a son, Dexter Brooks and a daughter, Donna Ann Brooks.
Graveside services will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday at Rosemont Cemetery conducted by Branch President Lee Chapman and the Rev. Michael Evans.
Active pallbearers will be Jackie Earls Jr., John Earls, Jeff Morris, Derrick Coile, Matt DeHart and Reuben Morris.
The body will remain at the funeral home where the family will receive friends tonight from 7 until 9.
The family is at the home of her daughter, Tammy and Allen Coile, 310 River Hills Road, Union
October 11, 2004
Virgie R. Bledsoe
Homemaker
Virgie Rhoton Bledsoe, 86, left her home at 126 Pine Lane, Union, at 5:10 p.m. Sunday, Oct, 10, 2004 to join her Lord in Heaven after an extended illness.
Mrs. Bledsoe was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She was a homemaker and a member of Philippi Baptist Church.
A native of Blackwater, Va., Mrs. Bledsoe was born March 14, 1918, a daughter of the late Andrew and Sarah Neal Rhoton and a widow of Davie Gaston Bledsoe.
Surviving are six daughters, Della Mae Robinette of Union, Allie Jane Collins and husband Clea of Russellville, Tenn., Elma Jean Burgess and husband, Larry, of Union, Ruby L. Edmonds and husband David of Chesnee, Barbara E. Knox and husband Collie of Cowpens, Kathy Elizabeth English and husband Bobby of Union; three sons, David Gaston Bledsoe Jr. and wife Thelma of Buffalo, Jerry A. Bledsoe and wife Gail of Greensboro, N.C., Clifford W. Bledsoe and wife Kathryn of Gaffney; two sisters, Gertrude Hall of Dryden, Va., Velvia Bledsoe of Surgoinsville, Tenn., 20 grandchildren, a number of step-grandchildren, and several great and great-greatgrandchildren. Mrs. Bledsoe was predeceased by a son, Glen Ray Bledsoe, a daughter, Mary Sue Bledsoe, two brothers, Oscar Rhoton and Emmitt Rhoton.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Philippi Baptist Church by the Rev. Brad Goodale and the Rev. Johnny Burgess. Burial will be in Rosemont Cemetery.
Mrs. Bledsoe’s grandsons will serve as active pallbearers. Members of the Reba Montgomery Sunday School Class at Philippi Baptist Church are asked to sit in a group and the nurses and staff of Hospice Care of South Carolina are asked to sit in a group.
The body will remain at the funeral home where the family will receive friends Tuesday night from 7 until 9 and will be placed in the church at 1 p.m. Wednesday to await the hour of service. Memorials may be made to Hospice Care of S.C., 128 Medical Science Dr., Union, S.C. 29379. The family is at the home, 126 Pine Lane, Union, S.C. 29379
October 12, 2004
Paul Ham Jr.
World War II veteran
Paul Ham Jr., 78, of 103 Culbreath Hts., Union, husband of Shirley Hendrix Ham, died Tuesday, Oct. 12, 2004, at 3:50 a.m. in Wallace Thomson Hospital.
Mr. Ham was born in Union on Jan. 4, 1926, a son of the late Paul Evans Ham and Francis Ham. He was a member of the Union Church of Christ where he had served as deacon for many years. He attended the Union County Schools and was retired from Milliken and Co., having worked for 47 years, first at Excelsior Mill and then with Lockhart Power Company. For 40 plus years he served as the scoreboard operator for Union High School football and was an active member of the Union High School Booster Club. Mr. Ham was a veteran of World War II, having served in the U.S. Army.
Surviving in addition to his wife are two sons and a daughter-in-law, T. Scott Ham of Greenwood and Barry and Linda Ham of Union; three grandchildren, Brandi Ham, Justin Ham and Brooke Ham, all of Union; and a sister, Dorothy H. Bobo of Union. Mr. Ham was predeceased by a sister, Margaret Ham Chapman.
Funeral services will be held at 3 p.m. Thursday at the Union Church of Christ conducted by Minister Curtis Gilbert assisted by Minister Jesse Ham Jr. Burial will be in Union Memorial Gardens.
Active pallbearers will be Justin Ham, Randy (Chump) Hanvey, Clarence Sanders, Mickey Wingo, Ronnie Gault and Terry Fant.
Men of the congregation of the Union Church of Christ and the Lakeside Drive Church of Christ and the Wingo Crew are asked to assemble at the church Thursday at 2:45 p.m. to form the honorary escort.
The body will remain at the funeral home where the family will receive friends Wednesday night from 7 until 9 and will be placed in the church at 2 p.m. Thursday to await the hour of service.
The family is at the home of his son, Barry and Linda Ham, 128 Heritage Way, Toney Estates, Union. Memorials may be made to the Union Church of Christ, 704 North Duncan By-Pass, Union, S.C. 29379
October 15, 2004
Ruby O. Garner
Retired from Milliken & Co.
LOCKHART — Ruby O’Dell Garner, 87, of 120 South 3 rd St., Lockhart, widow of Joseph W. Garner, died at her residence Thursday, Oct. 14, 2004, at 9:15 a.m. after a brief illness.
A native of Buncombe County, N.C., she was born July 30, 1917, a daughter of the late Arthur A. and Fannie Dotson O’Dell. She was a graduate of Lockhart High School and was retired from Milliken & Co., Lockhart Plant. Mrs. Garner was a member of the First Baptist Church of Lockhart, a member of the Fidelis Sunday School Class and the W.M.U. and was the oldest active lady in the church.
Surviving are two sons and daughters-in-law, Donald W. Garner and wife Christene of Lancaster and Ted M. Garner and wife Marva of Lockhart; a granddaughter, Christy G. Cannon of Spartanburg; three grandsons, Greg Garner of Irmo, Woody Garner of Greensboro, N.C. and Joey Garner of Lockhart; and four great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at the First Baptist Church of Lockhart conducted by the Rev. Ben Hill and the Rev. Calvin Smith. Burial will be in Rosemont Cemetery.
Active pallbearers will be Mike Allen, Arnold Childers, Jantzen Childers, David Gibson, Luke Jenkins, Bill McLeod and Scott Vlock.
The body will remain at the funeral home where the family will receive friends tonight from 6:30 until 8 and will be placed in church at 10 a.m. Saturday to await the hour of service.
Memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church of Lockhart Building Fund, P.O. Box 190, Lockhart, S.C. 29364.
October 18, 2004
Etta K. Clark
UNION, SC-- A celebration to honor the life of Mrs. Etta Keisler Clark, will be held 11:00 a.m. Tuesday at Union Memorial Gardens in Union, with the Rev. Clayton Price officiating.
Mrs. Clark, 92, died at the home of her daughter at 152 Whitwood Circle, Columbia, Sunday, October 17, 2004, at 3:30 a.m. Mrs. Clark was born in Union County on May 13, 1912, a daughter of the late John David Keisler and Mamie McGowan Keisler and was the widow of James Curtis Clark, Sr. She was a member of St. Pauls United Methodist Church in Saluda and was active in her church and community as long as her health permitted. Mrs. Clark was retired from Milliken & Company, Excelsior Plant.
Surviving are two daughters and a son-in-law, Jonnie K. Clark of the home, and Becky C. Self and husband Keith of Simpsonville; a son, James Curtis Clark, Jr. of Saluda; two grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
The family will receive friends at Union Memorial Gardens immediately following the graveside services.
Memorials may be made to St. Pauls United Methodist Church, 102 E. Butler Avenue, Saluda, SC 29138; or Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church, 739 North Main Street, Mauldin, SC 29662; or to the Palmetto Chapter of the Alzheimers Association, P. O. Box 7044, Co
October 19, 2004
Ervin W. McFalls
JONESVILLE, SC-- Mr. Ervin William Ninty-Five McFalls, 58, husband of Diana Johns McFalls of 805 Forest Street, Jonesville, died Monday, October 18, 2004, at 6:15 p.m. in Wallace Thomson Hospital.
Mr. McFalls was born in Old Fort, NC, on December 9, 1945, a son of Mary Ruth Knox McFalls of Union, and the late Arthur F. McFalls. He was a Baptist and was formerly employed with Earnhardt Lumber Company.
Surviving in addition to his wife and mother are two sons, Timothy William McFalls of Union, and Jeffrey Wayne McFalls of Gaffney; a sister, Frances Waffel of New Mexico; a brother, James Arthur McFalls of Union; a step-son, Wilson Earl Pridmore of Pacolet; six grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held 2:00 p.m. Friday at the Jonesville Church of God, conducted by the Rev. Roger Byrd and Rev. Johnny Burgess. Burial will be in Jonesville Memorial Gardens.
The body will be taken to the home of his mother, Ruth K. McFalls, 1395 Pineland Road, Union, Thursday morning where the family will receive friends 7-9:00 p.m. Thursday night and will be placed in the church at 1:00 p.m. Friday to await the hour of service.
Memorials may be made to the Ervin William McFalls Fund, P. O. Box 293, Union, SC 29379.
October 25, 2004
Nina Peal Scott Shetley
BUFFALO, SCMrs. Nina Pearl Scott Shetley, 72, widow of Donald Eugene Shetley, of 136 Fairforest Heights Drive, Buffalo, died at her residence Saturday, October 23, 2004.
Mrs. Shetley was born in Jonesville, June 16, 1932, a daughter of the late Samuel Ausbrey and Elozia Laws Scott. She was a beautician at the House of Beauty for 30 years and a member of Buffalo United Methodist Church.
A loving mother of five sons, one of whom predeceased her, Sammy Lynn Vinson and surviving, Jesse Warren Vinson, Ernest Franklin Vinson, Timothy Mark Shetley, and Donald Eugene Shetley, II, all of Buffalo; five grandchildren, Brian Vinson, Dalton Vinson, Tausha Vinson, Casey Bobo, and Cristin Shetley; one great-grandchild, Dillon; three sisters, Gloria Scott Carroll, of Barnwell, Catherine Scott Palmer, of Columbia, and Joan Scott Wall, of Georgia; one brother, Samuel Ausbrey Scott, Jr., of Buffalo. Mrs. Shetley was predeceased by a sister, Ann Fry Scott.
Funeral services will be held Monday at 3:00 p.m. at Buffalo United Methodist Church, by Rev. Kevin Dalton. Burial will be in Rosemont Cemetery.
The following nephews will serve as active pallbearers: Scott Fry, Ellis Palmer, John Palmer, Thomas Palmer, Joel Fry, Billy Jones, and Jimmy Carroll.
Memorials may be made to the Union County Cancer Services, c/o Ola Jean Kelly, 117 Fant Lane, Union, SC 29379.
Loften E. Turner Sr.
Retired carpenter
JONESVILLE — Loften Everette "John" Turner Sr., 63, husband of Hattie Janette Reno Turner of 119 Muriel Dr., Jonesville, died Saturday Oct. 23, 2004 at his home after a long illness.
Mr. Turner was born in Jonesville, Feb. 5, 1941, a son of Bertha Rebecca Patterson Turner of Jonesville and the late George Washington Turner Sr. He was a retired carpenter and formerly employed with the SCDOT in Spartanburg. He was a member of Manna Baptist Church in Spartanburg.
Surviving in addition to his wife and mother are two daughters, Linda Justice and Reva Motts, both of Pacolet; four sons, Gerald Wayne Turner of Pauline, Loften E. Turner Jr. of Pacolet, and Richard L. Turner and John Mark Turner, both of the home; two sisters, Virginia Burgess and Hazel Millwood, both of Jonesville; four brothers, Loyd "Nig" Turner, George W. Turner Jr., Harold Dean Turner, all of Jonesville and Noel "Sonny" Turner of Union; two granddaughters, Amber Turner and Ashley Turner, both reared in the home; 12 other grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Mr. Turner was predeceased by a sister, Myrtle Keith.
Funeral services will be held at 4 p.m. Tuesday at the Jonesville Church of God by the Rev. Roger Byrd and the Rev. Danny Cannon. Burial will be in Jonesville Memorial Gardens.
Active pallbearers will be Tommy Millwood, Toney Burgess, Lanny Birdsong, Troy Burgess, Robbie Sowers, William Turner, Michael Turner and John Young.
The family will receive friends tonight from 6 until 9 at the Jonesville Church of God.
The family is at the home, 119 Muriel Dr., Jonesville, S.C. 29379.
October 31, 2004
Harold W. Kirby, Sr.
Mr. Harold Wilson Kirby, Sr., 79, husband of Pearl Smythe Kirby, of 100 Hidden Hill Road, Union, died at his residence Saturday, October 30, 2004 at 8:30 a.m., after a period of declining health.
Mr. Kirby was born in Union on August 9, 1925, a son of the late Hydrick L. Kirby Sr. and Virginia Buzzell Kirby. He was a loyal member of the Mon-Aetna Baptist Church as long as his health permitted and was a former deacon of the First Baptist Church of Union. Mr. Kirby was a member of the Civitan International, the S.C. Law Enforcement Officers Association, the S.C. Sheriffs Association and a member of Iptay. He was a graduate of Union High School, Mars Hill College and Presbyterian College, and a Veteran of World War II, having served in the U.S. Marine Corps and was retired from the S.C. Dept. of Corrections. Mr. Kirby was a loving husband and father. He loved his Pastor, his church, his Sunday school class, and his Clemson Tigers.
Surviving in addition to his wife, are a daughter, Virginia E. (Beth) Kirby, of Union; a son, Harold Wilson Kirby, Jr., of the home; a sister, Marguerite K. Bradley, of Union; and a brother, H. L. (Jack) Kirby, Jr., of Hendersonville, NC.
A Celebration of Life service will be held 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, at Mon-Aetna Baptist Church, conducted by the Rev. Benny Green, Jr.
The body will remain at the funeral home, where the family will receive friends Monday night, from 7:00 until 8:30 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Mon-Aetna Baptist Church, 1431 Lockhart Hwy., Union, SC 29379 or to the Alzheimers Association, Upstate SC Chapter, 555 Reidville Road, Spartanburg, SC 29306.
The family is at the home, 100 Hidden Hill Road, Union.