Miscellaneous Beaufort County, South Carolina Obituaries

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Cluise Smith
STATESBORO -- Cluise Smith, 89, died Jan. 7 at Bulloch Memorial Hospital. He was a native and lifelong resident of Bulloch County. He was a retired farmer and a Primitive Baptist.
SURVIVORS: two sons and a daughter-in-law, Travis Smith, John and Carole Smith, all of Statesboro; three grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
VISITATION: 5-8 p.m. today at Joiner-Anderson Funeral Home.
FUNERAL: 2 p.m. Sunday at Joiner-Anderson Funeral Home, burial in Bethlehem Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery.
REMEMBRANCES: Savannah Association for the Blind, 214 Drayton St., Savannah, GA 31401 or the American Diabetes Association, 5105 Paulsen St., Savannah, GA 31405.

Tonesya R. Smith
Tonesya Renee' Smith, 23, died Jan. 5 in Athens. She was born in Beaufort. She was a 1994 graduate of Savannah High School and a student at the University of Georgia for the past three years.
SURVIVORS: her parents, Cynthia Smith Johnson of Savannah and Fred W. Smith of Ocala, Fla.; a brother, Jattai E. Smith of Savannah; and paternal grandparents, Charles and Sally Smith of Graydon, Ind. Sexton-Hall Mortuary, Inc.

Dennis V. Thompson Sr.
METTER -- Dennis Vernon Thompson Sr., 85, died Jan. 7. He was born in Emanuel County and lived in Metter for over 53 years. He was the owner and operator of Vernon's Mint Mart for a number of years. He was a longtime member of Metter Primitive Baptist Church. He was a former member of Metter Park and Tree Committee, the Kiwanis, the Masonic Lodge and the Elk's Club. He was a charter member of Willow Lakes Country Club and served on Metter City Council for several years. He was also the mayor of the city of Metter from 1965-1968.
SURVIVORS: his wife, Editha Lanier Thompson of Metter; two sons and daughters-in-law, Denny and Sheryl Thompson of Metter, and David and Virginia Thompson of Valdosta; two daughters and sons-in-law, Diane T. and Edward Hardin of Cochran, and Debra T. and Ricky Stanford of Metter; a sister, Elizabeth Bisher of Denton, N.C.; 11 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
VISITATION: 6-9 p.m. Sunday at Kennedy-Morgan Funeral Homes, Hooks Chapel.
FUNERAL: 11 a.m. Monday at Metter Primitive Baptist Church, burial in Lake Cemetery.

Cellie M. Vaughn
LYONS -- Mrs. Cellie M. Vaughn, 86, died Jan. 6 at the Bethany Home for Ladies. She was a native of Emanuel County and lived most of her life in the Oak Park area. She was a homemaker and an inspector for Hazlehurst Manufacturing. She was a longtime member of Olney Primitive Baptist Church.
SURVIVORS: three daughters, Faye Garrett of Avon Park, Fla., Savilla V. Taylor and Karen V. Connell, both of Vidalia; two sons, Curtis Vaughn of Lyons and Calvin Vaughn of Vidalia; a sister, Naomi Helms of Gettysburg, Pa.; 11 grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
FUNERAL: 3 p.m. today at Olney Primitive Baptist Church, burial in Waters Cemetery near Oak Park. Jones-Stewart Funeral Home.

Marilyn T. Tremble
Mrs. Marilyn Ann Taylor Tremble, 64, died Jan. 7 at home. She was born in Atlanta and lived in Savannah most of her life. She was a member of Tremont Temple Baptist Church.
SURVIVORS: her husband, Jordon Thomas Tremble of Savannah; six daughters, Terry E. Hendrix, Linday Houston, Shirley Grant, Beulah Golden and Mildred Conners, all of Savannah, and Elnora Martin of Atlanta; and three sons, Robert T. Mickles, Henry Martin and Roy R. Reese, all of Savannah. Sidney A. Jones Funeral Home.

Winters Rucker
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. -- Winters "Shorty" Rucker died Jan. 5 at Chapel Hill University Burn Center. He was born in Savannah and moved to North Carolina at an early age. He worked at Carolina Packers Inc., in Smithfield for 47 years before retirement. He was a member of Strickland Grove Baptist Church in Four Oaks.
SURVIVORS: a host of nieces and nephews including, Rev. Raymond Faye Price of Savannah and Melvina Rucker of Long Island, N.Y.; and a host of grandchildren, great-grandchildren and other relatives.
FUNERAL: 1:30 p.m. Sunday at Strickland Grove Missionary Baptist Church. Sidney A. Jones Funeral Home, Savannah, Ga.

Joseph J. Ryan
BEAUFORT -- Joseph James Ryan, 42, died Jan. 5 at home. He was a native of Queens, N.Y. He was a Coast Guard veteran and moved to Beaufort in 1999 from California. He was the widower of Dorothy Ryan.
SURVIVORS: his parents, James W. and Catherine Conlin Ryan of Sun City Hilton Head; his maternal grandmother, Mary Conlin of Sun City; a brother and sister-in-law, Jimmy and Karen Ryan of Lauderdale By the Sea, Fla.; a sister and brother-in-law, Cathy and Jack McDonald of Spartanburg, S.C.; and two nephews, Jack Ryan and Joseph McDonald. MEMORIAL MASS: 10 a.m. Wednesday at St. Andrew Catholic Church, Pinckney Colony Road, Bluffton. Private interment will be in Beaufort National Cemetery.
REMEMBRANCES: Beaufort County Emergency Medical Services, Post Office Drawer 1228, Beaufort, SC 29901. The Island Funeral Home.

Elizabeth J. Johnson
HILTON HEAD ISLAND -- Elizabeth J. (Libby) Johnson, 74, died Jan. 8 at The Fraser Health Center. She was a native of Birmingham, Ala. She moved to Hilton Head Island in 1983 from Pittsburgh. She graduated from Harvard in 1947 and worked in university administration at Harvard, Wichita State and Pittsburgh universities. In 1974 she was elected to the Civil Service Commission of O'Hara Township, Pa. She co-founded the Squaw Run Area Watershed Association in 1977 and won several awards for volunteer work. She was elected to Hilton Head Island Town Council for the 1987-89 term. She was listed in Who's Who of American Women in 1988-90 and Who's Who of International Women in 1989-90. She was coordinator of Smithsonian events on Hilton Head Island, 1991, 1992 and 1993. She was a member of several island groups.
SURVIVORS: her husband, Hugo; three sons, Robert, Jonathan and Neil; two daughters, Martita and Lucinda; her sister, Virginia Jackson; and five grandchildren.
MEMORIAL SERVICE: 2 p.m. Wednesday at All Saints Episcopal Church.
REMEMBRANCES: The Seabrook of Hilton Head Island, Fraser Health Center, 300 Woodhaven Drive, Hilton Head Island, SC 29928. The Island Funeral Home.

Vivian T. Womble
FAIRFAX, S.C. -- Mrs. Vivian Trussell Womble, 82, died Jan. 8 at Allendale County Hospital. She was a native of Butler, Ga., and a longtime resident of Fairfax. She was a homemaker and a former employee of Winnette Hat Shoppe. She was a member of Bellinger Chapel United Methodist Church and the widow of Leonard C. Womble Sr.
SURVIVORS: three sons, Leonard Carl Womble Jr. of Hampton, George R. Womble of Columbia, and Herbert B. Womble of North Augusta; two daughters, Lynn W. Buchman of Hilton Head Island, and Sue W. Connor of Lexington, S.C.; a brother, Luther O. Trussell of Hanahan; a sister, June T. Woody of Brooks, Ga.; five grandchildren and two step-grandchildren.
VISITATION: 4-6 p.m. today at Smith-Rhoden Funeral Home in Allendale.
FUNERAL: 2:30 p.m. Monday at Smith-Rhoden Funeral Home in Allendale, burial in Fairfax Cemetery in Fairfax.

Sister M. Annette Kennedy
Sister Mary Annette Kennedy, R.S.M., 93, died Jan. 8 at St. Joseph's Hospital. She was born in Dublin, Ireland, and entered the Sisters of Mercy, St. Vincent's Academy on Oct. 11, 1928, in Savannah. She was received into the Order of Mercy on June 7, 1929, as a White Veil Novice by Bishop M.J. Keyes of the Diocese of Savannah. Sister Annette made her Final Profession of Faith in 1934 at Mount St. Agnes in Baltimore. She taught at a number of parochial schools, including Cathedral Day School and Blessed Sacrament School in Savannah, as well as schools in Augusta and Columbus. She also taught C.C.D. during the summer at Camp Villa Marie at Savannah, Cedartown and Carrollton.
SURVIVORS: a sister, Sister Mary Rosaril Kennedy, R.S.M., of Savannah; and a number of cousins in Ireland.
ROSARY SERVICE: 6 p.m. today at St. Frances Cabrini Catholic Church.
FUNERAL: 11 a.m. Monday at St. Frances Cabrini Catholic Church, burial in Catholic Cemetery.
REMEMBRANCES: Sisters of Mercy, in care of Mercy Convent, 11801 McAuley Drive, Savannah, GA 31419. Hubert C. Baker Funeral Home, Hodgson Memorial Chapel.

Loree Stevenson
Loree Stevenson, 89, died Jan. 7 at Heritage Park Nursing Home. She was a native of Millen and had lived in Savannah most of her life. She was a homemaker and widow of George Stevenson.
SURVIVORS: include a grand-nephew, Perry Zittrauer of Savannah, and a host of friends.
FUNERAL: Will be private. Fox & Weeks Funeral Directors, Hodgson Chapel.

Michael L. Murray
Michael Louis "Farmer" Murray, 38, died Jan. 8 at home. He was a native of Chatham County and lived in Savannah all of his life. He was employed at Williams Seafood as a cook and was a member of Second Arnold Baptist Church.
SURVIVORS: his mother, Louise Young of Savannah; his father, Herbert Murray of Greenville, S.C.; five sisters, Margaret Brisbon, Bernice Brisbon, Carolyn Murray, all of Savannah, Elizabeth Murray of Hardeeville, and Shirley Johnson of Levy, S.C.; five brothers, Tyrone Brisbon of Sylvania, Johnny Brisbon, Herbert Brisbon and Anthony Murray, all of Savannah, and Larry Brisbon of Glennville. Sexton-Hall Mortuary.

Mildred D. Barnard
PATTERSON -- Mrs. Mildred Johnson Davis Patterson, 73, died Jan. 8 at Pierce County Nursing Home. She was a native and lifelong resident of Pierce County, retired lunchroom worker with the Pierce County Board of Education and attended the Primitive Baptist Church. She was preceded in death by her first husband, Allen Davis.
SURVIVORS: her husband, Robert W. Barnard of Patterson; a stepson, Terry Barnard of Patterson; five sisters, Annie Belle Griffis of Blackshear, Irene Mobley of Patterson, Linnie Arpen of Jacksonville, Fla., Louise Register of Waycross and Kate Dickey of Kingsland; seven brothers, Earl Johnson, Alvin Johnson and Ephraim Johnson, all of Patterson, Clyde Johnson and Harry Johnson, both of Blackshear, Carl Johnson of Lake Toxaway, N.C., and Lee Johnson of San Antonio; several nieces, nephews and other relatives.
VISITATION: 6-8 p.m. today at Pearson-Treadwell Funeral Home.
FUNERAL: 11 a.m. Monday at Bethlehem Primitive Baptist Church, burial in New Home Cemetery.

Harold C. Castor
RINCON -- Harold C. Castor, 84, died Jan. 5 at his daughter's residence. He was a native of Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, and was a member of Christ United Methodist Church in New Rochelle, N.Y. He was a member of the Old Guard, Pier Group of Winchester Community College and the Thomas Paine Historical Association. He was a 1939 graduate of University of Oklahoma and did graduate study at Columbia University, New York City. Mr. Castor, a sculptor and designer, was president and partner with Dorothy Cooper of The Castor-Cooper Collection in Mount Vernon, N.Y. Prior to that he was director of The Johnson Atelier, Princeton, N.J., president of Sculptors Workshop, Inc. and Sculpture and Design of New York City and Yonkers, N.Y. His bronze sculptures were exhibited nationally in The National Cathedral, Washington, D.C.; National Museum of Sports, Madison Square Garden; Parrish Museum, Southampton, N.Y.; St. Luke's Episcopal Church, Oklahoma City; and Bodley Gallery, New York. He created the Thomas Paine Historical Association Award Medal, which is presented to outstanding journalists, including Mike Wallace, Glen Ifill and Robin MacNeil. His work is in the collections of The National Cathedral, European American Bank Headquarters, Uniondale, L.I., N.Y.; L'enfant Plaza, Washington, D.C.; and private collections, including that of the late Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis.
SURVIVORS: his wife, Amanda B. Castor of Rincon; three daughters, Adelia Hanson of Stillwater, Okla., Roberta Castor of Mamaroneck, N.Y., and Vicki Waters of Rincon; two sons, Bill Castor of Pryor, Okla., and Douglas Castor of Rye, N.Y.; five grandchildren and a great-granddaughter.
MEMORIAL SERVICE: 1 p.m. Saturday at Rincon United Methodist Church.
REMEMBRANCES: Christ United Methodist Church, 1200 North Ave., New Rochelle, NY 10804. Thomas C. Strickland & Sons Funeral Home, Effingham Chapel.

Leila A. Beecher
BRUNSWICK -- Leila Andrews Beecher, 92, died Jan. 8 at Southeast Georgia Regional Medical Center of Brunswick. She was a native of Jeff Davis County and had been a resident of Brunswick for 75 years. She was a former owner of King Shrimp Co. She was a charter member of College Place United Methodist Church and life member of United Methodist Women.
SURVIVORS: several nieces and nephews, including Carlton Morrison of St. Simons Island, Tillman Williams and Robert Andrews of Brunswick, Charles Andrews of Darien, Faye Shiroky of Brunswick and Janice Narozniak of Baton Rouge, La.
VISITATION: 5-7 p.m. today at Edo Miller and Sons Funeral Home.
FUNERAL: 3 p.m. Monday at College Place United Methodist Church of Brunswick, burial in Palmetto Cemetery.
REMEMBRANCES: Abiding Memorial Fund of College Place United Methodist Church of Brunswick, Ga.

Rubye T. Coleman
COBBTOWN -- Rubye Thrift Coleman died Jan. 7. She was a native and lifelong resident of Cobbtown where she worked as a grocery merchant until her retirement.
SURVIVORS: two daughters, Mary Ann Coleman Fluet and Nell Coleman Collins, both of Cobbtown; a stepdaughter, Willie Coleman Williams of Cobbtown; a brother, Levy Thrift of Cobbtown; two sisters, Gertrude Collins and Gussie Sikes, both of Cobbtown; 10 grandchildren, 11 step-grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren, six step-great-grandchildren, five great-great-grandchildren, and six step-great-great-grandchildren.
FUNERAL: 3 p.m. today at Cobbtown Chapel of Kennedy-Morgan Funeral Homes, burial in Sunlight Cemetery.

Geraldine R. Edwards
BRUNSWICK -- Geraldine Rooks Edwards, 77, died Jan. 7 at S.E. Ga. Regional Medical Center. She was a native of Brantley County and had made her home in Glynn County for the past 20 years. She was the widow of Norman Glen Edwards.
SURVIVORS: a niece, Duane Gibson Freeman of Brunswick; two nephews, Franklin Gibson of Nahunta and Walter Gibson of Waynesville.
VISITATION: 5-7 p.m. today at Edo Miller and Sons Funeral Home.
FUNERAL: 11 a.m. Monday at Trinity Nazarene Church in Brantley County, burial in Mount Olive Cemetery.

James A. Prentice Sr.
ST. SIMONS ISLAND -- James Andrew Prentice Sr., 90, died Jan. 7 at home. He was a native of Chattanooga, Tenn., and moved to St. Simons Island in 1942 to be a welding instructor for A.J. Jones Co. in the building of Liberty ships. He was a member and longtime deacon of First Baptist Church of St. Simons Island.
SURVIVORS: his wife of 68 years, Mildred B. Prentice, of St. Simons Island; two sons, John M. Prentice of Atlanta and James A. Prentice Jr. of Adairsville; two daughters, Linda L. Worden of Whitmore Lake, Mich., and Barbara P. Lewis of St. Augustine, Fla.; 11 grandchildren, 23 great-grandchildren, several nieces and nephews.
FUNERAL: 11 a.m. Monday at First Baptist Church of St. Simons, burial in Oglethorpe Memorial Gardens.
REMEMBRANCES: First Baptist Church of St. Simons Island. Edo Miller and Sons Funeral Home.

Roland Fabian
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Roland Fabian, 66, died Jan. 6 in St. Petersburg. He was a native of Liberty County, a retired truck driver and a Baptist.
SURVIVORS: a daughter, Juanita Clark of New Jersey; a son, Nathaniel Fabian of Cocoa, Fla.; his mother, Lillie Mae Fabian of Hinesville; a sister, Laura Mae Pray of Allenhurst, Ga.; two brothers, Brooks Moody of Ludowici and Joe Fabian of Hinesville; and a host of other relatives and friends.
FUNERAL: 1 p.m. Tuesday at First Calvary Baptist Church, Hinesville, burial in Pleasant Grove Church Cemetery. Dorchester Funeral Home.

Theodore R. Jorden
Theodore R. Jorden, 74, died Jan. 8 at Hospice Savannah. He was a native of Maryland and a Navy veteran of World War II and the Korean Conflict. He retired in 1983 from the Marine Corps Air Station in Beaufort. He was past master of Thomas J. Shyrock Lodge No. 223, F. & A.M.'s in Hollywood, Md.
SURVIVORS: his wife, Doris Jorden of Savannah and family members in Maryland and Florida.
FUNERAL SERVICE: private. Hubert C. Baker Funeral Home, Hodgson Memorial Chapel.

James S. Murray
BLACKSHEAR -- James Stephen Murray, 89, died Jan. 8 at home. He was a native of Duplin County, N.C., and lived most of his life in Pierce County. He was a retired farmer and former employee of Spatola Shoe Factory. He was a member of Big Creek Primitive Baptist Church in Wayne County. He was the widower of Pearlie Mae Thornton Murray and Cornelia Byrd Murray.
SURVIVORS: three daughters, Minnie Cade of Blackshear, Virginia Summerlin of Tifton, and Velma Cason of Patterson; six sons, Franklin Murray, Carroll Murray, Joe Murray, Claudie Murray, all of Blackshear, Orvil Murray of Patterson and Willard Murray of West Palm Beach, Fla.; two sisters, Lula Mae Griffis of Blackshear and Mary Thornton of Screven; a brother, Johnnie Murray of Orlando, Fla.; three stepchildren; 23 grandchildren, 12 step-grandchildren, 50 great-grandchildren, a step-great-grandchild, a great-great-grandchild and other relatives.
VISITATION: 7-9 p.m. today at Pearson-Treadwell Funeral Home.
FUNERAL: 3 p.m. Monday at Big Creek Primitive Baptist Church, burial in the church cemetery.

Michael E. Kruse
Michael Ellis Kruse, 48, died Jan. 7 at home. He was a native of Raleigh, N.C., and had lived in Rome, Ga., before moving to Savannah in 1984. He was a graduate of Darlington School in Rome, Georgia State University and the Woodrow Wilson College of Law and was a member of the Civil War Roundtable.
SURVIVORS: his wife, Kathryn C. Kruse of Savannah; his parents, Ed and Sara Kruse of Savannah; three aunts, Gloria T. Stover of Savannah, Bettye T. Spence of Columbus, and Peggy Bumgarner of Portland, Ore.; and many cousins.
FUNERAL: 11 a.m. Monday at Wesley Monumental United Methodist Church. BURIAL: 11 a.m. Tuesday in Rose Hill Cemetery in Ashburn, Ga.
REMEMBRANCES: Hemophilia of Georgia, Inc., Suite 170, 8800 Roswell Road, Atlanta, GA 30350 or American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 13117, Savannah, GA 31416-0177. Fox & Weeks Funeral Directors, Hodgson Memorial.