COMBS, Elmer
Entered into eternal rest on the morning of April 17, 2002, Elmer B. Combs, widower of Wilma Collins Combs. Residence, Charleston, S.C. The relatives and friends are invited to attend his funeral services in J. HENRY STUHR, INC., WEST ASHLEY CHAPEL, Sunday afternoon, April 21, 2002 at 2 o'clock. Interment, Live Oak Memorial Gardens. Friends may call at STUHR'S WEST ASHLEY CHAPEL Saturday evening from 6 until 7 o'clock.
Mr. Combs was born in Sassafras, Kentucky, the son of William and Rusha Combs. He was a retired Senior Master Sergeant in the U.S. Air Force.
Surviving are four daughters, Patti Garrison of Anchorage, Alaska, Carolyn Plust of Charleston, S.C., Kathryn M. Ulery of James Island, S.C. and Phyllis Combs of Panama Beach, Fla.; one son, Lt. Col. E. Wayne Combs of Fredericksburg, Va.; 14 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren.
Flowers will be accepted or memorials may be made to The American Heart Association of S.C., 215 East Bay Street, Suite 204, Charleston, S.C. 29401.
WALKER, Albertha Furby
BURKE HIGH SCHOOL CLASSES OF 1957-1958: You are hereby requested to assemble at Greater St. Peters Church of our Lord Jesus Christ, 2062 Savage Road Saturday, April 20, 2002 at 12:45pm to pay our last Tribute of Respect to our deceased classmate Albertha Furby Walker.
Josphine Pompey, President
Mamie Capers, Sect.
JEFFERSON, Ida
The relatives and friends of Mrs. Ida Wilson Jefferson of St. Stephen, S.C., formerly of Pineville, S.C. are invited to attend her funeral services Saturday, April 20, 2002 at 1:00 pm at Day Dawn Baptist Church, Pineville, S.C.
Interment, Peru cemetery, St. Stephen, S.C. Viewing will be on Friday from 3-8 p.m. at GETHERS FUNERAL HOME, INC., MONCKS CORNER, S.C.
MARTIN, Grace
Entered into eternal rest on the morning of April 17, 2002, Grace M. Martin, widow of Adam Jack Martin, residence, Charleston, SC. The relatives and friends are invited to attend her funeral services at Fort Johnson Baptist Church, 1473 Camp Road, Saturday morning, April 20, 2002 at Eleven O'clock. Interment, Live Oak Memorial Gardens. Friends may call at J. HENRY STUHR, INC., WEST ASHLEY CHAPEL, Friday evening from Six until Eight O'clock.
Mrs. Martin was born on April 18, 1921 in Georgia, the daughter of Tommie Lee McCranie and Mae Herrin McCranie. She was a member of Fort Johnson Baptist Church.
Among those living are her daughter- Betty Rhea and son-in-law- Kenny Rhea of Charleston, SC; her son- Robert A. Roddenberry and daughter-in-law- - Fran W. Roddenberry of Raleigh, NC; two brothers- William E. McCranie of Walterboro, SC and Hubert J. McCranie of Summerville, SC; two sisters- Vancene Tindal of Charleston, SC and Tommie J. Derry of Walterboro, SC; eleven grandchildren; nineteen great grandchildren; one great great granddaughter, and the beloved Nikki.
Flowers will be accepted or memorials may be made to The American Cancer Society, 5900 Core Road, Suite 504, North Charleston, S.C. 29406.
DEAN, Hazel
The relatives and friends of Hazel LaVelle Dean are invited to attend her funeral services Friday at 11 a.m. in J. HENRY STUHR, INC., DOWNTOWN CHAPEL. Interment, Holy Cross cemetery.
Donations may be made to the American Lung Association of S.C., Coastal Branch, 1941 Savage Road, Ste. #200-A, Charleston, S.C. 29407.
TOPOREK, Irving
Irving L. Toporek, 73, of Charleston, died Monday at his residence. Private services will be held in Beth Elohim cemetery in Charleston this week. Burial will be directed by J. Henry Stuhr, Inc., Downtown Chapel.
Mr. Toporek was born on August 31, 1928, in Charleston, a son of Louis Toporek and Edith M. Toporek. Known to many in Charleston as "Tope" or "Topek, " he graduated from Riverside Military Academy and the Georgia Institute of Technology. He was a member of the American Legion, Elk Lodge and Charleston Rifle Club. He was a member of Beth Elohim Synagogue.
Surviving are his wife, Dorothy J. Toporek, of Charleston, and a daughter, Lisa E. Toporek of New York, N.Y.
BUFORD, William
William Chester "Bill" Buford, 56, of Pensacola, died Monday, April 15, 2002, at his home after a brief battle with cancer.
Bill was born in Charleston, S.C., in 1945, to Marvin and Ethel Mae Buford. He entered the U.S. Army at 17 where he spent six years as a paratrooper and 16 years as an aviator. He twice received the Bronze Star during his two tours of duty in Vietnam. After retiring from the Army in 1984, he became Chief Pilot for South Sea Helicopter Tours in Kauai, Hawaii. Upon moving to Pensacola in 1991, he remained an avid boater, fisherman, and auto enthusiast. He was a member of the Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association, the Grand Lagoon Yacht Club, and the American Legion Post 240.
Survivors include his loving wife of 22 years, Louisa Haru McKay Buford; two sons, Raymond Fulton Buford, of Charleston, S.C., and William Greggory Buford, of Salem, Ala.; two brothers, Robert Buford (Cam) of Charleston, S.C., and Myron Eugene Buford (Sandra) of York, S.C.; two sisters, Kathryn O'Brien (Pat), of Homosassa, Fla., and Zachri Ann Kelly (Robert) of Charleston, S.C.; four grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.
A Memorial Service will be held at 11:15 a.m., on Friday, April 20, 2002, at Perdido Bay United Methodist Church, with Rev. Jack deJarnette officiating. The family will receive friends at the church 30 minutes before the service. Burial will follow at Barrancas National cemetery.
Flowers will be welcomed, but for those who desire, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to Perdido Bay United Methodist Church, 13660 Innerarity Point Road, Pensacola, Fla. 32507.
The family wishes to express their deepest gratitude for the compassionate care received from Covenant Hospice during this difficult time and for the extraordinary support of family and friends.
PENSACOLA MEMORIAL GARDENS FUNERAL HOME is in charge of arrangements.
GRANT, Julian
The relatives and friends of Mr. Julian Maximillian Grant, those of his wife, Mrs. Kimberly Glover Grant, daughter, Desaree Grant, parents, George Fortson of Macon, Ga., and Mrs. Barbara Grant, grandparents, William James and Josephine Hawkins, great-grandmother, Lucy Mae Abernathy, brother, Leroy Jason Grant, sister, Shonda Gillam of Holly Hill, two aunts, three uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins are invited to attend his funeral services, Friday, April 19, 2002, at 1 p.m., at the Azalea Drive Church of Christ, 3950 Azalea Drive, North Charleston, S.C. Friends may call at FIELDING HOME FOR FUNERALS, 722-3348, or 1-800-290-5954. Remains to the church on Thursday at 6 p.m. The family will be receiving friends at the church from 7 to 8 p.m. Remains to the church on Friday at 12 noon. Interment, Carolina Memorial Gardens, Rivers Ave.
SMITH, Emma
Family and friends are invited to share in the homegoing services for Mrs. Emma Richburg Smith, 64, of Holly Hill, S.C. Final rites will be held at 2 p.m. on Friday, April 19, 2002, at Hill Zion Baptist Church in Holly Hill, S.C. Interment will follow in the Briner Christian Church cemetery in Holly Hill, S.C. A wake will be held from 7 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, April 18, 2002, at SHULER-MARSHALL FUNERAL CHAPEL IN HOLLY HILL.
Family members include, three sons, Terry W. Richburg of North Charleston, S.C., Terry L. Smith of Ridgeland, S.C., and Anthony Smith of Charleston, S.C.; two daughters, Mrs. Carolyn King of Holly Hill and Mrs. Luthan Litman of Goose Creek, S.C.; one brother, Albert Richburg of Columbia, S.C., and 16 grandchildren.
GARRETT, John
The relatives and friends of Mr. John "Redman" Garrett are invited to attend his funeral services on Friday, April 19, 2002, at 12 noon at Bethel AME Church, 464 Society Rd., McClellanville, S.C. Interment, Church cemetery. Rev. Samuel Myers, pastor.
Mr. Garrett is survived by three sisters, Mrs. Eloise White, Mrs. Dorothy Ruth Linder (James) and Mrs. Lucille Green. Three brothers, Mr. Walter Garrett (Vernell), Mr. Melvin Garrett and Mr. James Garrett (Loudora), a host of nieces and nephews.
Viewing for Mr. Garrett will be at the W.M. Smith-McNeal Funeral Home, 4129 Hwy. 17 North, Awendaw, S.C. on Thursday, April 18, 2002 from 3:00 p.m.- 7:30 p.m. There will be no family hour. Arrangements by W.M. SMITH-MCNEAL FUNERAL HOME, INC. 881-4920 or 1-800-924-5659 or you may e-mail a memorial message to Wmsbmc2@aol.com.
MERRITT, Bessie
Bessie Mae Blakeley Merritt, 79, died Wednesday in a Charleston hospital. Mrs. Merritt was born in Suttons Community of Williamsburg County, a daughter of the late Robert Emmanuel Blakeley and Mrs. Arthenia Cooper Blakeley. She was a graduate of Williamsburg High School and was a retired inspector at Westvaco's Charleston plant. Mrs. Merritt was a member of Midland Park United Methodist Church.
Surviving is a sister, Mrs. Gertrude B. Dawkins of Charleston and several nieces and nephews.
Graveside funeral services will be 11 a.m. Friday at Suttons United Methodist Church cemetery, directed by WILLIAMSBURG FUNERAL HOME OF KINGSTREE. The family will receive friends from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home.
BECKER, John
EDISTO ISLAND - Mr. John Edward Becker, 74, of 8392 Herbert Smalls Road died Monday at a Charleston hospital.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 4:00 p.m. Friday at St. Frederick and St. Stephen Catholic Church with Father William G. Kinney officiating. Burial will be held at 5:00 p.m. Thursday at the Brice W. Herndon and Sons Funeral Home in Walterboro with visitation until 7:00 p.m.
Born in Youngstown, Ohio, Mr. Becker was a son of the late John Jacob and Mary Laubert Becker. He was the retired owner of Lee's Ranch in Walterboro and Becker's Atlantic Building Supply at Edisto Island. He also constructed and was an operational consultant for steel mills. He was a member of St. Frederick and St. Stephen Catholic Church, a former member of Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church in Conway, Pa., a member of the Knights of Columbus in Pa., a member of the Moose Lodge in Pa., and a charter member of the Walterboro Moose Lodge. He was a volunteer member and one of the organizers of the Edisto Beach Fire Department.
Surviving are his wife, Flora Reynolds Becker, daughters, Mary Catherine Engle of St. Louis, Missouri and Elizabeth "Betty" Nettles of Walterboro, a son, John George Becker of Edisto Island, a sister, Helen Ruth Becker of Conway, Pa., 10 grandchildren, and 8 great-grandchildren.
Memorials may be made to St. Frederick and St. Stephen Catholic Church Building Fund.
ARMSTRONG, Anthony
Anthony Meyer Armstrong, 27, of Wando Lane, Moncks Corner, S.C., an employee of Nucor Steel, died Wednesday at his residence.
The funeral will be at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, April 20, 2002, in the World Harvest Ministries, N. Charleston. Interment will be in Plantation Memorial Gardens, Moncks Corner. Friends may call at DIAL-MURRAY FUNERAL HOME, MONCKS CORNER, from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Friday evening.
Mr. Armstrong was born Feb. 21, 1975, in Delhi, Louisiana, a son of Rev. Charles E. Armstrong and Mary Greer Armstrong. He was the Praise & Worship Leader for the United Pentecostal Church, Moncks Corner.
Surviving are, his wife, Beverly Veasie Armstrong; his parents of Moncks Corner; a daughter, McKay E. Armstrong of Moncks Corner; two brothers, Jerry W. Gould of Collinsville, Ill. and C. Steven Armstrong of Moncks Corner; and his grandmother, Margaret Shows Armstrong of Moncks Corner.
