Joe Louis “Billy” Jones
Mr. Joe Louis “Billy” Jones, 69, of Edgefield, died Tuesday, Aug. 31, 2010 at his home.
Funeral services were held Sunday, Sept. 5, at 2 p.m. at Springfield Baptist Church, conducted by the Rev. Craig Myers, assisting by the Rev. Ernest Gordon, Paul Wharton, James Gilchrist and Dr. Alice Ridgill.
born in Edgefield County, son of Carrie Lou Jones and the late Eugene Simpkins, he was a member of Springfield Baptist Church and a retired textile worker.
In addition to his mother, he is survived by his wife, Lillie R. Jones; five sons, Joe N. Williams, Anthony (Vanessa) Williams, Melvin (Crystal) Williams, and the Rev. Darren (Sandra) Jones, all of Greenwood, and Vincent (Tammie) Roper, Simpsonville; seven daughters, Barbara (the Rev. Carrol) Wells, Julia (James) Williams, the Rev. Shelia (Richard) Bryant, the Rev. Annette Edwards and Debbie White, all of Greenwood, Wanda (Rev. Derrick) Stewart, Columbia, and Emma Marie Foster, Atlanta, Ga.; two sisters, Dorothy Butler, Long Island, N.Y., and Janie Dixon, Edgefield; 34 grandchildren; 43 great-grandchildren; and other relatives.
Butler & Sons Funeral Home, Saluda, was in charge of arrangements.
Robbie Ruth Miller LaGrone
Mrs. Robbie Ruth Miller LaGrone, 96, of Greenbrier Road in Greenwood, widow of Clarence A. LaGrone, died Aug. 31, 2010 at Hospice House.
Graveside services were conducted Friday, Sept. 3, at 11 a.m. at Greenwood Memorial Gardens, with the Rev. Ryan Eklund officiating.
born in Edgefield County, Sept. 1, 1913, she was a daughter of the late Joseph Marbrey and Maggie Mae Jones Miller. Mrs. LaGrone was a graduate of Edgefield High School and Anderson College. She was a former school teacher in Edgefield and Laurens Counties and retired from Bank of America. She was a member of South Main Street Baptist Church and the Reapers Sunday School Class.
Surviving are a daughter, Shirley LaGrone Boyce and husband Cheves Ligon Boyce of Greenwood; two granddaughters, Meredith Boyce Moore and husband Norman Moore of Greenville and Kristen Marbrey Boyce of Raleigh, N.C.; a great-granddaughter, Scarlett Ruth Moore of Greenville.
She was predeceased by two sisters, Marion Morgan of Edgefield and Mae Bunch of North Augusta.
Memorials may be made to South Main Street Baptist Church, P.O. Box 1093, Greenwood, SC 29648 or to Hospice Care of the Piedmont, 408 W. Blyth Funeral Home & Cremation Services was assisting the family.
Joseph ‘Joe’ Thomas Reese Sr.
A memorial service for Mr. Joseph “Joe” Thomas Reese, Sr., of Trenton, will take place on Thursday, Sept. 9, 2010 at 8 p.m. at the chapel of George Funeral Home & Cremation Center, 211 Park Ave. SW Aiken. The family will receive friends from 6 p.m. until the time of the service.
Mr. Reese, 57, of Trenton, also known by his CB handle, “Big Foot, ” died Tuesday, Aug. 31, at the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta, Ga. He was born in Aiken and had lived in Trenton most of his life. A veteran of the U.S. Army, Joe loved his life as an owner/operator truck driver. In his free time, he worked at renovating his home, room by room.
Joe is survived by his wife, Vickie Josey Reese, Trenton; a son, Joseph Thomas “Jody” Reese, Jr., Trenton; a daughter; Lorie Parkman and her husband Tony; three grandchildren, Jordan Morgan, T.J. Parkman and Alana Turner “LuLu” Reese’ his mother, Dorothy Posey, Langley; three brothers, Tony Baker, Timmy Baker and Lamond Annas; a sister, Janice Cochran; and his three beloved Chihuahuas, Speedy Reese, Rocket Reese and Ginger Reese.
Joe was a patriot and his family requests that in lieu of flowers, those who wish should get involved in supporting and voting for political candidates who would work for the betterment of the country.
South Carolina Cremation & Burial Society, Graniteville, is assisting the family.
Willie Franklin Simpkins Sr.
Mr. Willie Franklin Simpkins Sr., 88, of Washington Circle in Aiken, died Monday, Aug. 23, 2010 at Aiken Regional Medical Center.
Funeral services were held Sunday, Aug. 29, at 2 p.m. at Macedonia Baptist Church in Edgefield, with the Rev. Johnny Clark officiating. Burial was in the church cemetery.
Mr. Simpkins was a member of Macedonia Baptist Church and was a World War II Navy veteran.
Survivors include five daughters, Cecelia Jean (Bill) Sowell, St. Paul, Minn., Mary Frances (Thomas) Wright, Augusta, Ga., Perrin (Robert) Peeples, Sharon (Cedric) Woods, both of Aiken, and Avis (Haskell) Davis, Charlotte, N.C.; a son, Willie Simpkins Jr., Aiken; 15 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; and a host of other relatives.
G.L. Brightharp & Sons Mortuary, Aiken, was in charge of arrangements.
Lewis “Sam” Smith
Funeral services for Mr. Lewis “Sam” Smith of Outing Club Road in Aiken, husband of Doris Cannon Smith, who died Sunday, Aug. 22, 2010 at Aiken Regional Medical Center, were held Thursday, Aug. 26, at 1 p.m. at Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church in Johnston. Burial was in the church cemetery.
Jackson-Brooks Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Morgan Curtis “M.C.” Hallman Sr.
Mr. Morgan Curtis “M.C.” Hallman Sr., 83, of Batesburg, died Monday, Aug. 16, 2010.
The funeral was held Wednesday, Aug. 18, at 11 a.m. at Mt. Ebal Baptist Church, with the Rev. Bill Pauling officiating. Burial was in the church cemetery.
born in Lexington County, he was the son of the late Arthur and Beulah Hallman. He was a member of Mt. Ebal Baptist Church where he was active in the Men’s Group, the 55+ Club and Men’s Breakfast Bible Group. He retired from Montgomery Crawford as a salesman and warehouse manager.
Survivors include his wife of 60 years, Rebecca Kneece Hallman, sons, William “Bill” (wife, Pam), Johnston, Curtis (Linda) Batesburg, Wayne (Marlene, Batesburg; daughter, Mirian (Joe) Derrick, Johnston; sisters, Catherine McGee Jayroe, Aiken, Frances Shealy, Columbia, Rene Shealy, Gilbert; six grandchildren, Marsha (Greg) Gantt, Barnwell, Nancy Derrick, Oklahoma, Christopher Derrick, Johnston, Morgan (Kelly) Hallman, Gilbert, Kyle Hallman, Ridge Spring, and Travis Maroney; and three great-grandchildren.
Memorials may be made to Mt. Ebal Baptist Church in Batesburg or to Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church in Johnston.
Milton Shealy Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Robert G. "Bobby" Howard
Memorial services for Mr. Robert G. "Bobby" Howard, 70, of Cannon Mill Drive, North Augusta, who died Tuesday, Aug. 17, 2010, were conducted Saturday, Aug. 21, at 11 a.m, at Posey Funeral Chapel, with the Rev. Glenn Small Jr. officiating. Burial was private.
Mr. Howard was a native of Fort Mill, having made the North Augusta-Belvedere area his home for the past 42 years. He retired after 42 years of service with International Paper. He was of the Methodist faith, a member of S.C.R.A.M. Radio Control Club and the Lexington Radio Control Club. He served in the U.S. Army Reserve.
Survivors include his wife of 42 years, Patricia S. Howard; a son and daughter-in-law, Robert Brian and Erica Howard, Oceanside, Calif.; a daughter, Katrea D. Howard, Trenton; a sister, Emma Jean Howard, Lawrenceville, Ga.; two grandsons, Jackson David Howard and Noah Robert Howard.
Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society, 2607 Commons Blvd., Augusta, GA 30909.
Posey Funeral Directors of North Augusta was in charge of arrangements
Carlee Thomas McClendon
South Carolina historian, Carlee Thomas McClendon, of Mt. Pleasant, died on his 70th birthday, Sunday, Aug.15, 2010.
Funeral services were held at Edgefield United Methodist Church on Thursday, Aug.19,
at 11 a.m. Burial was in Eastview cemetery.
born in Edgefield on Aug. 15, 1940, he was the son of the late Ralph Thomas and Sadie Emma Jackson McClendon. Known for his love of Edgefield, McClendon authored numerous articles about its colorful history, people, 10 governors, historic homes and churches. He also compiled several books including “The First and Second Federal Censuses 1790 and 1800 of Edgefield County” (c) 1959, “Edgefield Marriage Records” (c) 1970, and “Edgefield Death Notices and cemetery Records” (c) 1977. The numerous pottery shards he found in his parents' garden as a small child sparked his quest for learning and he soon began research in the Edgefield Advertiser, family records, court records, marriage and death notices where he found many references to Pottersville. He discovered not only that the family home sat in the middle of pottery fields, but also discovered names of many area potters, including Dave, a free black and highly recognized potter whose tremendous skill, strength and literacy made a permanent mark in Edgefield’s Pre-Civil War history. Thus began the McClendon family's extensive knowledge of Southern pottery, their collection o Edgefield pottery, and their opening of the Pottersville Museum during South Carolina's 1970 Tri-centennial. McClendon graduated from the University of South Carolina where he was a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon, Sigma Delta Chi, Kappa Sigma Kappa and Wesley Foundation. His post graduate studies included historic building administration in Colonial Williamsburg. His career began as a teacher of South Carolina history and he was later employed with the South Carolina Department of Archives and History, the South Carolina Tri-centennial Commission and South Carolina Educational Television. He was an antiques enthusiast and genealogical authority. Most recently, he served as president of the Residents' Council of the Sandpiper Retirement Community in Mt. Pleasant where he enjoyed the last several years of his life and where he continued to share his story of Edgefield's treasured history. Also, he enjoyed mentoring students through the Reading Buddies Program at St. James - Santee Elementary School in McClellanville.
He is survived by his daughter, Juliet Refo McClendon “Julie” of Charleston: brother, Ralph Thomas McClendon (Dianne Herlong) of Saluda: brother, the Rev. Dr. William Timothy McClendon (Cindy Godwin) of Columbia: and nieces, nephews and cousins.
Memorials may be made to Edgefield United Methodist Church, 309 Norris Street, Edgefield, SC 29824.
Edgefield Mercantile Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Martha E. Meigs
Mrs. Martha Elizabeth "Betty" Meigs, of Trenton, died Wednesday, Aug. 11, 2010.
A memorial service was held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 21, at Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Edgefield.
born March 28, 1933 in Greensboro, Ala., Mrs. Meigs lived as a military wife, a mother, and a great-grandmother. She was preceded in death by her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Malvin B. Rose (Ala.) and her brother, Malvin B. Rose Jr. (Ala.).
She is survived by her husband of 58 years, SSGT (Retired) Lewis Elliott Meigs: her five children, Steve (Maggie), Phoenix, Ariz., Brenda Mealing (Max), Trenton, Mike (Teresa), North Augusta, Richard (Peggy), North Augusta, and Bruce (Becky), Trenton; 11 grandchildren, Amanda Meigs, John Mealing, Bryan Mealing, Matt Mealing, Daryl Strickland, Cheryl Rynearson, Christy Canaday, Kimmey Battles, Bruce Meigs Jr., Amy Schofield, and Causey Meigs; 11 great-grandchildren; her brother and sisters, Kenny Rose, Patricia Vail, Ruth Nelson, and Margaret Ryan; and several nieces and nephews (Ala).
Memorials may be made to Mt. Zion Baptist Church or a charity of one’s choice.
McNeill Funeral Home, Martinez, Ga., was in charge of arrangements.
Jewell Simpkins Mosley
Mrs. Jewell Simpkins Mosley, wife of James Michael Mosley Sr. died Saturday, Aug. 14, 2010 at her residence.
Funeral services were held Thursday, Aug. 19, at 11 a.m. at Old Macedonia Baptist Church, North Augusta, with the Rev. Limeur Myers, pastor, officiating. Burial was in Sunset Memorial Garden in Johnston.
Mrs. Simpkins received her elementary school education in the public school system of Edgefield County. Her secondary schooling was in Aiken County and graduated from Martha Schofield High School. Because she had a love for writing, she was the author of many great speeches that were delivered by her brother. She continued her education at South Carolina State College where she graduated with a degree in business administration. She was joined in holy matrimony to James Michael Mosley Sr. on May 13, 1973. To this union, a son was born, James Michael Mosley Jr. Mrs. Mosley was one who was not afraid of work, and had a great philosophy of working "smarter, not harder." Throughout the years, she worked as a textile worker, teacher, banker, accountant before entering employment with the Savannah River Site (Westinghouse) where she remained for 26 years.
In addition to her husband, she is survived by a son, James Michael Mosley Jr.; brother, James A. (Iris) Simpkins, Arizona; sisters, Shirley Loretta Taylor and Ernestine Moore both of Edgefield, and Patsy (Rev. Robert) Butler, Johnston; a granddaughter, Mikayla JaNae Mosley; her mother, Deidre Wise, Columbus, Ga.; sisters-in- law, Vivian (Billy) Richardson, Greenville, Pauline Hunter and Mildred (Wilmer) Davis, Augusta, Ga., Alice (Felon) Daily, Louisville, Ky., Audrey (Curtis) Butler, North Augusta; and brothers-in-law, Tommy (Jean) Mosley, Silver Spring, Md., and Joseph (Linda) Mosley, Trenton. Amos & Sons Funeral Home, Johnston, was in charge of arrangements.
Nelda Jean Trotter Whittaker
Mrs. Nelda Jean Trotter Whittaker, 68, of Trenton, wife for 50 years to Donald Lee Whittaker and daughter of the late Nathan and Mattie Jennings Trotter, died on Thursday, Aug. 19, 2010.
A memorial service celebrating her life was held Monday, Aug. 23, at 6 p.m. in the chapel of Napier Funeral Home. Burial was private.
Next to her children, she had a great love for fishing.
In addition to her husband, she is survived by sons; Christopher Lee Whittaker of Edgefield, Donald Richard Whittaker of Clearwater, Virgil Mark Whittaker of Louisiana, Jeffery Nathan Whittaker and Jamie Lee Whittaker, both of Trenton; a daughter, Renee Gavlinski of Grovetown, Ga.; sisters, Patricia Davis of Augusta, Ga. and Barbara Schmidt of Oregon; 12 grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
Napier Funeral Home, Graniteville, was in charge of arrangements.
Richard Van Zahner Jr.
Funeral services for Richard Van Zahner Jr., 15-month-old son of Ricky and Andrea Zahner, of Frances Street in North Augusta who died Monday, Aug. 16, 2010, were conducted Thursday, Aug. 19, at 11 a.m. at Posey Funeral Chapel. Preacher Allen Bodiford and Dr. Paul Noe officiated. Burial was in Town Creek cemetery.
Little Ricky was born May 1, 2009 in Aiken and was a lifelong resident of North Augusta. He will always be remembered by his smiling face and big blue eyes. He touched many lives and was an inspiration to everyone he came in contact with.
He was preceded in death by his great-grandmothers Fay Hatcher and Nellie Simmons. Survivors include his two sisters, Desiree' Zahner and Ariel Zahner, both of North Augusta; grandparents, Richard and Veronica Zahner, North Augusta, Owen and Roxanne Corley, Augusta, Ga.; great-grandparents, Libby Zahner, Charles and Betty Jo Ivy, all of North Augusta, Milledge Turner, Harvey and Vivian Sprouse, all of Edgefield, J. C. Hatcher, Aiken.
Memorials may be made to the Richard Van Zahner Jr. Memorial Fund, c/o Wachovia Bank, 402 Georgia Avenue, North Augusta, SC 29841.
Posey Funeral Directors of North Augusta was in charge of arrangements
Julia ‘JuJu’ Bush
Mrs. Julia “JuJu” Bush, 46, of Augusta, Ga., formerly of Edgefield, died Saturday, July 31, 2010 at her sister’s residence.
A memorial service was held Tuesday, Aug. 3, at 10 a.m. at Magnolia Park in Augusta. Survivors include her husband, Johnnie “J.W.” Bush Jr., of Abbeville; three children, Noe and Marcos Aguinaga of Charleston, and a daughter, Maria Aguinaga Raybould of Clearwater; a stepson, Johnathan Michael Bush of Warrenville; three grandchildren, Amalia, Sammy and Cadence Raybould of North Augusta; and two step-grandchildren, Matt and Chanel Bossio of Charleston; her father, Jack Joplin of Alabama and the late Eva Holbrook of Augusta, Ga.; five sisters, Jackie Monize of North Carolina; Becky Warren of Alabama, Belinda Depart of Louisiana, Jennifer Lara of Augusta, Ga. and Stephanie Sinns of Martinez, Ga.
Memorials may be made to a cancer research center of your choice.
