Bessie Thompson
PHILADELPHIA — Services for Bessie Thompson, of 2407 Firth St., will be conducted at 2 Sunday at John’s Creek Baptist Church, Greenwood County, S.C., by the Rev. Curtis Carter. Burial is in Evening Star Memorial Gardens, Greenwood. The body will be placed in the church at 1.
Pallbearers are trustees of the church, nephews and great-nephews.
Flower bearers are granddaughters and great-nieces.
Visitation is from 6-7 Saturday at the home of a sister, Helen Anderson, 706 Weldon Ave., Greenwood.
Robinson & Son Mortuary Inc. is in charge.
Jack C. Vandiver
ATHENS, GA - Jenkins (Jack) Cartledge Vandiver, born February 6, 1924, in Abbeville, South Carolina, died on Wednesday, October 24, 2001, after several years of declining health. He was the son of the late Claud Jacob and Jewel Cartledge Vandiver. He grew up in Abbeville, attended Clemson University, and graduated in the first class of the United States Merchant Marine Academy at King's Point, Long Island, New York. He was a veteran of World War II, having served his country as a Lieutenant on Liberty Ships in the Atlantic.
Survivors include his wife of fifty-seven years, Mary Lawson Everett; his children, Rachel and Billy Brown of Dublin; Sally and Jack Vandiver, Jr. of Athens; and Mary Joe Vandiver of Atlanta. Additional family members include eight grandchildren, William C. Brown, III of Dublin, Catherine Brown Warner of Athens, Rachel Brown Smith of Macon, Catherine Vandiver Knight of Cartersville, Ann Elisabeth Vandiver of Athens, John Vandiver Grice, Warren Calhoun Grice, and Charles Lawson Grice of Macon, two great-grandchildren, and two brothers, Dan Pierre Vandiver of Abbeville, SC, and Nathan Bond Vandiver of San Antonio, TX, and a sister the late Floyce Vandiver Smith of Charlotte, NC.
Mr. Vandiver was a General Contractor and engineer. After the war he worked as a general superintendent and engineer with Daniel Construction Company of Greenville, South Carolina, and came to Athens in 1957 to build a new facility for Westinghouse. In 1958 he joined Mathis Construction Company where he served as vice-president and chief engineer until 1968 when he founded his own business, Vandiver Construction Company.
A Mason and Shriner, he served as a Deacon and Elder of Central Presbyterian Church, was a past member of the Kiwanis Club, and served as president of the Athens Area Chamber of Commerce. Active in the civic community, he was President of the North Georgia Apprentice Council, Director of the United Way, Athens Boys' Club, and the Athens Home Builders Association. He was a member of Associated General Contractors of America, American Institute of Contractors, Touchdown Club, Clemson IPTAY, Athens Country Club, and a staunch Republican.
Services will be held at Central Presbyterian Church Saturday at 11:00 a.m. with Dr. Walter Cook, Dr. Bob Bohler and Dr. Charlie Cook officiating. Interment will be at 2:30 p.m. in the family plot in Long Cane cemetery, Abbeville, SC. Active pallbearers will be the grandsons, grandsons-in-law Robert Knight of Cartersville, Warner Smith of Macon, and Tommy E. (Corky) Warner, Jr. of Athens, and friends Jim Brown, Dale Gardner, Bill Gordon, Sam Harshman, and Allen Stevenson of Athens. An honorary escort will be comprised of former employees of Vandiver Construction Company.
The family will receive friends and visitors at Bernstein Funeral Home Friday evening from 6 to 8 p.m.
The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorials be made to Central Presbyterian Church, 380 Alps Road, Athens 30606.
Bernstein Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Rev. Gonzalee Brown
COLUMBIA — The Rev. Gonzalee Brown, 71, of 108 Bell Oak Drive W., husband of Eleanor Younger Brown, died Saturday, Oct. 27, 2001, at Richland Memorial Hospital in Columbia.
The family is at the home.
Services will be announced by Percival-Tompkins Funeral Home, which is in charge.
John Cunningham
CROSS HILL — John “Johnny” D. Cunningham, 68, of 659 N. Main St., died Sunday, Oct. 28, 2001 in the N.H.C of Laurens.
born in Gaffney, he was a son of Charles R. Cunningham and the late Alice Tucker Cunningham. He was a member of the First Baptist Church of Cross Hill where he served as an usher and had 18 years of perfect attendance in Sunday School.
Survivors include his father of Cross Hill and three sisters, Mrs. Harold (Nancy) Frick of Cross Hill, Mrs. Ray (Reba) Shubert of Greenwood and Mrs. Dave (Frances) Gipson of Augusta, Ga.
Services are at 3 Tuesday at the First Baptist Church of Cross Hill, conducted by the Rev. Phillip Wade and Mr. Robert Whiteford. Burial is in the Liberty Springs Presbyterian Church cemetery.
Visitation is from 6-8 tonight at the Gray Funeral Home of Clinton.
Gray Funeral Home of Clinton is in charge.
Rev. William Jones
PITTSBURGH — The Rev. William Jones, 61, husband of Marie Jennings Jones, died Friday, Oct. 26, 2001, at the St. Margaret Center for Seneca Place.
He was a son of Bennie Leverett and the late Lillian Jones. He was a pastor for various churches in Greenwood and Georgia.
Surviving in addition to his wife of Pittsburgh are his father of Greenwood; a son, Ariston Lamont Jones of McCormick; four brothers, Jackie Leverett of New York, Clyde Leverett of Elizabeth City, N.C., and Willie Joe and James Ervin Leverett, both of Greenwood and two grandchildren.
The family is at 423 Highland Forest, Greenwood.
Watts Memorial Chapel, Braddock, Pa. is in charge of services.
Announcement courtesy of Robinson & Son Mortuary, Greenwood.
Rev. William Jones
PITTSBURGH — Services for the Rev. William Jones will be at 1 Thursday at Shiloh Community Baptist Church, Pittsburgh.
Viewing is from 2-9 Wednesday at Watts Memorial Chapel, Braddock, which is in charge.
Announcement courtesy of Robinson & Son Mortuary Inc., Greenwood, S.C.
ViDessie Styron
GREENWOOD — ViDessie Roton Styron, 88, of 2307 Highway 246 N., widow of Robert Oliver “R.O.” Styron, died Sunday, Oct. 28. 2001, at Self Memorial Hospital.
born in Saluda County, she was a daughter of the late Olin B. and Sallie Mack Roton. She was retired from Eastwell Sports Wear and was a member of Coronaca Baptist Church..
Survivors include two brothers, Edwin Virgil Roton of Hodges and Olin Judson Roton of Greenwood..
Graveside services are at 3 Tuesday in Greenwood Memorial Gardens, conducted by the Rev. David Tester and the Rev. Richard Saxon Jr..
Visitation is from 6-8 tonight at Blyth Funeral Home..
The family is at the home of a sister-in-law, Louise Roton, 2124 Airport Road.
Blyth Funeral Home is in charge.
Ed Sweatt
SPARTANBURG — William Edward “Ed” Sweatt, 63 of 123 Bagwell Road, Spartanburg died Sunday morning, October 28, 2001 at his home.
born in Anderson County, South Carolina, he was the son of the late Clyde and Josephine Chastain Sweatt. He was employed by the South Carolina School for the Deaf and Blind in the Maintenance Dept. with over 24 years of service retiring in 1993 and also drove the Greenwood Bus for the Deaf and Blind School for over 20 years.
He was a member of the West Side Baptist Church of Spartanburg where he was a member of Men’s Sunday School Class, the Brotherhood Club and the Church Choir. He was also a member of the South Carolina Sheriff’s Association.
Surviving are his wife, Kathy Edmonds Sweatt of the home. Two daughters, Cindy Skinner and husband, Gerald Dwayne Skinner of Moore and Darlene Snelson of Inman. One step-son, John Wayne Gosnell of Landrum. Five grandchildren, Rachel Skinner, Christine “Nicki” Snelson, Tabatha Lynn Snelson, Brandon Chase Upton and Dillion Gosnell. Three brothers, Otis L. Sweatt and Clayton “Bud” Sweatt, both of Greenwood, SC and Larry Sweatt of Charlotte, NC. One sister, Amelia Sweatt Tucker of Greenwood. He was preceded in death by his twin sister, Ruby Edna Sweatt Sanders and three brothers, Joseph Brooks Sweatt, James Howard Sweatt and Clyde “Buster” Sweatt.
Funeral services will be held Wednesday, October 31 at 11:00 a.m. at the West Side Baptist Church conducted by the Rev. Eddie Burris, the Rev. Nathan Bridges and the Rev. George Jefferies. Interment will follow in the Heritage Memorial Gardens. The body will be taken to the church one hour before the service.
The family will receive friends Tuesday evening from 7 til 9 p.m. at the Lanford-Pollard Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the West Side Baptist Church 1700 Reidville Road, Spartanburg SC 29301 or the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund, 104 Garner Road, Spartanburg, SC 29303.
John Davis
HODGES — John Davis, 86, formerly of 2412 Dixie Drive, husband of Mae Ella Tolbert Davis, died Monday, Oct. 29, 2001, at National Healthcare of Laurens.
The family is at the home in Hodges.
Percival-Tompkins Funeral Home, Greenwood, is in charge.
Lucile Miller
GREENVILLE - Lucile Miller, 96, resident of 17 Hillside Circle, died October 28, 2001 at Self Memorial Hospital in Greenwood.
born in Greenwood, May 28, 1905, she was a daughter of the late Percy Teague and Estella Anderson Miller. She was the last member of her immediate family.
Miss Miller was a graduate of Greenwood High School and a 1926 graduate of Lander College. She was also a graduate of Peterson College of Commerce. She did graduate work at Furman University and the University of South Carolina.
After graduating from Lander College, she taught in several high schools in South Carolina before going to Greenville in 1944. Until her retirement from high school teaching 1971, she taught in the business department of Parker High School. Miss Miller ended her teaching career by teaching business administrative subjects in the North Greenville College extension courses.
She was a member of Bumcombe Street United Methodist Church in Greenville. Surviving are three nieces, Doris Miller Buist of Greenwood, Bernice Miller McKaba of Hodges and Peggy Miller Marony of Denver, CO; a nephew, Dr. John Teague Miller of Greenville.
Graveside services will be conducted 2PM Wednesday in Tranquil United Methodist Church cemetery in Greenwood with Dr. John T. Miller officiating.
The family is at the home of a niece, Bernice M. McKaba, 421 Lagrone Road in Hodges and will receive friends in the Tranquil United Methodist Church Social Hall immediately following the service.
The family requests that flowers be omitted and memorials made to Tranquil United Methodist Church cemetery Fund, 1702 McCormick Hwy., Greenwood, SC 29646.
Blyth Funeral Home is in charge.
Annie Ruth Milton
SALUDA — Annie Ruth Milton died Sunday, Oct. 28, 2001, at Self Memorial Hospital in Greenwood.
Services will be announced by Butler & Sons Funeral Home, which is in charge.
LeRoy Weaver
JOHNSTON — LeRoy Weaver, 50, of Route 2, Box 178, husband of Lula Mae Mathis Weaver, died Oct. 27, 2001, at West Wood Nursing Home, Statesboro, Ga.
born in Edgefield County, he was a son of Essie Lou Jackson Weaver and the late Eugene Weaver. He was an employee of Phoenix Tire & Rubber Co., Batesburg, and a member of Pine Hill Baptist Church.
Survivors include his wife of the home; his mother of Johnston; four sons, Leon Weaver of Greenwood, Darin Weaver and Andre Weaver, both of Saluda and Jamie Weaver of Greenville; two brothers, David Weaver of Concord, N.C., and Matthew Weaver of Johnston; two sisters, Emmie Lott of Johnston and Tira A. Cooks of Aiken; and five grandchildren.
Services will be conducted at 3 Thursday at Pine Hill Baptist Church by the Rev. Edward Jordan and Minister Robert Butler. Burial is in the church cemetery.
Pallbearers are nephews and friends, and flower bearers are nieces and friends.
The family is at the home.
Butler & Sons Funeral Home, Saluda, is in charge.
