System Mechanic - Clean, repair, protect, and speed up your PC!OTIS J. NELSON SR.
GABLE - Otis Jerome Nelson Sr., 85, died Friday, Jan. 31, 2003, at National Healthcare of Sumter.
Born March 23, 1917, in Ridgeway, he was a son of the late Rev. Warren Julius and Maggie Sarah Grant Nelson. He spent his formative years in South Carolina where he attended the Goodwill Parochial School in Sumter and Brainard Institute in Chester. He was raised in the Goodwill Presbyterian Church, which was pastored by his father.
He received his bachelors degree in agriculture from S.C. State College. He served as an educator in the sciences and later became principal of the former Johnson High School in Sumter County School District Two. He was called to the ministry while serving as principal. He received his Master of Divinity from Gammon Theological Seminary in Atlanta, Ga. He was married to the late Mary Pogue Nelson. From this union three children were born.
The decision for ministry grew almost naturally from experiences in family and church, reinforced by the example of a father whose pastorate spoke so profoundly to the hungers and aspirations of young and old. He became licensed to preach in 1951, was ordained as a deacon in 1953, and was ordained as an elder in 1954 under the late Bishop J.W.E. Bowen. He was received into full connection of the United Methodist Church in 1954.
He ministered, pastored and served as a leader and an administrator to the following United Methodist Churches: Kellybelle/St. Phillips; St. Mark in Mayesville; St. James in Sumter; Mechanicsville in the Ashwood community; Centenary in Hartsville; Centenary in Charleston; St. Mark in St. Matthews; Faith in Kingstree; Mt. Zion in Sumter; and St. Mark in Sumter.
He used his Christian knowledge, guidance and experiences in the following capacities on the conference and district levels: finance and administration, program counsel, planning, research and coordination, chairperson of Christian Social Concern (Church and Society), Bline Board and others. He was a member of the Omega Psi Phi.
He spent his life helping others and witnessing to the total needs of others- spiritual, social, political and economic. Along with many others who loved him, he will be greatly mourned by his wife, Eliza Blake Nelson of the home; two sons, Otis Nelson Jr. of Orangeburg; Dwight A. Nelson of Gable; a daughter, Lourena Nelson English of Sumter; 10 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; a brother, John Calvin Nelson of Los Angeles, Calif.; a daughter-in-law, Flora Jones Nelson of Gable; three sisters-in-law, Johnalee Nelson of Orangeburg, Edie Nelson of Los Angeles, Calif., and Louise Blake Connor of Marion; three brothers-in-law, David Johnson of Richmond, Va., Frank Blake of Vaux Hall, N.J.; and James Blake of Marion; a stepmother, Lillie B. Nelson of Sumter; and other relatives.
Services will be held 1 p.m. Monday at Goodwill Presbyterian Church in Mayesville.
The family will receive friends at 3865 Congruity Road and from 7 to 9 p.m. Sunday at Mount Zion United Methodist Church on Loring Mill Road.
In lieu of flowers, friends can send contributions to the O.J. Nelson Scholarship Fund, c/o St. Mark United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 873, Sumter, S.C. 29151.
Officiating ministers will be Dr. James Gadson, Rev. Richard Baxter, Rev. Edward McDowell Jr., Dr. J. Herbert Nelson II and the Rev. Telley L. Gadson.
Community Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
JAMES R. LIGHTY
WISACKY - James Rufus Lighty died Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2003, in Baltimore, Md.
Born in Lee County, he was a son of James Lighty and Carrie Samual Lighty, and was a husband of the late Lillie Mae Rogers Lighty.
He attended the public schools of Lee County. He was a supervisor at Reeves Brothers where he was employed. He was a member of St. Paul #1 United Methodist Church in Wisacky.
Surviving are two daughters, Ruthie House of Baltimore, Md., and Essie Wesley and her husband, Willie Sr., of Washington, D.C.; grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held 3 p.m. Sunday at St. Paul #1 United Methodist Church. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
The family will receive friends at the home, 225 Elliott Highway, Bishopville.
Square Deal Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
PHILIP J. MILLER
ORMOND BEACH, FLA. - Philip J. Miller, 87, of North Wild Olive Avenue, who retired in 1971 as an Army master sergeant after 31 years of service, died Monday, Jan. 27, 2003, at Wellington Place.
Mr. Miller was born in Lynbrook, N.Y., and moved to this area in 1989 from Orange County. He was a member of Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church and the Lions Club and was a volunteer for Florida Hospital-Oceanside. He attended Jones College. He enjoyed music and storytelling.
Survivors include his wife of 59 years, Fannie May Poole Miller; three sons, Bob and Kevin, both of Orlando, Fla., and Jeff of Altoona, Fla.; five daughters, Marcia Pizzimenti of Ormond Beach, Fla., Nancy Furlow and Tracey Stein, both of Daytona Beach, Fla., Phyllis Miller of Albuquerque, N.M., and Teresa Allen of Orlando, Fla.; eight grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.
Ormond Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
HAZEL WHITE
Hazel White died Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2003, in New York City, N.Y.
Born Nov. 19, 1934, in Sumter County, he was a son of Carrie Jackson. He attended Ebenezer School. At an early age he joined St. Mark Four Bridge Baptist Church.
Survivors include a daughter, Edith Burgess of Sumter; a sister, Doretha White of Dalzell; and two grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by two sisters and two nephews.
Burial will be in St. Mark Four Baptist Church Cemetery.
The family will receive friends at the home of his sister, Doretha White, at 4295 Queen Chapel Road.
Scriven Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
WALLACE MILLER
Wallace Miller, husband of Synthia Miller, died Friday, Jan. 31, 2003, at his home.
Born in Sumter County, he was the son of Elizabeth Dennis Miller and the late Roosevelt Miller.
The family will receive friends at the home, 4775 Dennis Road, P.O. Box 278, Rembert, S.C. 29128.
Services will be announced by Scriven Funeral Home.
BESSIE LOUISE WRIGHT
Bessie Louise Wright died Saturday, Feb. 1, 2003, at Tuomey Regional Medical Center.
Born in Sumter County, she was a daughter of the late Mary Oxendine Harvin.
The family will receive friends at her home, 265 Apollo St., Wedgefield.
Services will be announced by Scriven Funeral Home.
MARY T. GIBSON
MANNING - Mary T. Gibson, 83, widow of the late Rev. Hermon Gibson Sr., died Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2003, at Clarendon Memorial Hospital.
Born Dec. 1, 1919, in Furman, she was a daughter of the late Edward Tindal and Maybell Smiling Tindal. She attended the public schools of Clarendon County and was a member of Mt. Hermon Baptist Church, where she served as Mother of the Church.
Survivors include seven sons, Rev. Hermon Gibson Jr. and his wife, Lillie Mae, Alvin Gibson and his wife, Joyce, James Gibson and his wife, Emma, Alonza Gibson and his wife, Ollie Mae, Phillip Gibson and his wife, Henrietta, Rev. Robert Gibson and his wife, Lucille, and Barthomew Gibson, all of Manning; four daughters, Jerusha Postell and her husband, Robert, of Washington, D.C., Katie Kennedy and her husband, Thomas, of Belmar, N.J., Mary Bullock and her husband, Louis, of Mitchellville, Md., and Evangelist Lillie Johnson and her husband, Ralph, of Neptune, N.J.; a brother, Van Buren Tindal of Sumter; 63 grandchildren; and 36 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by two sons, Richard and Roosevelt; three sisters; and three brothers.
Funeral services will be held 1 p.m. Monday at Mt. Zero Baptist Church, S.C. 261, Manning. The Rev. Dr. Hermon Gibson Jr. will officiate, assisted by Rev. Henry Presley, Rev. Cass Williams, Rev. Joseph Pringle, Rev. Albertus Smiling, Rev. Robert Gibson and Rev. Hazel Charles.
Burial will be in Mt. Hermon Baptist Church Cemetery.
A wake service will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Saturday at the church.
The family will receive friends at the home, 1068 Arlen Road, Manning.
Fleming-DeLaine Funeral Home of Manning is in charge of arrangements.
FLOREA G. ROBERTS-McCULOGH
Florea G. Roberts-McCulogh died Saturday, Feb. 1, 2003, at Tuomey Regional Medical Center.
Born Sept. 1, 1920, in Rocky Mount, N.C., she was the daughter of the late Alonzo L. Roberts and Capitola Richardson-Roberts. The family will receive friends at 19 Edwards St. in Sumter. Services will be announced by Palmer Memorial Chapel Inc. of Sumter.
ANTONIO BROOKS
Antonio Brooks, 29, of 3630 Ranch Road in Columbia has died.
Funeral services will be held noon Monday at Union Baptist Church in Rembert. Burial will follow at Sandhill Cemetery in Rembert. Haile’s Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
J. LINDSAY LEVINER
WINNSBORO - John Lindsay Leviner, 84, died Saturday, Feb. 1, 2003.
Born June 4, 1918, in Winnsboro, he was the son of the late Redmon D. and Mary Cameron Leviner. He was a retired overseer from UniRoyal, Inc., member of Stephen Greene Baptist Church, graduate of Spartanburg Junior College, Army veteran of World War II and a former member of the Fairfield Country Club.
Survivors inlcude his wife, Lois Hanes Leviner of the home; a son, Dr. John Lindsay Leviner Jr. of Fayetteville, N.C.; a daughter, Kathy Leviner Waters of Sumter; a daughter-in-law, Brenda Myers Leviner of Turbeville; a sister, Mary Leviner Hudson of Gastonia, N.C.; five grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by a son, Thomas Larry Leviner.
Funeral services will be held 11 a.m. Monday at the graveside in Stephen Green Memorial Garden, conducted by Rev. Taylor Wells. Pope Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
NORMAN MITCHELL
Norman “Max” Mitchell, 65, husband of Carol Pickering Mitchell, died Saturday, Feb. 1, 2003 at McLeod Regional Medical Center.
Born in Frankfort, Ind., he was the son of the late George Mitchell and the late Frieda Wright Mitchell. He owned and operated Mitchell Janitorial and Lawn Care and was retired from Federal Mogul.
Surviving are his wife of Sumter; three sons, Keith Kirby and his wife, Yvonne, of York, Sean Mitchell and his wife, Jennifer, of Sumter, and Max Langston of Michigan; two daughters, Melanie Moseley and her husband, Bob, of Florence, and Jeannie Humberg and her husband, Jay, of Frankfort, Ind.; five grandchildren, Garriss and Madeline Moseley, Victoria and Jacob Mitchell, and Dylan Humberg; two brother, Robert Mitchell and Morris Mitchell of Frankfort, Ind.; and two sisters, Marilyn Tincher of Florida and Charlotte Large of Frankfort, Ind.
Services will be held 11 a.m. Tuesday at the Elmore-Hill-McCreight Funeral Home with the Rev. Bruce Sayer officiating.
Burial will follow in the Evergreen Memorial Park Cemetery.
The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday at the Elmore-Hill-McCreight Funeral Home and other times at the home.
Memorials may be made to the SPCA Humane Organization, 1140 S. Guignard Drive, Sumter, S.C. 29150.
Elmore-Hill-McCreight Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
WANDA PRICE
Wanda Price died Thursday, Jan. 30, 2003, at Tuomey Regional Medical Center.
Born in Sumter County, she was the daughter of Bill Robinson and Elloree Conyers Jenkin.
The family will receive friends at the home, 911 Kingman St.
Services will be announced by Scriven Funeral Home.
EVELYN McCOY BRITTON
Evelyn McCoy Britton, 94, wife of the late Leonard K. Britton, died Saturday, Feb. 1, 2003.
Born in St. Charles, she was the daughter of the late Wesley Kistler and the late Sarah Cummings Kistler.
She was a member of Zoar United Methodist Church and co-founder of Young at Heart Senior Citizens Group.
Surviving are two sons, Robert K. Britton and JHames “Jay” W. Britton and his wife, Suzette, both of Sumter; a daughter, Carolyn Davis and her husband, E.W. Davis Sr. of Sumter; four grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Leonard K. Britton; a son Leonard Knox Britton Jr.; six sisters, Sarah Edens, Margaret Chandler, L.E. Belk, Julia McCoy, Mary Mayes and Alberta Pickett; and three brothers, Wesley McCoy, Wofford McCoy and Ashby McCoy.
Funeral services will be held 3 p.m. Monday in the chapel of Elmore-Hill-McCreight Funeral Home with the Rev. Lee Philips officiating and Rev. Jerry Watson assisting.
Burial will follow in the Zoar United Methodist Church Cemetery.
Pallbearers will be Luke Rogers, Warren Davis Jr., John Britton Boney, Dr. J.J. Britton, Dave McInnis and Russell Miller.
The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. Sunday at Elmore-Hill-McCreight Funeral Home and other times at the home, 1550 Britton Road.
Memorials may be made to Zoar United Methodist church, 1540 Britton Road, Sumter, S.C. 29153.
Elmore-Hill-McCreight Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
LEE V. WAY Jr.
PERKINS, Ga. — Lee Vilas Way Jr., 77, husband of Grace T. Way, died Thursday, Jan. 30, 2003.
Born in Sumter, he was a son of the late Lee Way Sr. and the late Katie Christmas Way.
Mr. Way was a U.S. Army World War II veteran and retired senior design engineer with E.I. DuPont.
Surviving are his wife of Perkins, Ga.; children, Deborah Desai of Atlanta, Ga., Mark Way of Orlando, Fla., Jerri Alsbrooks of Pinewood, Michalyn Gardner of Spartanburg, and Dawn Stanley of Sumter; three brothers, John Way and Jerry Way, both of Lugoff, and Billy Way of Perkins, Ga.; two sisters, Netta Kennedy of Holly Hill and Barbara Jean Robertson of Nicholsville, Ky.; and 11 grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. today in the chapel of the Elmore-Hill-McCreight Funeral Home.
Burial will be in the Sumter Cemetery.
The family will receive friends from 1 to 2 p.m. today at the funeral home.
Elmore-Hill-McCreight Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
