System Mechanic - Clean, repair, protect, and speed up your PC!ETHEL M. BURRIS
BISHOPVILLE — Ethel Mae Burris died Jan. 26, 2003, at Carolina Pines Hospital in Hartsville.
Born June 11, 1930, in Lee County, she was a daughter of Steven and Hannah Mae Brisbon Burris. She was educated in Lee County schools. She was a member of Cousar Memorial Presbyterian Church. She was a member of Lee County Council on Aging, a good neighbor and friend to all. She was employed for many years at the city nursery in Lee County.
Survivors include three sisters, Annie B. Lewis of Rembert, Lola Nelson of Bishopville and Elouise Myers of Camden; 14 grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; five sisters-in-law; two brothers-in-law; one daughter-in-law, Louise Burris of Camden; one son-in-law, Carey Stuckey of Bishopville; two aunts, Elease Brisbon of Camden and Florence Richburg of Bishopville.
She was preceded in death by three children, Lottie, Ruth and Charles Burris.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. today at Cousar Memorial Church with the Rev. Ernest Jackson officiating.
Burial will be in Boone’s Memorial Gardens.
The funeral procession will leave at 10:45 a.m. from the home of her sister, Lola Nelson, 210 Harlem St., Bishopville.
The family will receive friends at 210 Harlem St., Bishopville.
Boatwright Funeral Home of Bishopville is in charge of arrangements.
JAMES T. GEDDINGS
James Thomas Geddings, 57, husband of Viola H. Geddings, died Thursday, Jan. 30, 2003, at the Baptist Hospital in Nashville, Tenn.
Born in Sumter, he was the son of Christine Geddings Sims and the late Russell Joseph Geddings.
He was a former minister of the Salvation Army for over 15 years.
Surviving are his wife of Dickson, Tenn.; his mother of Sumter; two daughters, Judy Tolson and her husband, Butch, and Jamie Aycock; a stepson, Leland L. Coleman Jr.; a stepdaughter, Christi Owens and her husband, Jeremy; two sisters, Lucy Copeland and her husband, Gerald, and Mary Sue Baker and her husband, Bobby, all of Sumter; four grandchildren, Brittney Brown, Kaitlyn Aycock, Ashton Geddings and Aaron James Tolson; two stepgrandchildren, Callie and Riley Owens; an aunt, Tessie Scott of Sumter; and a number of nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held at 4 p.m. Sunday in the chapel of the Elmore-Hill-McCreight Funeral Home.
Burial will be in the Sumter Cemetery.
The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. today at the funeral home.
Elmore-Hill-McCreight Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
NANCY CARROLL F. BROWN
Funeral services for Nancy Carroll Floyd Brown will be at 2 p.m. today in St. John United Methodist Church, Sumter.
Burial will be at 4 p.m. in the Scranton United Methodist Church cemetery.
Memorials may be made to St. John United Methodist Church, 136 Poinsett Drive, Sumter, SC 29150.
Brockington Funeral Home, Lake City, is in charge.
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.
STEVE E. RIDGILL Jr.
HAMPTON, Va. — Steve Edward Ridgill Jr., 35, died Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2003.
Born in Sumter, he was a son of Debbie Friedman and the late Steve Edward Ridgill Sr.
Steve was a native of Sumter and a former resident of York County before moving to Hampton, Va., in 1990. He attended York High School and worked with his mother and stepfather at Friedman’s Custom Jewelers Store in Yorktown.
Surviving are his mother and stepfather, Mark Friedman, of Hampton, Va.; a brother, Frank Bouska of Sumter; a sister, Stacey Friedman of Mathews, Va.; maternal grandmother, Vivian Brown of Sumter; paternal grandmother, Pauline Friedman of Newport News, Va.; paternal step-grandmother, Lorraine Ridgill; a nephew, Avery Bouska of Sumter; numerous aunts, uncles and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his maternal grandfather, Marion Ray Brown; and paternal grandparents, Ed and Lillian Ridgill.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday at Ashwood Baptist Church.
Burial will be in the church cemetery.
The family will receive friends from 7 to 8 p.m. today at the Elmore-Hill-McCreight Funeral Home.
Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society, 895 Middleground Blvd., Newport News, Va. 23606.
Elmore-Hill-McCreight Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
ERNEST MONTGOMERY
SCRANTON — Ernest Montgomery, 72, husband of Edna Cooper Montgomery of the home, died Friday, Jan. 31, 2003, at the home, 1851 N. Old Georgetown Road, Scranton.
He was born April 10, 1930, in Florence County.
The family will receive friends at the residence, 1851 N. Old Georgetown Road, Highhill community, Scranton.
Services will be announced by Green’s Funeral Home of Lake City.
HAZEL WHITE
Hazel White died Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2003, at Harlem Hospital in Manhattan, N.Y.
Born in Sumter County, he was the son of Carrie White Jackson.
The family will receive friends at the home of his sister, Doretha White, 4295 Queen Chapel Road, Dalzell.
Services will be announced by Scriven Funeral Home.
LULA MAE S. RAY
POMPANO BEACH, Fla. — Lula Mae Singletary Ray, 78, widower of Mayo Ray, died Thursday, Jan. 30, 2003, in Broward Nursing Center, Pompano Beach, Fla.
Born Aug. 24, 1924, in Florence County, she was a sister of Jennie V. Cooper of Lake City.
The family will receive friends at the home of her sister and brother-in-law, Jennie V. and T.J. Cooper, 221 Carver St., Lake City.
Services will be announced by Green’s Funeral Home.
JAMES NELSON
PINEWOOD — James Nelson died Jan. 29, 2003, at Tuomey Healthcare Center, Sumter.
Born Sept. 15, 1943, in Clarendon County, he was the son of the late Joe Nelson and Susan Bates Nelson. He was educated in the public schools of Clarendon County. At an early age, he joined New Hope UME Church in Pinewood. He was employed as a farmer for many years with the Leslie Tindal Farms.
Survivors include six brothers, Ruby Nelson and Floyd Nelson, both of Thomasville, N.C., Williams Nelson, George Nelson and Frank Nelson, all of Pinewood, and Elijah Nelson of Pensacola, Fla.; and one sister, Joeann Nelson of Thomasville, N.C.
Services will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday at New Hope UME Church, Pinewood, with the Rev. Leroy T. James, pastor, officiating.
Burial will be in New Hope UME Cemetery, Pinewood.
The funeral procession will leave from the home, 1640 Panola Road, Pinewood, at 2:15 p.m. on Sunday.
The family will receive friends at the home.
Community Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
MELVIN R. DIXON
Melvin Roy “Cowboy” Dixon, 56, husband of Verntell Dixon, died Friday, Jan. 31, 2003, at his home.
Born Sept. 16, 1946, in Oklahoma County, he was the son of Charles Dixon and the late Betsy Dukes.
The family will receive friends at the home, 328 Enter St.
Services will be announced by Sumter Funeral Services, Inc.
ROBERT D. HALL
BLYTHEWOOD - Robert Dawson Hall, 70, died Friday, Jan. 31, 2003.
Born in Richland County, he was a son of the late Henry E. and Mary Sturkie Hall. He was founder and president of Robert Hall Builders and was superintendent with Midland Construction from 1960 to 1975. He was an avid Gamecock fan.
Surviving are his wife, Jo-Anne L. Hall; four daughters, Ann H. Chavis of Pelion, Judy H. Driggers and her husband, Donnie, Nancy H. Barfield and her husband, Steve, and Mary Joyce Hall, all of Lexington; a son, Kevin Hall and his wife, Betsy, of Blythewood; two sisters, Evelyn H. Thames of Rembert and Carolyn H. Cribb and her husband, Tony, of Blythewood; a brother, Elton Franklin Hall and his wife, Carol, of Ridgeway; grandchildren Brittany Nicole Hall, Teri Simmons, Patricia Nates, Donna Driggers, Donnie Driggers, Shelby Barfield and Stephanie Barfield; and eight great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held 11 a.m. Monday in Killian Baptist Church with burial in the church cemetery. Officiating will be the Rev. Ron Avant. The family will receive friends 5 to 7 p.m. Sunday at Shives Funeral Home.
Pallbearers will be Jim Davis, Howard McCollum, Larry Sharpe Sr., Richard Richards, Jimmy Wallace and Raymond Palmer. Memorials may be made to the USC Gamecock Club, 1300 Rosewood Drive, Columbia, S.C. 29208.
The family wishes to thank all the doctors and nurses at Providence Hospital for all their care and concern.
Shives Funeral Home of Columbia is in charge of arrangements.
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.
