System Mechanic - Clean, repair, protect, and speed up your PC!JOE B. BRANHAM
BISHOPVILLE — Joe Ben Branham, 91, widower of Cleola Davis Branham, died Monday, Feb. 25, 2002.
Born in Lee County, he was a son of the late Ben and Lizzie Hinson Branham. He was a member of Mt. Hebron Free Will Baptist Church.
Survivors include a son, Homer Branham of Bishopville; eight daughters, Tillie Stevens of Lancaster, Elizabeth Farmer, Joette Farmer and Susan Reynolds, all of Bishopville, Evelyn Jackson and Lois Branham of Camden, Annie Boone of Cassatt and Shirley Efird of Lexington, N.C.; 25 grandchildren; 28 great-grandchildren; and four great-great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by a son, Lindy Branham; and two grandchildren, Boot Jackson and Ricky Efird.
Funeral services will be held at 3 p.m. Wednesday at Faith Baptist Church with the Rev. Howard Brown and the Rev. Von Cockrell officiating. Burial will be in Mizpah Church Cemetery.
The family will receive friends from 7 to 9 p.m. today at the funeral home.
Memorials may be made to the Gideon International, P.O. Box 1798, Sumter, S.C. 29151.
Norton Funeral Home, Bishopville chapel, is in charge of arrangements.
REV. JAMES A. BURGESS
MANNING — The Rev. James Andrew Burgess, 63, husband of Barbara Steele Burgess, died Sunday, Feb. 24, 2002, at McLeod Regional Medical Center in Florence.
Born Oct. 10, 1938, in Manning, he was a son of the late Thomas LaFar Burgess Sr. and Annie Mae McGrady Burgess. He was a member of New Harmony Presbytery. He was the former superintendent of Camp Harmony and was a graduate of Columbia Theological Seminary. He was a U.S. Air Force veteran. He was owner and operator of Jim’s Plants on S.C. 261.
Survivors besides his wife of Manning include three sons, Jimmy Burgess of Greenville, Joey Burgess and his wife, Lynn, of Manning and Todd Gladden of Olanta; two daughters, Laura Willard and her husband, Steve, and Becky Williams and her husband, Eddie, all of Union; a brother, the Rev. Tommy Burgess of Manning; a sister, Mary Lily Gamble of Sumter; and six grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday at the Presbyterian Church at Manning with Dr. William J. Holmes officiating. Burial will be in Brewington Presbyterian Church cemetery near Manning.
David Gamble, Donnie Gamble, Billy Gamble, Thomas Burgess, Vernon Geddings, Larry Evans, Thomas Bryant and James Horne will serve as pallbearers.
The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. today at the funeral home and other times at the home, 9271 Kingstree Hwy., Manning.
Memorials may be made to The Presbyterian Home in Florence or Brewington Presbyterian Church Cemetery Fund.
Stephens Funeral Home of Manning is in charge of arrangements.
LOUISE R. JENKINS
Louise Richardson Jenkins, 85, widow of Steven Jenkins, died Thursday, Feb. 21, 2002, at Hopewell HealthCare Center.
Born June 28, 1916, in Lee County, she was a daughter of the late Mary Jett and William Richardson. In her youth, she joined Mechanicsville United Methodist Church, where she served as a faithful and dedicated member. She later moved North for about 10 years, where she worked as a pressing operator and domestic engineer. Upon returning to Sumter, she renewed her membership with Mechanicsville United Methodist Church, where she remained active until her health failed.
Survivors include two sons, Robert L. and Herbert L. Jenkins, both of Sumter; three daughters, Ruth Brunson of Florence and Gladys McMillan and Mary L.J. Woods, both of Sumter; two sisters, Carola Jett and Dora Champagne, both of Sumter; 22 grandchildren; 57 great-grandchildren; 15 great-great-grandchildren; and three great-great-great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by five brothers, Gene Richardson, Johnnie, Elijah, Thomas and Nuttie Jett; and five sisters, Daisy Watson, Annie Mae Keith, Mudd Richardson, Beulah McMillan and Ida Mickens.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Mechanicsville United Methodist Church, Ashwood community, with the Rev. Herbert Fogle, pastor, officiating, assisted by the Rev. James McGill. Burial will be in the church cemetery. United Methodist Men of Mechanicsville United Methodist Church will serve as pallbearers with the United Methodist Women serving as flower bearers. The funeral procession will leave at 1:20 p.m. from the home of her daughter, Mary L.J. Woods, 21 W. Hunter St.
The family will receive friends at the home of Mary L.J. Woods. Williams Funeral Home Inc. of Sumter is in charge of arrangements.
ABRAHAM COCKLIN
Abraham Cocklin, husband of Lucyann Theresa McKeiver Cocklin, died Sunday, March 3, 2002, at Tuomey Regional Medical Center in Sumter.
Born Oct. 23, 1923, in Sumter County, he was a son of the late Ernest Cocklin and Rebecca Wells Cocklin.
The family will receive friends at the home of his wife, 1027 Bellmont Drive.
Services will be announced by Palmer Memorial Chapel Inc. of Sumter.
EDWARD D. CROSKEY
Edward D. Croskey died Sunday, March 3, 2002, in Sumter.
Born Oct. 14, 1976, in Sumter, he was a son of Edward Eugene Croskey and Julia Tention Croskey.
The family will receive friends at the home of his mother, 30 Adolf Circle.
Services will be announced by Williams Funeral Home Inc. of Sumter.
MAUREEN E. DAMON
Maureen Epperson Damon, 47, wife of George Damon, died today, March 4, 2002, at Tuomey Regional Medical Center.
Born Dec. 21, 1954, in Sumter County, she was a daughter of the late Frazier and Amy Littles Epperson.
The family will receive friends at the home, 612 N. Magnolia St.
Services will be announced by Job’s Mortuary Inc. of Sumter.
LEON G. HANISCH
Leon G. Hanisch, 81, husband of Lucille B. Hanisch, died today, March 4, 2002, at Tuomey Regional Medical Center.
Services will be announced by Elmore-Hill-McCreight Funeral Home of Sumter.
LUCILE T. HENDERSON
Lucile Thomas Henderson, widow of Early Henderson, died Sunday, March 3, 2002, at Hopewell HealthCare Center in Sumter.
Born Oct. 24, 1918, in Macon, Ga., she was a daughter of the late Bill Thomas and Manerva Davis Boyd.
The family will receive friends at the home of Janice Malone, 5523 Oakcrest Road.
Services will be announced by Palmer Memorial Chapel Inc. of Sumter.
VIOLA MAHONEY
DALZELL — Viola Mahoney died Saturday, March 2, 2002, at her home.
Born Oct. 13, 1919, in Sumter County, she was a daughter of the late Horace Keith and Hattie Phillips.
The family will receive friends at the home, 3825 Mahoney Lane, Dalzell.
Services will be announced by Williams Funeral Home Inc. of Sumter.
L.D. SMITH
PAXVILLE — L.D. Smith, husband of Shirley Dow Smith, died Sunday, March 3, 2002, at Tuomey Regional Medical Center.
Born Sept. 3, 1949, in Manning, he was a son of Mary Moore Smith and the late Clifton Smith Sr.
The family will receive friends at the home, 9359 Paxville Hwy., Paxville, and at the home of his mother, 506 Skyview Drive, Manning.
Services will be announced by Samuels Funeral Home LLC of Manning.
LEILA C. BELKEN
Leila Copeland Belken, 60, wife of Lawrence J. Belken, died Friday, March 1, 2002.
Born in Sumter County, she was a daughter of the late John Marion Copeland and Susan Josey Copeland. She was a member of First Church of the Nazarene, where she was a member of the choir and the Quarterly Sunday School Class. She was employed by Sumter Cabinet Co.
Survivors besides her husband include two sons, David Christopher Belken and his wife, Erica, and Patrick J. Belken and his wife, Leslie, all of Sumter; a daughter, Margaret Penina Cooper and her husband, William, of Edwards Air Force Base, Calif.; four brothers, Thurmond Copeland of Denham Springs, La., James Copeland and Josey Copeland, both of Sumter, and Gerald Copeland of Dalzell; two sisters, Rebecca McDuffie and Janie Copeland, both of Sumter; and six grandchildren, Stephanie Cooper, Emily Cooper, William Cooper, Anna Belken, Patrick Belken Jr. and Ethan Belken.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday at First Church of the Nazarene with Dr. James Thrower, the Rev. B.W. Downing and the Rev. Gene Stokes officiating. Burial will be in Bethany Baptist Church cemetery.
John Copeland, Michael Rodgers, Michael Belken, Larry Betush, Bobby Baker and Grady Holland will serve as pallbearers.
Members of the Quarterly Sunday School Class of First Church of the Nazarene, Watson Barwick, C.O. McCathern and Joe Barwick will serve as honorary pallbearers.
The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home and other times at the home of Patrick and Leslie Belken, 1029 W. Sherwood Drive.
Elmore-Hill-McCreight Funeral Home of Sumter is in charge of arrangements.
MACE GREEN
SUMMERTON — Mace Green, 87, widower of Dilsie Green, died Thursday, Feb. 28, 2002, at his home.
Born Jan. 15, 1915, in Summerton, he was a son of the late January Nelson and Silian Green. He attended Clarendon County public schools. He was a lifelong member of Greater St. Phillip RMUE Church in Pinewood. He was a retired farmer.
Survivors include two adopted sons, Emanuel Harvin of Brooklyn, N.Y., and Durant Marion of Baltimore, Md.; four adopted daughters, Ernestine Gupton and Delores Harvin, both of Brooklyn, Lucinder Whittington of Cambridge, Md., and Sallie Marion of Orlando, Fla.; a stepdaughter, Viola Dingle of Manning; a sister, Alice Junious of Summerton; 17 grandchildren; and 16 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by four brothers, two sisters, a son, and an adopted son.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Greater St. Phillip RMUE Church in Pinewood with the Rev. Warren Hatcher officiating, assisted by the Rev. Amos Hatcher. Burial will be in the church cemetery.
The casket will be placed in the church at 1 p.m. Tuesday.
The funeral procession will leave at 1:30 p.m. from the home, 1255 Furse Road, Summerton.
The family will receive friends at the home.
Summerton Funeral Service of Summerton is in charge of arrangements.
ROY T. HOBBY SR.
SUMMERTON — Roy T. “Tom” Hobby Sr., 77, husband of Martha “June” Hobby, died Sunday, March 3, 2002, at McLeod Regional Medical Center in Florence.
Born July 28, 1924, in Decatur, Ga., he was a son of the late Roy Deneke and Madolyn Winter Hobby. He was a graduate of the Georgia Institute of Technology. He was an Episcopalian, a Rotarian and a member of the Exchange Club. He was a U.S. Air Force veteran, having served in World War II. He was a retired executive with Southern Bell Telephone Co. He was an avid youth sports coach.
Survivors besides his wife of Summerton include two sons, Roy T. Hobby Jr. of Conway and Raymond D. Hobby of Newberry; two daughters, Robin Mullis of Charlotte, N.C., and Rhonda D. Hobby of Summerton; 14 grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; a nephew; and a niece.
He was preceded in death by a sister, Gertrude Breeding.
Memorial services will be held at 6 p.m. today in the chapel of Stephens Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to The Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation of America, 302 Ridgefield Court, Asheville, NC 28806.
Stephens Funeral Home of Manning is in charge of arrangements.
EDNA RUTH H. JONES
Edna Ruth Hill Jones, wife of Lewis C. Jones, died Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2002, in Temple Hill, Md.
Born Feb. 16, 1930, in Dalzell, she was the fifth daughter of the late James Harrison Hill and Ralphenia Diggs Hill.
In her youth, she attended Hopewell Baptist Church in Dalzell, where she was active in Sunday school, Baptist Young People’s Union and the Missionary Society. She later joined Cornerstone Baptist Church, where she served on several committees and ministries including the Willie E. Newtown Society, Woman’s Auxiliary and several black history programs.
She started school at High Hill Elementary and graduated high school at Mather Academy in Camden. She attended South Carolina State University, where she excelled academically. She was initiated into Alpha Xi Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority in 1949. In 1971, she received a master of science in education from American University in Washington, D.C., and did further graduate study at the University of Maryland and George Washington University.
While attending South Carolina State University, she met Lewis C. Jones, whom she married in 1953. As a military wife, she accompanied her husband on many assignments throughout the world, traveling with her three sons to any military base where dependents were permitted.
She taught school in Germany, Columbus, Ga., and various other places. Her teaching career began at Rosenwald High School in Society Hill, and ended with her retirement from Walker Middle School in Prince George’s County in Maryland in 1992.
Survivors besides her husband of 49 years include three sons, Lewis S. Jones, Wayson R. Jones and Byron K. Jones; two brothers, Eddie Hill of Newark, N.J., and Diggs Hill of Greenville; and five sisters, Mattie Mae Hill and Alneda Calpurnia Gethers, both of Dalzell, Ralphenia Hill of District Heights, Md., Gracie Alexander of Brooklyn, N.Y., and Ida Clark of Clinton, Md.
Funeral services were held Friday, Feb. 22, 2002, at Cornerstone Baptist Church in Temple Hills. Burial was in Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Va.
Courtesy announcement of James Funeral Home Inc. of Sumter.
WILLIE WEST
Willie West, fiance’ of Valeria Helton, died Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2002, at Tuomey Regional Medical Center.
Born May 12, 1939, in Thomson, Ga., he was a son of John West and Susie Moss West. He served in the U.S. Air Force for 21 years and was a prisoner of war during the Vietnam War. He received a number of service and commendation medals. After his retirement from the Air Force in 1985, he remained in the Sumter community. He was employed by the city of Sumter until his retirement. He enjoyed sports and was a member umpire for the United States Slow-Pitched Softball Association for a number of years. His work in the USSA earned him the Gene Lee Award and induction into the USSA Hall of Fame. He also umpired basketball, youth football and volleyball games throughout the Sumter and Clarendon county communities.
Survivors besides his fiance’ of the home include five children he helped to raise, Shanta Helton, Jamal Helton, Terence Davis and Lee Sigler, all of Sumter, and Ross Armstead of Homestead, Fla.
Funeral services will be held at 12:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Palmetto chapel, Shaw Air Force Base, with Chaplain Willie Dicks officiating. Burial will be at the National Cemetery in Florence.
Members of the Shaw AFB Honor Guard will serve as pallbearers.
The funeral procession will leave at 11:30 a.m. from the home, 2106 Gin Branch Road.
The family will receive friends at the home.
Palmer Memorial Chapel Inc. of Sumter is in charge of arrangements.
