DR. KEITH L. COLE, FRANKLIN G. RAGSDALE, CLYDE DONALD ‘DON’ FOWLER, SR., ‘SONNY’ TAYLOR, BETTINA ‘TINA’ LOOPER, THELMA MERRITT BRIDGES, CLYDE ROBERT ‘BOB’ ELLISON, JR., JERRY B. JOHNSON, ALVIN LOLLIS, VERENDA RAGSDALE LONG, ROOSEVELT THOMPSON, EUNICE ALMOND, DOUG FORD, DARLENE POWELL, MARIA WOLF SOUTHARD, PASTOR JAMES (JIM) MATTISON
Dr. Keith L. Cole
Williamston – Dr. Keith Lamar Cole, 63, of 99-A Pelzer Avenue, widower of Dr. Doris Daniel Cole, died Wednesday, November 13, 2013 at NHC Healthcare of Anderson.
Born in Pelzer, he was a son of Roy Lee Cole, of West Pelzer, and the late Geneva Pressley Cole.
He earned his Bachelor of Science and Doctorate of Pharmacy at the University of South Carolina. Dr. Cole was a retired pharmacist and former owner of Cole’s Family Pharmacy in Williamston and Pelzer and he served as past President of the South Carolina Pharmaceutical Association. He was active in his community as a member of the Williamston Sertoma Club and was also active in the Greater Williamston Business Association. He and his wife, Doris, started and first chaired the Williamston Spring Water Festival. Dr. Cole was a member of Calvary Baptist Church in Williamston where he served as a deacon.
He is survived by his father, Roy Lee Cole and his wife, Mary, of West Pelzer; daughter, Dr. Cayce Cole Tangeman, her husband Craig, and granddaughter, Anna Leigh Tangeman, of Charleston; and brothers, Tim Cole and his wife, Julie, Greg Cole and his wife, Sherri, all of Williamston, and Sam Cole and his wife, Tonya, of Inman.
Visitation will be held from 6-8 p.m. Friday, November 15, 2013 at Gray Mortuary, Pelzer. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, November 16, 2013 at the funeral home chapel with Mr. G. Lee Cole, Jr. officiating. Burial will be private.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to the MUSC Foundation with a request that contributions be designated to the Carroll A. Campbell, Jr. Neuropathology Lab, 173 Ashley Avenue, MSC 510, Charleston, SC 29425, or to the Pelzer/Williamston Presbyterian Food Bank, P. O. Box 38, Williamston, SC 29697.
Condolences: www.graymortuary.com
FRANKLIN G. RAGSDALE
Franklin G. Ragsdale, 87, widower of Helen H. Ragsdale, died Tuesday, November 5, 2013.
He was a son of the late Joe and Rossie Felker Ragsdale and was a veteran of the U. S. Army. He was retired from JP Stevens Dunean Plant.
Surviving are his children, Frankie Loukides of the home; Sam of Piedmont, Andy of Easley; five grandchildren; four great-grandchildrn; a brother, Joe, Jr.; and a sister, Evelyn White.
Graveside services were held Friday, Nov. 8 at Woodlawn Memorial Park.
CLYDE DONALD ‘DON’ FOWLER, SR.
Clyde Donald “Don” Fowler, Sr., 85, husband of Frances Burton Fowler of Belton, died Tuesday, November 5, 2013 at Hospice of the Upstate.
Born in Greenville County, he was the son of the late Fannie Mae Fowler. He was a member of Williamston Pentecostal Holiness Church.
Surviving in addition to his wife of the home are; sons, Robert “Bob” Fowler of Danville, VA, Clyde Donald “Donnie” Fowler, Jr. of Piedmont, Ernie Fowler of Myrtle Beach, Bill Weathers of Travelers Rest, Tim Howard of Leonard, TX; daughters, Julie Fowler of Winston Salem, Tara Smith of Pelzer, Barbara Haselden of Belton, Cheryl Fowler of Danville, VA, Vickie Fullbright of Belton; 20 grandchildren; and 24 great-grandchildren.
He was predeceased by his first wife, Ruth Fowler, and second wife, Ila Mae Martin Fowler.
Funeral service was held Friday at Cox Funeral Home Chapel. Burial followed at Garden of Memories.
Memorials may be made to Hospice of the Upstate.
‘SONNY’ TAYLOR
William Carl “Sonny” Taylor, II, 69, of Williamston, died Wednesday, November 6, 2013 at his home.
Born in Greenville County, he was a son of the late William Carl Taylor and Agnes Whitsel Sorgee. He was employed with Clarkston Industrial and attended Pleasant Grove Baptist Church, Fountain Inn.
Surviving are children, Lisa Skeckels, Troy Taylor, Kevin Simmerman, Angela Loe; four grandchildren; brother, Steve Sorgee; sister, Peggy Cisson.
The funeral service was held Saturday at Pleasant Grove Baptist Church. Burial followed at Greenville Memorial Gardens.
Memorials may be made to Pleasant Grove Baptist Church, 1279 Frontage Rd., Fountain Inn, SC 29644.
BETTINA ‘TINA’ LOOPER
PELZER – Bettina “Tina” Jo Revis Looper, 75, of 316 Looper Road, widow of Lt. Col. William Randolph Looper, U. S. Army, Ret., died Saturday, November 9, 2013 at her home.
Born in Pelzer, she was a daughter of the late Frank and Olee Cooley Revis. She retired from Sun Trust Bank in Williamston and was a member of Augusta Heights Baptist Church.
Surviving are sons and daughters-in-law, Joel Randolph and Teri S. Looper, of Jacksonville, FL, and William Keith and Andra W. Looper, of Pelzer; twin sister, Patricia “Trish” Peden, of Pelzer; five grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
She was predeceased by two brothers.
Visitation was 6-9 p.m. Tuesday, November 12, 2013 at Gray Mortuary, Pelzer. A graveside service was held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, November 13, 2013 at the New Hope Baptist Church Cemetery in Pelzer.
The family is at the home.
Memorials may be made to Augusta Heights Baptist Church, 3018 Augusta Street, Greenville, SC 29605.
Condolences: www.graymortuary.com
THELMA MERRITT BRIDGES
Thelma Merritt Bridges died Friday, November 8, 2013.
Born in Powdersville, she was the daughter of the late Lawrence and Mellie Merritt. She was predeceased by her first husband Harry Turner, and her second husband, Samuel James Bridges.
Surviving are daughters, Cheryl Bridges Johns, Glenda Bridges, Ruth Bridges Mycko; seven grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.
Funeral service was held Sunday, November 10 at the Carpenter’s House International Pentecostal Holiness Church, 3213 River Road, Piedmont. Interment followed at the Cooper-McNeely Cemetery.
CLYDE ROBERT ‘BOB’ ELLISON, JR.
Bob Ellison, 76, of Williamston, husband of Mary Ellison, died Monday, November 4, 2013.
Born in Williamston, he was the son of the late Clyde Robert Ellison, Sr. and Ruth Ferguson Ellison.
Surviving are sons, Clay Ellison, Allan Ellison; daughter, Julie Norton; daughters-in-law, Lyn Ellison, Tina Ellison; one son-in-law, Billy Norton, all of Williamston and Pelzer; nine grandchildren; three stepgrandchildren; and nine stepgreat-grandchildren.
A private memorial service was held.
JERRY B. JOHNSON
Jerry B. Johnson, 84, of Greenville, husband of Ruth Henslee, died Friday, November 8, 2013.
Born in Birmingham, AL, he was a son of the late George E. and Lillie Mae Buchanan Johnson.
He was co-owner and retired from Johnson Plumbing. He was a member of West Gantt First Baptist Church.
Surviving in addition to his wife, are two sons, G. Wayne Johnson of Powdersville and Timothy B. Johnson of Greenville; five grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.
Funeral service was held Monday, November 11 at West Gantt First Baptist Church. Burial followed in Greenville Memorial Gardens.
Memorials may be made to Interim Hospice, 16 Hyland Rd., Greenville, SC 29615.
ALVIN LOLLIS
Alvin Gower Lollis, 94, of Piedmont, husband of Addie Lee Morton Lollis, died Monday, November 11, 2013 at McCall Hospice House.
Born in Fountain Inn, he was a son of the late Lonnie Gower and Sallie Elliott Owens Lollis.
He was retired from the U.S. Postal Service and member of Grove Station Baptist Church. He was a U.S. Army WWII veteran.
Surviving in addition to his wife of the home are daughters, Dianne Wilkie and Dot Evans; son, Alvin Lollis, Jr. all of Piedmont; three grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; two great-great grandchildren.
Visitation will be from 6:00 – 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at Gray Mortuary, Pelzer.
The funeral will be at 3:00 p.m. Thursday at Grove Station Baptist Church. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
Memorials may be made to Grove Station Baptist Church, 640 Piedmont Hwy, Piedmont, SC 29673.
VERENDA RAGSDALE LONG
Verenda Ragsdale Long, 86, formerly of Piedmont, wife of the late Marvin Wilton “Cotton” Long, died Monday, November 11, 2013 at McCall Hospice House.
Born in Greenville County, she was a daughter of the late Charles and Essie Orr Ragsdale.
She was a homemaker and a member of Mt. Airy Baptist Church.
Surviving are her children, Vickie Kerr, Gerald Long, Derrell Long, and Chris Long; brother, Welton Ragsdale; sister, Roberta Looper; seven grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were held Wednesday at Mt. Airy Baptist Church. Burial followed in the church cemetery.
Memorials may be made to Mt. Airy Baptist Church Building Fund, 210 Mt. Airy Church Road, Easley, SC 29642.
ROOSEVELT THOMPSON
Roosevelt Thompson, 79, founder and owner of The Unity Mortuary of Williamston and Anderson died Saturday, November 9, 2013.
He will lie in state on Wednesday, Nov. 13 from 7 a.m. – 11 p.m. and Thursday, Nov. 14 at the Williamston location. The body will be placed in church on Thursday at 2 p.m. The funeral service will be held at 3 p.m. at the New Prospect Missionary Baptist Church, 619 Greenville St., Williamston. Interment will follow in the church cemetery.
The family is at 604 Tillotson Rd., Anderson.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Thompson Scholarship Fund.
Please make checks payable to the Roosevelt and Dorothy Bell Thompson Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 473, Anderson, SC 29622.
EUNICE ALMOND
Eunice Marie Sampson Almond, 71, of Belton, widow of Roy Lee Almond, died Monday, November 11, 2013 at AnMed Health Medical Center.
Born in Virginia, she was a daughter of Charlotte Sampson Wise of Pamplico, and the late Cecil Lewis Reed. She was a homemaker and a member of Barker’s Creek Baptist Church in Honea Path.
In addition to her mother, she is survived by sons, Arnold Almond of Dawsonville, GA, and Richard Almond of Hartwell, GA; brother, Fred Wise of Pamplico; sister, Marion Singletary of Scranton; four grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be held from 11 a.m. until noon Friday, November 15, 2013, at the Greenville Memorial Gardens mausoleum chapel with the funeral service following at noon.
Family members are at their respective homes.
DOUG FORD
PELZER – Douglas Edward Ford, 59, of 203 Muth Ave., husband of Melanie Lorraine Capps Ford, died Monday, November 11, 2013 at AnMed Health.
Born in Belton, he was a son of Dewey Ashley Ford of Belton and the late Betty Thompson Ford. He was President of Apex Textilgraphics, coached Little League sports, a member of Flat Rock Baptist Church, an ordained deacon, and a proud Pop.
Surviving in addition to his wife of the home are sons, Tyler Ford (Rachel Reynolds) of Anderson, Chase Ford (Amber) of Williamston, Cameron Ford (Samantha Brown) of Winston-Salem, NC; grandchildren, Levi, Holland and Luke Ford; brothers, Wayne Ford of Athens, GA and Ted Ford of Belton; fourteen nieces and nephews.
A committal service will be held Thursday morning at Greenville Memorial Gardens.
A memorial service will follow at 2 pm at Flat Rock Baptist Church in Liberty with visitation following.
Memorials may be made to the Cheddar Youth Association, c/o 317 Azalea Court, Williamston, SC 29697 or to Flat Rock Baptist Church Chest of Joash, 115 Slab Bridge Rd., Liberty, SC 29657.
Gray Mortuary, Pelzer is assisting the family.
Condolences: www.graymortuary.com
DARLENE POWELL
Dorothy Darlene Shaw Powell, 54, of Williamston, died Sunday, November 10, 2013 at her home. She was a widow of Michael Jerome Powell, of Pelzer, and of Timothy Allen, who passed away November 5, 2013.
Born in Anderson County, she was a daughter of the late John Willie Shaw and Carolyn Josephine Jordan Mathews. She was twice married, first to the late Michael Jerome Powell. She was a homemaker and a member of Restoration Chapel in Williamston.
Surviving are daughter, Sonya Powell of the home; brother, Johnny Shaw of Belton; sisters, Michele Cash and Kathy Eddleman, both of Williamston.
A memorial service was held Wednesday, November 13 at the chapel of Gray Mortuary, Pelzer.
The family is at the home.
Memorials may be made to Sonya Powell, 1009 Pine Street, Piedmont, SC 29673.
MARIA WOLF SOUTHARD
Maria Wolf Southard, 74, of Pelzer, wife of Alan John Southard, died Sunday, November 10, 2013 at their home.
Born in Suhopolje, Yugoslavia, she was a daughter of the late Juliana Kovoc Wolf and George Wolf. She was retired from St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church and was a member of Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Church.
Surviving in addition to her husband are one daughter, Monique Strange of Landrum; one son, John Southard of Mauldin; two brothers, Andreas Wolf of Waukesha, WI, and Karl Wolf of Madison, AL; sister, Trudy Wolf of Phoenix, AZ; one granddaughter; and one step-grandson.
Funeral services will be held Thursday, Nov. 14 at Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Church. The family will receive friends from 10:30 – 11 a.m. with the mass to follow at 11 a.m. Entombment will be private at the MJ Dolly Cooper Veterans Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to the OLR Building Fund, 3710 Augusta Rd., Greenville, SC 29604.
