HERMAN COOLEY, RACHEL TODD, MAJOR WILLIAM LEE BLACK, SR., EDNA HENDERSON, LETA MAE TANNER POSTON, STEPHEN PITTS, DOYLE GAMBRELL, RAY SEAWRIGHT, THOMAS WILLIAMS
HERMAN COOLEY
Herman H. Cooley, 95, of Pelzer, widower of Edith Gaillard Cooley and Evelyn Lollis Cooley, died February 25, 2014.
Born in Greenville County, he was a son of the late James Enoch and Venie Estelle Cothran Cooley. He was a U.S. veteran of World War II. He retired from GE and was a member of Daventon Baptist Church, Pelzer.
Surviving are sons, Gary Cooley of Williamston and Harold Cooley of Belton; daughter, Ann Deaton of Townville; step-daughter, Jane Ragsdale of Liberty; brothers, James and Billy Cooley; sisters, Zella Moody, Polly Stone, Nan Shubert and Ruth Warlick; six grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.
Funeral service was held Friday, February 28 at Beech Springs Tabernacle. Burial followed at the church cemetery.
Memorials may be made to Rainey Hospice House, 1835 Rogers Road, Anderson, SC 29621.
RACHEL TODD
Rachel Blankenship Todd, 62, of Pelzer, wife of Roger Dale Todd, died February 24, 2014.
She was a daughter of the late James and Loma Fowler Blankenship.
Surviving are daughter, Jessica Baglen of Belton; son, Travis Todd of the home; twelve grandchildren; two brothers, James “Jimmy” Blankenship, Jr. of Ft. Inn; Dewey “Bud” Blankenship of Pelzer; sisters, Teresa Howingon of Belton, Anita Duncan of Pelzer.
A graveside service was held on Thursday, February 27 at Greenville Memorial Gardens.
MAJOR WILLIAM LEE BLACK, SR.
GREENVILLE – Major William Lee Black, Sr., 84, of Inverness Court, husband of Faye Sanders Black, died February 26, 2014.
Born in Williamston, he was a son of the late Hewlett Doris and Nora Mae Martin Black. He was a retired Major with the U. S. Army following twenty-five years of service. Mr. Black was also a retired district manager with Liberty Life Ins. Co. and a member of First Baptist Church, Williamston.
Bill was an avid fisherman and enjoyed camping with Faye and his beloved dog, Ben at Bobby Brown State Park.
Surviving are sons, William Lee Black, Jr. of Greenville, David Charles Black (Jennifer) of Atlanta, GA; grandchildren, Jennifer Leigh Crain and fiance, Will McDavid, Alyssa Kay Black, Thomas Gibson Black, David Carson Black, Sanders McKeithen; numerous nieces and nephews.
He was predeceased by a brother, Jack Martin Black and a sister, Teresa Ann Black Chandler.
Visitation was held from 1 – 2 p.m. Sunday at Gray Mortuary Chapel.
The funeral service followed at 2 p.m. in the funeral home chapel. Burial was held at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Anderson.
Memorials may be made to McCall Hospice House, 1836 West Georgia Rd., Simpsonville, SC 29680.
Condolences: www.graymortuary.com
EDNA HENDERSON
Edna Kelly Henderson, 86, of Pelzer, widow of Ralph Seawright Henderson, died Thursday, February 27, 2014 at Hosanna Health and Rehab of Piedmont.
Surviving are son, Eddie R. Henderson, of Thomasville, NC; brothers, Gerald, John Earl, Ray and Kenneth Lusk, all of Pelzer; sisters, Lucille Rhodes, of Williamston, and Betty McQueen, of Liberty; one grandchild; and two great-grandchildren.
Funeral service was held Monday, March 3 in the Chapel of Gray Mortuary, Pelzer. Burial followed at Beech Springs Cemetery.
LETA MAE TANNER POSTON
Leta Mae Tanner Poston, 85, of Piedmont, died Wednesday, February 26, 2014.
Born in Williamsburg County, she was born to Annie Poston Tanner and William E. Mott Tanner of Hemingway.
She was a homemaker.
Surviving are her husband, Paul Poston of Piedmont; two sons, Wayne of Raleigh, NC, and Stanley of Fairfax, VA; daughter, Anne Cook of Marietta, GA; one sister, Betty Gosnell of Spartanburg; four grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
Funeral service was held Sunday, March 2 at Buncombe Street United Methodist Church. Interment followed on March 3 at Trinity United Methodist Church in Johnsonville.
Memorials may be made to Buncombe Street United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 1988, Greenville, SC 29602.
STEPHEN PITTS
Stephen Kelly Pitts of Pelzer, died February 27, 2014.
Born in Durham, NC, he was a son of Earl Haskel and Gloria Burton Pitts of Pelzer.
He was formerly employed by Greenville Technical College.
In addition to his parents, he is survived by sisters, Debbie Moorer of Williamston, Earline Cox of Piedmont, and Joye Edmonds of Greenville; and brother, Danny Pitts of the home.
Funeral service was held Monday, March 3 at Washington Baptist Church Family Life Center. Burial followed in the church cemetery.
Memorials may be made to Washington Baptist Church, Nehemiah’s Wall, 208 Washington Church Rd., Pelzer, SC 29669.
DOYLE GAMBRELL
Doyle Alvin Gambrell, 84, of Pelzer, husband of Carolyn Caldwell Gambrell, died March 1, 2014.
Born in Piedmont, he was a son of the late Carl Edwin, Sr. and Eunice Woodward Gambrell.
He retired from J.P. Stevens, was a member of Oak Grove Baptist Church, and was a U.S. Navy veteran.
Surviving in addition to his wife are sons, Kerry Gambrell of Liberty, Barry Gambrell of Piedmont, Mike Gambrell of Easley; daughters, Kathy Gambrell Hooper of Pelzer, Denise Wynn of Pelzer; 12 grandchildren; ten great-grandchildren; and brother, Donald Gambrell of Piedmont.
Funeral service was held Tuesday, March 4 at Oak Grove Baptist Church. Burial followed at M.J. “Dolly” Cooper Veterans Cemetery.
RAY SEAWRIGHT
Donald Ray Seawright, 68, of Pelzer, widower of Sara Rebecca Spearman Seawright, died Saturday, March 1, 2014.
Born in Greenville County, he was the son of the late James Newton and Thelma Lee McCall Seawright.
He was retired from Kemet Electronics, a veteran of the U.S. Navy, and a member of Piedmont Church of God of Prophecy.
Surviving are daughter, Jeanne Allen of Easley; two grandchildren; sisters, Carolyn Bruce, Jeanette Pinion, Joan Durham, all of Piedmont.
Funeral service was held Tuesday, March 4 in the Chapel of Gray Mortuary, Pelzer. Burial followed at Greenville Memorial Gardens.
Memorials may be made to Anderson County Meals on Wheels, P.O. Box 285, Anderson, SC 29622.
THOMAS WILLIAMS
BELTON – Thomas Guyton Williams, 89, of 1004 Breazeale Road, widower of Lila Hiott Williams, died February 28, 2014.
Born in Anderson, he was a son of the late Thomas Jones and Minnie Elizabeth Dill Williams. He was retired from Kanawha Insurance Co. and was a WWII veteran of the U.S. Army. Mr. Williams was also a member of Whitefield Baptist Church and held a lifelong love for Blue Grass music, having played in various bands.
Surviving are daughter, Jane Wilson Penick (Bill) of Greenville; granddaughter, Robin Wilson Hendrix (Chris); great-grandchildren, Meghan Hendrix and Audrey Hendrix; numerous loving nieces and nephews.
He was predeceased by son-in-law, Donnie Wilson and siblings, Barney Williams, John Lewis Williams,Daris Williams, Lois Deal, Kathleen Clardy, Carolee Kinard.
Visitation was held from 1:30 – 3:00 p.m. Monday, March 3, 2014 at Whitefield Baptist Church.
The funeral service followed at 3:00 p.m. at the church with burial in the church cemetery.
The family is at the home.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Francis Hospital Foundation, 1 St. Francis Drive, Greenville, SC 29601.
Gray Mortuary, Pelzer is assisting the family.
Condolences: www.graymortuary.com
