Obituaries Week of January 13, 2016

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THE HONORABLE SENATOR WILLIAM O’DELL, RONNIE DAVIS, DONNA BAXTER, MART LEON COLE, JEFFREY SMITH, JOSEPH WENDAL COLEMAN, MARY ANN GREGORY, MARGARET TRIPP GILLIAM, MARGARET TRIPP GILLIAM

THE HONORABLE SENATOR WILLIAM O’DELL

The Honorable Senator William Hamilton “Billy” O’Dell, of Greenwood, died on January 7th, 2016. Funeral services were conducted at 2:30 Monday, January 11, 2016, from the First Presbyterian Church in Greenwood. Private burial was in Oakbrook Memorial Park.

Senator William Hamilton “Billy” O’Dell, was born on October 11, 1938 in Ware Shoals, South Carolina. He was the beloved only child of the late William Benjamin and Sara Francis O’Dell of Ware Shoals, South Carolina. He was educated in the Ware Shoals public school system and Camden Military Academy in Camden, South Carolina. Billy went on to receive a BA from The Citadel in 1960.

He returned to Ware Shoals to help restore the family business, O’Dell Mop and Broom, when his father’s health started to fail. He met and married Gayle Tisdale O’Dell in 1965 and shared 50 loving years together. Through their partnership, Billy became a loving father of two children, Papa to three grandchildren, a successful CEO of O’Dell Corporation, and honored public servant.

He held multiple positions that encouraged educational and community development, served in the South Carolina National Guard, served on countless boards, and was elected consecutively for 27 year tenure in the South Carolina State Senate. Billy became an unforgettable and integral part of his local community, the districts he represented and the entire state of South Carolina. During his lifetime, Billy O’Dell positively impacted the lives of everyone around him. He was the center of his family. The steadfast rock on which his business partners, constituents, friends and family could rely on.

Though he did not seek recognition, his service and commitment to his district was recognized and honored with multiple civic and state awards. He held honorary doctorates from The Citadel, Medical University of South Carolina, and Lander University.

He will be mourned and missed by many but those most precious to him left to cherish his memory, are his wife, Gayle Tisdale O’Dell, his two children, William B “Chip” O’Dell II and Michelle O’Dell Foster and his three grandchildren, Hannah Abigail Harrison, William Ridge “Will” O’Dell and Lara Elizabeth O’Dell.

With great breadth and magnitude he touched the life of the state of South Carolina. His core values, his dedication to public service and his generous spirit, taught us all to Stand Tall.

Funeral services were conducted January 11, from the First Presbyterian Church in Greenwood. Private burial were in Oakbrook Memorial Park.

Pallbearers were members of the Greenwood County Sheriff’s Department Honor Guard and the South Carolina National Guard.

Honorary escort were Ward Russell Burns, Donald Haskell Jackson, Donny H. Burkett, Augustus Paul O’Dell, Ben Warner Legare, Jr., William E. Gilmer, John Calvin Calhoun, Jr., James Edward Creech, Allen Alexander Geiger, Jr along with active members of the South Carolina State Senate.

The family received friends at Blyth Funeral Home Sunday afternoon.

Memorials may be made to Gesthsemane Church, Attn: Donna Young, 104 Burns Bridge Road, Ware Shoals, South Carolina, 29692, or to the Wounded Warrior Project, PO Box 758517, Topeka, Kansas, 66675, www.woundedwarriorproject.org, in Memory of William “Billy” O’Dell.

RONNIE DAVIS

Ronnie Lee Davis, 62, of Pelzer, died Tuesday, January 5, 2016.

Born in Williamston, he was a son of the late Grady William and Ruth Davenport Davis.

He is survived by brothers, Grady Davis of Piedmont, Jack and James Davis, both of Pelzer.

Funeral service was held Friday, January 8 in the chapel  of Gray Mortuary, Pelzer. Burial followed in White Plains Baptist Church Cemetery.

DONNA BAXTER

Donna Darlene Suttles Baxter, 57, of Greenville, wife of Robert J. Baxter, Jr., died Saturday, January 9, 2016.

Born in Greenville County, she was a daughter of Morrell Edward and Mary Frances Owens Suttles of Greenville. She was a member of Tanglewood Baptist Church, Greenville.

Additional survivors include, sister, Diane Stewart of West Pelzer; brothers, Tracy Murray Suttles of Piedmont, and Tommy Edward Suttles of West Pelzer.

Memorial services will be held at a later date.

MART LEON COLE

Mart Leon Cole, 76, of Pelzer, died Wednesday, January 6, 2016.

He is survived by his wife, Shirley Cole; son, Tony Cole of Piedmont; daughters, Tina Kirby of Liberty and Tamra Tucker of Laurens; eight grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.

Graveside service was held Saturday, January 9 at Greenville Memorial Gardens.

JEFFREY SMITH

Services for Jeffrey Smith, of Williamston, were held Saturday, January 9 at The Unity Mortuary Chapel, Williamston. Interment followed at New Prospect Baptist Church Cemetery.

He is survived by his parents, Bobby James and Mamie Jo Smith of Williamston; two daughters, Brandi Martin and Brittany Garrison; and two grandchildren.

JOSEPH WENDAL COLEMAN

Joseph Wendal Coleman, 75, of Anderson, died Sunday, January 10, 2016 at the Rainey Hospice House.

Born in Dublin, GA, he was the son of the late Jay Joseph Coleman and the late Murell Watson Coleman.

He was a U.S. Air Force Veteran and retired from G.E.

He is survived by his wife, Lora Lark Coleman; sons, Joseph Mitchell Coleman of Dublin, GA, and Terry Mitchell of Anderson; daughters, Patsy Mitchell of Anderson, Margie Smith of Piedmont; brother, James Ralph Coleman of Biloxi, MS; six grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

Funeral service will be held Thursday, January 14 at 2 p.m. in the Chapel of The McDougald Funeral Home. Interment will follow at M.J. Dolly Cooper Veterans Cemetery.

The family will be at the residence and will receive friends at the funeral home on Thursday, prior to the service from 12:30 p.m. until 1:30 p.m.

Flowers will be accepted or memorials may be made to Hospice of the Upstate, 1835 Rogers Road, Anderson, SC 29621.

MARY ANN GREGORY

Mary Ann Gregory, 95, of Greenville, widow of Leroy Gregory, died Thursday, January 7, 2015.

Born in Williamston, she was the daughter of the late William Robert and Madge Roach Hudgens.

Surviving is son, David Earl Gregory.

Visitation will be held Thursday, January 14 from 11 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. at Calvary First Baptist Church. Funeral service will follow at 12 noon at the church.

MARGARET TRIPP GILLIAM

Margaret Tripp Gilliam, 89, of Greenville, widow of James Alfred Gilliam, died Monday, January 11, 2016 at Patewood Rehabilitation & Healthcare Center in Greenville.

Born in Greenville, she was the daughter of the late Marvin Hodge Tripp and the late Gladys Burns Tripp.

She was a homemaker.

Surviving are a daughter, Rita Polzin of Lexington, KY; son, Ray Gilliam of Piedmont; a brother, William H. Tripp of Greenville; seven grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be held Thursday, January 14 from 11 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. at Thomas McAfee Funeral Home, Downtown. Funeral service will follow at 1:30 p.m. in the downtown chapel. Burial will be in Antioch Christian Church Cemetery, Fork Shoals Road, Greenville.

Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, Upstate SC Chapter, 301 University Ridge, Suite 5000, Greenville, SC 29601.

MARY BRADLEY COBB

Mary Bradley Cobb, 94, of Greenville, widow of Andy Cobb, died Thursday, January 7, 2016.

Born in Greenville County, she was the daughter of the late Arthur and Florence Campbell Bradley.

She was owner of Welcome Styling Salon and a member of Welcome Baptist Church.

Surviving are daughter, Patti Rice of Piedmont; son, Randy of Easley; and two grandchildren.

Graveside service was held Sunday, January 10 at Woodlawn Memorial Park.

Memorials may be made to the charity of one’s choice.