KATIE COWART VAUGHN, YOLANDA ‘YOYO’ WILSON, WILLIE BROWN, RUBY PAYNE LAWRENCE, BRENDA PENDERGAST, RUBY CARTER, M.J. ‘BUCK’ HOOPER, CHRISTINE MURRELL, LOUIS EDWIN MARTIN, JAMES R. PONDER
KATIE COWART VAUGHN
FOUNTAIN INN – Katie Jean Cowart Vaughn, 79, wife of the late Thomas C. “T.C.” Vaughn, passed away Sunday, March 19, 2017.
Born in Piedmont, she was a daughter of the late Edgar Lewis “Edd” Cowart, Sr. and Mary Ethel King Cowart. A graduate of Piedmont High School, she retired as assistant to the director from Holmesview Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation Center and was a member of Pelzer Church of God.
Katie enjoyed life to the fullest. She was a modern-day superhero who didn’t let two serious strokes many years ago stop her from traveling, shopping and spending time with the people she loved. Katie was a dedicated and loving wife, mother and grandmother. She sacrificed greatly to make sure her family had the best. To her daughter, she was her best friend and biggest fan, her son-in-law was her son, her granddaughters declared her the “Super Granny” of all times.
This past year she fought a brave battle with liver cancer. Yet, she still traveled one last time to her favorite places: Pigeon Forge, TN, Myrtle Beach, Walt Disney World, Universal Studios and of course enjoyed lots of shopping. Jesus Christ and her family were the center of her heart. To honor Katie’s life, remember her with a smile, hug the people you love and enjoy a short Coke in a bottle and your favorite Little Debbie cake.
She is survived by daughter, Nanci Cowart Weeks (Larry) of Fountain Inn; sister, Evelyn Cowart Roper (Donald) of Piedmont; brothers, Edgar “Brudge” Lewis Cowart Jr. (Shirley) and Douglas “Doug” Wesley Cowart (Pat), all of Piedmont; granddaughters, Katie-Laken Weeks and Kylie Jade Weeks of the home; nieces, Donna Kaye Roper, Sheryl Cowart Moss (Eric), Robin Cowart Jones, Lisa Cowart Cason (Andy) and Mistie Renee Cowart; great-niece, Breanne Babb Anderson (Blake); great-nephews, Brodie Babb (Vanessa) and Blaine Babb (Cara); ten great-great-nieces and nephews; special best friends, Nancy Jean Teague, Anne “Lib” Pack and Linda Thompson.
Visitation will be from 7:00 to 8:30 pm Thursday, March 23, at Gray Mortuary, Pelzer.
The funeral service will be held at 11:00 am on Friday, March 24, at Pelzer Church of God conducted by Rev. Jonathan Hodges and Dr. Thomas DeVenny. Burial will be at Greenville Memorial Gardens.
Serving as pallbearers, Larry Weeks, Troy Bennett, David Bailey, Eric Moss, Dakota Reeves, Drew Martin, Micky Lockaby and Jeremy Lockaby.
Memorials may be made to Pelzer Church of God, Building Fund, P.O. Box 276, Pelzer, SC 29669 or American Stroke Association, 6405 Metcalf Ave., Ste. 214, Overland Park, KS 66202 or Cancer Society of Greenville, 113 Mills Ave., Greenville, SC 29605.
“It is not goodbye, but see you later, my sweet mama.”
Condolences: www.graymortuary.com
YOLANDA ‘YOYO’ WILSON
Yolanda “Yoyo” Mitchell Wilson, 52, of Pelzer, died Monday, March 20, 2017 at her home.
Born in Atlanta, GA, she was a daughter of Robert Mitchell and the late Frances JoAnn Blackwell Hudggins.
In addition to her father of Rome, GA, she is survived by sons, Jeremy Mitchell of Pelzer and Joseph Wilson of Anderson; companion, Mike Roberts of the home; sister, Sonia Tharp of Rome, GA; and two grandchildren.
Visitation will be held from 1 to 2 p.m. Thursday, March 23 at Gray Mortuary, Pelzer.
Funeral service will follow at 2 p.m. in the mortuary chapel. Burial will follow at Greenville Memorial Gardens.
The family is at the home.
WILLIE BROWN
PELZER—Willie Edwin Brown, 87, husband of the late Cinderella Dean Brown, passed away Friday, March 17, 2017 at his home.
Born in Laurens County, he was the son of the late Doctor Anthony and Mattie Bell Crook Brown. He was a U.S. Army Korean War Veteran and was retired from JP Stevens.
He is survived by daughter, Tammy Pridmore of Pelzer; granddaughter, Dawn Page; nephew, John Carl Thompson.
He was predeceased by siblings, Sis B. Bishop, Leon, Charlie, and June Brown.
A memorial service is planned for a later date.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Hospice of the Upstate, 1835 Rogers Rd., Anderson, SC 29621.
Gray Mortuary, Pelzer
Condolences:
www.graymortuary.com
RUBY PAYNE LAWRENCE
Ruby Payne Lawrence, 92, of Calhoun Falls, wife of the late Harold A. Lawrence, Sr., died Tuesday, March 14, 2017 at Self Regional Healthcare in Greenwood.
Born in Piedmont, she was daughter of the late John C. and Pauline Huff Payne.
She retired from First Citizens Bank and was a member of Calhoun Falls United Methodist Church.
She is survived by her five children; Rev. Harold A. Lawrence, Jr. of Milledgeville, GA, Donald E. Lawrence of Abbeville, John L. Lawrence of Iva, Teresa Thornton of Savannah, GA, and Cynthia L. Chihasz of Abbeville; 17 grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were held Friday in the sanctuary of Calhoun Falls United Methodist Church. Burial followed in Salem/Latimer Cemetery in Calhoun Falls.
Memorials may be made to Calhoun Falls United Methodist Church Building Fund, P.O. Box 603, Calhoun Falls, SC 29628.
BRENDA PENDERGAST
Brenda Marie Clark Pendergast, 55, of Williamston, died Friday, March 17, 2017.
Born in Olean, NY, she was a daughter of Ralph Carlton and Dorothy Jane Fichtner Clark. She was a U.S. Army veteran.
In addition to her parents of New York, she is survived by daughters, Megan Reveal of Williamston and Hillary Schurm of Columbia; one granddaughter; brothers, Cory Clark of Seattle WA and Craig Clark of Port Mill, NY.
A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. on Thursday, March 23, at Calvary Baptist Church.
RUBY CARTER
Ruby Dean Carter, 98, of Williamston, wife of Buford Ernest Carter, died Thursday, March 16, 2017.
She was the mother to sons, Jimmy L. Carter and Doug Carter, both of Williamston; daughters, Nettie Lou White of GA and Brenda Ferguson of Williamston.
She is also survived by nine grandchildren; ten great-grandchildren; two great-great grandchildren.
Funeral service was held Sunday, March 19, in the Chapel of Gray Mortuary, Pelzer.
Burial followed at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Anderson.
M.J. ‘BUCK’ HOOPER
Marlor John “Buck” Hooper, 76, of Anderson, died Monday, March 13, 2017 at the Medical University of South Carolina.
Born in Banks County, GA, he was the son of the late Thomas Edwin Hooper and the late Maggie Wood Hooper. He was the husband of Shearer “Jimmie” Williams Hooper, of the home.
He retired as a South Carolina State Trooper. He was a member of Temple Baptist Church in Anderson.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by a son, Mark Thomas Hooper of Rosendale, NY; two daughters, Terri Hooper Harbin of Anderson and Joy Hooper Sargent of Williamston; six grandchildren; and one brother, Don Hooper of Anderson.
Funeral service was held Saturday, March 18 at the Temple Baptist Church. Interment followed at Forest Lawn Memorial Park.
Memorials may be made to Charleston Hope Lodge, 269 Calhoun Street, Charleston, SC 29401.
CHRISTINE MURRELL
Christine Mason Murrell, 80, of Pelzer, wife of Willard H. Murrell, died Friday, March 17, 2017.
Born in Greenville County, she was a daughter of the late John Henson and Marie Howard Mason.
She was a homemaker and attended Washington Baptist Church.
In addition to her husband, she is survived by a son, Kelly Murrell; two daughters, Becky Thomason and Jeanie Sims; eight grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; a sister, Bertha Tinsley; and a brother, Buddy Mason.
Funeral service was held Monday, March 20 in the chapel of Thomas McAfee Funeral Home, Southeast. Burial followed in Greenville Memorial Gardens.
Memorials may be made to Open Arms Hospice, 1836 West Georgia Road, Simpsonville, SC 29680.
LOUIS EDWIN MARTIN
Louis Edwin Martin, 86, widower of Shirley P. Martin of Piedmont, died Tuesday, March 14, 2017.
Born in Jackson County, GA, he was the son of the late Beuford and Lucile Hardy Martin.
He served in the U.S. Army and Air Force and was a member of Tabernacle Baptist Church.
He is survived by one son, Bennie Martin; and five grandchildren.
Funeral service was held Monday, March 20 in the chapel of Thomas McAfee Funeral Home, Northwest. Burial followed in Graceland Cemetery, West.
JAMES R. PONDER
James Robert Ponder, 86, widower of Ann Taylor Ponder, died March 18, 2017.
Born in Greenville County, son of the late Fred and Pearl Campbell Ponder, he was a retired supervisor of Springs Industries, Lyman, and a member of Fairview Baptist Church.
He was a U.S. Army Veteran of the Korean War.
Surviving are two daughters, Carol Abercrombie Strom of Piedmont and Rachel Elaine Field of Greer; one son, Jay Ponder of Campobello; five grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.
Graveside service was held Wednesday, March 22 at Fairview Baptist Church cemetery with military honors.
Memorials may be made to Greer Community Ministries, P.O. Box 1373, Greer, SC 29652.
