Obituaries Week of Aug. 28, 2013

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JEANETTE CANTRELL, SHERRIE DENISE  CAMPBELL, REV. RALPH W. PITTS, BRADLEY E. WOOTEN ‘4X’, TOMMY GARDO, FLEET BANISTER, VIRGINIA SKELTON MURPHY,  MARK AUSTIN, CHARLES HAYWARD HOLLIDAY, VIRGINIA ‘GINNIE’ GILLESPIE CLAREY,  RUTH WHITE, LARRY A. KERR, FELTON WILSON, JESSE MANERS,  BOBBIE NELL BLACK, ELIZABETH DILLING WELCH

JEANETTE CANTRELL
Doris Jeanette Gardner Cantrell, 76, of Belton, died Monday, August 19, 2013 at Rainey Hospice House.
Born in Cowpens, she was the daughter of the late James Cleo Gardner and the late Ethel Revels Gardner.
She retired from Hamrick’s in Gaffney and was a member of Neals Creek Baptist Church.
Surviving are her husband, William L. Cantrell of Belton; three sons, David Cantrell of Weddington, NC, Jay Cantrell of Greensboro, NC, and Chris Cantrell of Greenville; daughter, Sheila Cantrell Branyon of Williamston; sister, Peggy Aldridge of Gaffney; and four grandchildren.
A funeral service was held Fri., Aug. 23 at Neals Creek Baptist Church. Interment followed at M.J. “Dolly” Cooper Veterans Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to Hospice of the Upstate, 1835 Rogers Road, Anderson, SC 29621.

SHERRIE DENISE  CAMPBELL
Sherrie Denise Campbell, 49 of Piedmont, died Tuesday, August 20, 2013.
Born in Greenville, she was a daughter of Dewey and Wanda Cagle Campbell.
She was of the Baptist faith.
Surviving in addition to her parents are, daughter, Lauren Campbell; two sisters, Kaye Evatt and Lynn Bayne; and a brother, Buddy Campbell.
Funeral service was held Friday, August 23 at Mountain View Memorial Park.

REV. RALPH W. PITTS
Rev. Ralph W. Pitts, 86, of Belton, died Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2013 at Rainey Hospice House.
Born in Easley, he was the son of the late William Z. Pitts and the late Viola Hinton Pitts.
He was a minister with the Church of God and was first married to the late Willa Mae Watson Pitts.
He was a veteran of the U.S. Army.
He is survived by his second wife, Ollie Hogg Pitts, of the home; three sons, Rev. Winfred Pitts of Blairsville, GA, Rev. Leland Pitts of Iva, and Dale S. Pitts of Williamston; daughter, Janice Barrett of Starr; step-son, Richard Hogg of Anderson; two step daughters, Lynn Lloyd of Belton and Rhonda Haskins of Anderson; brother, Rev. John Pitts of Greer; five sisters, Rachel Neal of Pelham, Marilyn Cooper, Helen Hendrix, Bertha McCall, all of Pickens; and Jennie Phillips of Easley; 16 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.
Funeral service was held Friday, Aug. 23 in the chapel of The McDougald Funeral Home. Interment followed at Foreset Lawn Memorial Park.
Memorials may be made to the Belton Church of God, 313 N. Main St., Belton, SC 29627.

BRADLEY E. WOOTEN ‘4X’
Bradley E. Wooten “4X”, husband of Shirley ‘Missy’ Wooten, died Monday, August 19, 2013.
He was a son of Nancy Wooten and the late Broadus E. “Gene” Wooten. He was employed at Century Plastics.
Surviving in addition to his wife are his sister, Tina Morgan of Belton; his wife’s daughter, Brandie Ables of Piedmont; his mother’s husband, Wayne F. Smith of Greenville.
A private service will be held at a later date.

TOMMY GARDO
Tommy Wayne Gardo, 72, husband of Rebecca Cope “Becky” Gardo, died Monday, August 19, 2013 at Baptist Easley.
He was born in Pickens County to the late Bob and Beatrice Marchbanks Gardo.  He retired from Alice Manufacturing, Ellison Plant.
He was a member of Jones Avenue Baptist Church.
Surviving in addition to his wife are a son, Dennis Gardo of Easley; daughter, Nikki Diaz of Easley; two brothers, Bud Gardo of Pelzer and Jerry Gardo of Easley; two sisters, Sarah Turner of Pickens and Linda Garrison of Easley; and four granddaughters.
Funeral services were held Friday, August 23 at Jones Avenue Baptist Church. Burial followed at Greenlawn Memorial Park.

FLEET BANISTER
PIEDMONT – William Fleetwood “Fleet” Banister, 86, of 24 Piedmont Avenue, widower of Mary Smith Banister and predeceased by a son, Joseph Thomas “Joe” Banister, died Wednesday, August 21, 2013 at NHC Healthcare of Mauldin.
He is survived by a son, William Alvin “Al” Banister, of Greenville; a granddaughter, Jodi Marie Hedden; and two great-grandsons.
Fleet was well known for being a loving and caring family man who never met a stranger. He will be missed by all.
Born August 30, 1926, he was the son of the late Ruben and Annie Mae Thomas Banister. A World War II veteran of the U. S. Army, he retired from the Life Insurance Company of Virginia after 38 years of service. He won numerous awards and was known as “everybody’s insurance man.”
Fleet was the last surviving charter member of the Piedmont Lions Club, having joined in May of 1952. He served as the club’s third president from 1953-1954, served as vice-president, and served in many other capacities with 60 years of perfect attendance. He was named a Melvin Jones Fellow and was a South Carolina Lions Foundation Patron. While serving in the Lions Club, he attended two international conventions and numerous state conventions. Fleet has been an example of service for the members of the Piedmont Lions Club and to members throughout the district for over 60 years and he worked all Lions Club projects for as long as his health allowed. In May he was inducted into the Lions Club Hall of Fame.
As a long-time member of Piedmont United Methodist Church, he served in many ways including Chairman of the Finance Committee, Lay Member to the Annual Conference, Trustee, member of the Pastor/Parish Relations Committee, member of the Administrative Board, and Sunday School teacher. He was also a member of Grove Station Masonic Lodge #166 where he was a 32 degree Scottish Rite Mason, and was a member of the Hejaz Shriners.
Visitation was held from 1-2:15 p.m. Saturday, August 24, 2013 at Gray Mortuary, Pelzer. The funeral service followed at 2:30 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home chapel. Burial was at Greenville Memorial Gardens.
The family would like to express their special thanks to the Palmetto Assisted Living family and Unit 2 at NHC Healthcare of Mauldin for their special care.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Piedmont United Methodist Church, P. O. Box 147, Piedmont, SC 29673, or to the Greenville Humane Society, 305 Airport Road, Greenville, SC 29607.
Condolences: www.graymortuary.com

VIRGINIA SKELTON MURPHY
Virginia Skelton Murphy, 82, widow of Joe Benson Murphy, died Tuesday, August 20, 2013.
Born in Greenville, she was the daughter of the late Julius C. and Ollie Ballenger Skelton.
She was a homemaker and a member of Greenville Paris Church of God.
Surviving are two daughters, Marilyn Standridge of Greer, Linda Chastain of Ovilla, TX; two sons, Joe Murphy of Greer and Gary Murphy of Piedmont; nine grandchildren; 11 great grandchildren; two sisters, Bertha Ross of Greenville and Elizabeth Davis of Simpsonville; and brother, Lawrence Skelton of Easley.
Funeral service was held Saturday, Aug. 24 at Thomas McAfee Funeral Home, Downtown Chapel. Burial followed in Holly Springs Baptist Church Cemetery in Pickens.
Memorials may be made to The Church of God Home for Children, 1810 NE Main Street, Simpsonville, SC 29681.

MARK AUSTIN
Mark Austin, 43, died Sunday, August 25, 2013.
Born October 11, 1969 in Dallas, TX, he was the son of the late Phillip George Austin and Elaine Woods Bruce.  He was employed at Wright Metals before his illness.
Surviving, in addition to his mother, are his stepfather, Clyde Bruce of Laurens; daughters, Ceara, Linda, and Joy Austin; two granddaughters; one grandson; sister Tammi Barbour; and step-brothers, Mike and Randall Bruce.
A graveside service was held Tuesday at Greenville Memorial Gardens. The family received friends at the grave following the service.
Memorials may be made to Cancer Society of Greenville County, 113 Mills Avenue, Greenville, SC 29605.

CHARLES HAYWARD HOLLIDAY
Charles Hayward Holliday, 83, husband of Frances Owens Holliday, died Thursday, August 22, 2013 at Magnolia Place of Greenville.
Born in Anderson County, a son of the late Arthur Hulet and Lena Sweet Holliday, he retired from Delta Woodside Mills and was a member of Geer Memorial Baptist Church. He served in the National Guard.
Surviving in addition to his wife are a son, Scott Holliday of Easley; daughter, Wanda Stewart of Easley; two brothers, Roy Hulet Holliday and Walter Holliday, both of Easley; sister, Anne Davis of Piedmont; three grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were held August 24 in the chapel of Robinson Funeral Home-Downtown. Burial followed in Greenlawn Memorial Park.
Memorials may be made to Geer Memorial Baptist Church, 911 South Fifth Street, Easley, SC 29640.

VIRGINIA ‘GINNIE’ GILLESPIE CLAREY
Virginia “Ginnie” Gillespie Clarey, 70, died Friday, August 23, 2013 at her home. She was the wife of Michael Clarey of Pickens.
She was born in Midland, Michigan and was the daughter of Viola Hiemenz of Bay City, MI and the late Marion Gillespie.
She was a member of Marathon Church Pickens Campus.
Surviving in addition to her husband and mother are daughter, Lisa Garber of Simpsonville; son, Kevin Clarey of Powdersville; three grandchildren; brother, Glenn Gillespie of Midland, MI; and sister, Janice Kubczak of Saginaw, MI.
Graveside service will be held Thursday, August 29 at 3 p.m. at Robinson Memorial Gardens in the Veterans Garden of Honor, 1425 Powdersville Road, Easley.

RUTH WHITE
PELZER – Ruth Traynham White, 100, of 903 Highway 8 East, widow of Broadus Clyde White, died Sunday, August 25, 2013 at Hillcrest Hospital.
Born in Greenville County, she was a daughter of the late Martin L. and Janie Ridgeway Traynham.  She was retired from the Kendall Co. and a member of the Order of the Eastern Star.  She was a member of Washington Baptist Church for eighty-nine years where she belonged to the Cornerstone Senior Group and was a member of the Friendship Sunday School Class.  Mrs. White was a graduate of Ellen Woodside Class of 1930.
Surviving are son and daughter-in-law, Thomas M. and Judy White of Greenville; daughters and sons-in-law, Ruth Ellen and Doug Thurston of Pelzer, DeLottie and Roger Smallwood of Pelzer; eleven grandchildren; twenty-six great-grandchildren; two great-great grandchildren.
She was predeceased by a brother, James Traynham; sisters, Mary Ferguson, Hattie Lee McCall, Gena Webb; grandsons, Roger Strange and Chris Smallwood.
Visitation was held from 6:00 -8:00 pm Tuesday at Gray Mortuary, Pelzer.
Funeral services were at 2:30 pm Wednesday at Washington Baptist Church with Revs. Stan Candler and James Ellenburg officiating.  Entombment followed in Greenville Memorial Gardens Mausoleum.
Flowers will be accepted or memorials may be made to Washington Baptist Church, 208 Washington Church Rd., Pelzer, SC 29669 or to Shriners Children’s Hospital, 950 West Faris Rd., Greenville, SC 29605.
The family members are at their respective homes.
Condolences: www.graymortuary.com

LARRY A. KERR
Larry Andrew Kerr, 73, of Anderson, died Sunday, August 25, 2013 at the Rainey Hospice House.
Born in Central, he was the son of the late Henry W. Kerr and the late Myrtle Lipscomb Kerr. He served in the South Carolina National Guard and retired from BASF.
He attended the River of Life Church of God.
He is survived by his brother, Dwain Kerr of Dalzell; and two sisters, Rowena Reynolds of Greenville and Elaine Elrod of Williamston.
Funeral service was held Wednesday at The McDougald Funeral Home Chapel. Interment followed at Forest Lawn Memorial Park.

FELTON WILSON
Felton Wilson, 88, died Saturday, August 24, 2013 at Oakmont East Nursing Center.
Born in Geenville County, he was the son of the late Leroy and Lucille Leatherwood Wilson.
Surviving are daughters, Sherry Simpson of Greenville, Janice Hawkins of Fountain Inn, and Wanda Moss of Atlanta, GA; sons, James A. Wilson of Mauldin, Roy Lee Wilson of Taylors, Jimmy Wilson of Piedmont, Thomas Wilson of Simpsonville, Daniel Wilson, Fate Wilson, and Gene Wilson, all of Greenville; brothers, James C. Wilson and Tommie Lee Wilson, both of Greenville; 25 grandchildren; and 27 great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were held Wednesday at Rock Hill #1 Baptist Church. Burial followed in the church cemetery.

JESSE MANERS
WEST PELZER – Jesse Waldo Maners, Jr., 71, of 21 Railroad Blvd., husband of Wanda “Sue” Holliday Maners, died Monday, August 26, 2013 at Rainey Hospice House.
Born in Asheboro, NC, he was a son of the late Jesse Waldo, Sr. and Velma Irene Morgan Maners.  He was former owner of J & V Flooring and a member of Trinity Baptist Church.  He was also a veteran of the U.S. Army.
Surviving in addition to his wife of the home are daughters, Kim Parnell of Columbia, Nancy Sanders, Sherry Trotter, Linda Sherman, all of West Pelzer; sons, Dwayne, Billy, Travis Holliday, all of Williamston; predeceased son, Ricky Holliday; 37grandchildren and great-grandchildren; brother, Marty Maners of Williamston; sisters, Chiquita Vaughn of Belton, Carolyn Vaughn of Anderson, Rhonda Pearce of Lexington, NC.
He was predeceased by a brother, Jim Maners.
Visitation will be held from 6:00 – 7:00 pm Wednesday at Gray Mortuary, Pelzer.
Funeral services will be at 2:30 pm on Thursday at Trinity Baptist Church with Rev. Robbie Robertson officiating.  Entombment will follow in Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Anderson.
Memorials may be made to the Cancer Association of Anderson, 215 E. Calhoun Street Anderson, SC 29621.
The family is at the home.
Condolences: www.graymortuary.com

BOBBIE NELL BLACK
Bobbie Nell Black, 74, widow of Ralph Steele Black, died Monday, August 26, 2013.
Born in Greenville, she was the daughter of the late Calvin Bert and Ossie Ree Tuggle Tucker.
She was retired from Franklin Dyed Yarns and was a member of Piedmont Church of God.
Surviving are a son, Ralph E. Black of Piedmont; daughter, Angel Black Stinnett of Williamston; ten grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; and three brothers, James, Arlis, and Pete Tucker.
Funeral service will be held Thursday, August 29 at 12 noon at the Northwest Chapel of Thomas McAfee Funeral Home. Burial will be in Greenville Memorial Gardens.

ELIZABETH DILLING WELCH
PELZER – Elizabeth Dilling Welch, widow of Carl Whitby Welch, Jr., died August 21, 2013, leaving behind four children, seven grandsons and two great grandchildren. Elizabeth, 88, had been in declining health for several years but remained active and involved in her family, church, and community. Mrs. Welch had a long career as an employee of the federal government, spending that entire career working in Charleston, SC, and eventually retiring from the Immigration and Naturalization Service. Following her retirement, she worked with prominent Charleston attorney, Ms. Nancy Hawk, Esq. and other attorneys as an immigration consultant. Mrs. Welch was the only child of Thomas Wayne Dilling and Ruby Hord Dilling, and was born and grew up in Gastonia, NC. She attended Flora McDonald College, a women’s College in Red Springs, NC during WWII and graduated with a degree in business. After WWII, she and Carl Whitby Welch, Jr., her childhood sweetheart, were married and started a family. The family moved to Charleston, SC in the mid Fifties, before eventually moving to the Pelzer area due to Carl’s health. They were married for fifty three years until his death in 1999; but Elizabeth considered them married forever and her final count was 67 years. Mrs. Welch is survived by her children Holly Welch Durham and her husband, Dan Durham, Stan Welch, Mark Welch, and Leslie Welch White and her husband Dan White. She had seven grandsons whom she adored; Berry Durham and his wife, Susan, Zeke Durham, Adam Durham, Zack White, Lucas Welch, Kaleb White and his wife, Kristen, and Jake White. Noel Durham and Brody Durham were her beloved great grandchildren. Mrs. Welch was predeceased by a daughter, Carla Ann Welch. Mrs. Welch was a dedicated bridge player and an active member of the Williamston Presbyterian Church. She was a lifelong Republican. Visitation will be held from 1:00 – 3:00 pm on Friday at the Williamston Presbyterian Church. The funeral service will follow at 3:00 pm at the church with Rev. Aaron Ochart officiating. A committal service will be held on Saturday at 11am at Oakwood Cemetery in Gastonia, NC. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Williamston/Pelzer Presbyterian Food Bank, P.O. Box 38, Williamston, SC 29697 or to Meals on Wheels, P.O. Box 285, Anderson, SC 29622 or to Interim Hospice, 155 Deacon Tiller Ct., Duncan, SC 29334. The family is at the home of Dan and Holly Durham, 131 Campbell Rd., Pelzer. Gray Mortuary, Pelzer is in charge of arrangements. Condolences: www.graymortuary.com