BILL WILKINS SR., CAROLYN WELBORN, RUBY CRYMES, MARY SUE BOLDEN CRESWELL, JEFFERSON F. CURETON, ADRIANNE D. CHOICE, ANN SPEARMAN POWERS, MILDRED HUGHES CRENSHAW, JOE COKER, MILDRED PALMER, JOSEPH J. BYRNE JR., GLORIA KELLY GOLIGHTLY, JEFFIE C. JONES, NELSON D. ROSS JR., JACK CAMPBELL JR., PERRY A. ‘DUDE’ BURNS, LOGAN McALISTER, HERMAN ALEWINE, HARRIETTE TUCKER ELROD, RUTH HUEY WILSON
BILL WILKINS, SR.
William “Bill” Kirksey Wilkins, Sr., of Pelzer, husband of Linda Phillips Wilkins, died Wednesday, December 31, 2014.
Born in Fayetteville, NC, he was owner of Wilkins Holding, LLC.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by daughters, Samantha Mayes of Fayetteville, NC, Jennifer Klein of Las Vegas, NV and Angela Fant of La France; sons, William Wilkins, Jr. of Pelzer and Tommy Byers of Belton; sisters, Kathy Dickens and Deloris Nichols, both of Florida and Barbara Mitchell of Atlanta, GA; brother, Junior Phipps of Illinois; seven grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
Funeral service was held Sunday, January 4 in the funeral home chapel of Gray Mortuary, Pelzer.
Burial followed at Graceland East Cemetery on Woodruff Rd., Greenville.
CAROLYN WELBORN
Carolyn Seago Welborn, 87, of Greenville, wife of Edward Eugene “Gene” Welborn, died on December 31, 2014.
Born in Aiken County, she was the daughter of the late Boyce Milton and Sarah Lott Seago.
Surviving in addition to her husband are four children, Ed Welborn of Atlanta, GA, Walter Welborn of Augusta, GA, Fran Crumley of Taylors, and Ann Phillips of Houston, TX; nine grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
She was a member of First Presbyterian Church and was a homemaker.
The funeral service was held Saturday, Jan. 3 in the funeral home chapel of Gray Mortuary, Pelzer. Entombment followed in Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Anderson.
Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association South Carolina Chapter, 301 University Ridge, Suite 5000, Greenville, SC 29601.
RUBY CRYMES
PELZER – Ruby McAdams Crymes, 94, widow of William Mitchell “Willie” Crymes, passed away Sunday, January 4, 2015.
Born in Piedmont, she was a daughter of the late John Arthur and Vashti Smith McAdams. She was retired from Anderson School District One, Palmetto Primary School. Mrs. Crymes was a member of Tabernacle Baptist Church where she was a Sunday School teacher for the TEL Class, a member of the Joymakers Senior Citizens Group, and served in the choir.
Surviving are daughter, Kay C. Smith (Richard) of Belton; grandchildren, Joey and Ginger Carter, Donnie and Wendy Nix; great-grandchildren, Evan and Madeline Carter, Olivia Nix; sisters, Sara Simpson of Columbia, Jean Wright of Hilton Head.
She was predeceased by a brother, Jack McAdams and sisters, Verline Richey and Nannie Roper.
Visitation was held from 6:00 – 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at Gray Mortuary, Pelzer.
The funeral service was at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday at Tabernacle Baptist Church. Burial followed at Greenville Memorial Gardens.
Memorials may be made to Tabernacle Baptist Church, P.O. Box 268, Pelzer, SC 29669.
The family is at the home of Richard and Kay Smith, 520 Youth Center Road, Belton.
Condolences: www.graymortuary.com
MARY SUE BOLDEN CRESWELL
PIEDMONT – Mary Sue Creswell, 99, of Heartland West Nursing Center, longtime resident of Old Grove Rd., West Gantt Community, widow of Luther Harris Creswell died Saturday, January 3, 2015.
Born December 20, 1915 in Piedmont, SC, she was the daughter of the late Alfred Matthew and Mattie Gilreath Bolden.
A retired Executive Housekeeper with the Sheraton Inn Hotels, she was a former lunch room employee at West Gantt School and in the spinning room at the J.P. Stevens Mill.
She was a member of New Ellenton Baptist Church and attended West Gantt Baptist Church where her son is a member.
Surviving are her son and daughter-in-law, Gerald K. and Jane R. Creswell, Sr. of Piedmont, SC; two grandchildren, Cathy Creswell and Richard “Skip” King, G. Kenneth and Kathy Brown Creswell; three great-granddaughters, Brooke K. and Joe King, Kasey C. and John Knox, Erin K. and Eric Jackson; two great-great granddaughters, Hadley and Olivia Knox.
She was predeceased by four brothers and five sisters.
The family received friends from 1:00 – 1:45 pm Wednesday at West Gantt Baptist Church.
Services followed at 2:00 pm conducted by Rev. Marshall Fagg. Interment followed in Graceland West Memorial Cemetery.
A special thanks to all of the nurses and CNA’s at Heartland West 200 Unit who provided excellent care to Mary and loving support to the family for the past six years.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to West Gantt Baptist Church Building and Land Funds, 1452 White Horse Road, Greenville, SC 29605.
Gray Mortuary, Pelzer
Condolences: www.graymortuary.com
JEFFERSON F. CURETON
Jefferson F. Cureton, 69, died Sunday, December 28, 2014.
He was the son of Helen D. Cureton of West Pelzer and the late Clyde S. Cureton.
Surviving in addition to his mother are a son, Jeff F. Cureton, II; brother, Clyde S. Cureton, Jr.; and sister, Brenda West.
He was a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps reserves.
Funeral service was held Jan. 3 at Saint Rafka Maronite Catholic Church in Greer.
Memorials may be made to the American Diabetes Association.
ADRIANNE D. CHOICE
Adrianne Denise Choice, 29, died Monday, December 29, 2014 at her home.
Born in Greenville, she was the daughter of Johnny and Virginia Graham Choice.
Surviving are sister, Carolyn A. Choice of Greenville; and brother, Walter A. Choice of Mauldin.
Funeral service was held Friday, January 2 at Watkins, Garrett & Woods Mortuary. Burial followed in North Greenville Church Cemetery.
ANN SPEARMAN POWERS
Ann Spearman Powers of Lake Hamilton, FL died December 26, 2014.
Born in Pelzer, she was the wife of David Allen Powers.
She is survived by children, Kim Powers Free and David Powers; and two grandchildren.
A memorial service was held Saturday, January 3 at Pickens Presbyterian Church.
Memorials may be made to Lake Hamilton Presbyterian Church Memorial Fund, P.O. Box 116, Lake Hamilton, FL 33851.
MILDRED HUGHES CRENSHAW
Mildred Willimon Hughes Crenshaw, 84, of Liberty, died January 1, 2015 at her home.
Born in Six Mile, she was the widow of Robert Crenshaw and a daughter of the late Earl and Eunice Stone Willimon.
She retired from the Pickens County School District and was a member of First Baptist Church of Liberty.
Surviving are a daughter, Carolyn McEntire of Pelzer; three sons, Steve Hughes of Liberty, Donnie Hughes of Gaffney, and Ronnie Hughes of Sanford, NC; step-daughter, Lisa Holder of Six Mile; three step sons, Randy, Roger, and Aaron Crenshaw, all of Six Mile; sister, Betty Seaborn of Six Mile; nine grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren.
In addition to her husband and parents, she was predeceased by her first husband, Curtis B. Hughes.
Funeral service was held Sunday, January 4, 2015 in the Liberty Mortuary Chapel. Burial followed at Liberty Memorial Gardens.
JOE COKER
Joe Kloster Coker, 77, husband of Loyce Elsey Coker, died January 2, 2015.
He was the son of Ned Klostar and Martha Josephine Gutheridge Coker, and served in the U.S. Navy.
Surviving in addition to his wife are three children, Robert Ned Coker of Dallas, TX, Jennifer Fae Maltarp of the Bahamas, and Ronald Joe Coker of Moore; and five grandchildren.
A private memorial service will be held.
MILDRED PALMER
Mildred Lois Taylor Palmer, 89, of Piedmont, widow of George Edward Palmer, Sr. died Friday, January 2, 2015.
Born in Greenville, she was the daughter of the late William Harrison and Sallie Taylor. She was a homemaker and a Baptist.
Surviving are daughter, Sandra Taylor of Cleveland County, TN; sons, George Palmer, Jr. and Wayne Palmer, both of Williamston, Dale Palmer of Sikeston, MO, Clay Palmer of Piedmont; ten grandchildren, fifteen great-grandchildren, one great-great grandchild.
The funeral service was held Monday in the funeral home chapel of Gray Mortuary, Pelzer. Burial followed at Greenville Memorial Gardens.
JOSEPH J. BYRNE, JR.
Joseph J. Byrne, Jr., 69, of Anderson, died December 30, 2014.
Born in Staten Isalnd, NY he was a son of Joseph Sr. and Kathleen Byrne.
He was a veteran of the U.S. Air Force and was retired from Law Enforcement.
He is survived by his wife, Joanne of Anderson; sister, Kelly Byrne of Virginia Beach, VA; daughters, Kim Campbell of Simpsonville, Elizabeth Mull of Boiling Springs, Kathleen Byrne of Atlanta, GA; son, Joseph of Williamston; and eight grandchildren.
Funeral mass was held Monday, January 5 at M.J. “Dolly” Cooper Veterans Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, 4124 Clemson Blvd., Suite L, Anderson, SC 29621.
GLORIA KELLY GOLIGHTLY
Gloria Kelly Golightly, 73, wife of Johnny Golightly of Greenville, died January 2, 2015.
She retired from Greenville Memorial Hospital.
Surviving in addition to her husband are a son, Jeffrey Golightly; daughters, Tracy Garcia and Susan Cooley of Greenville; two grandchildren; sisters, Jane Harvell of Greenville and Louise Cothran of Pelzer; and brother, Clifton Kelly of Spokane, WA.
A graveside service was held Tuesday, January 6 in Woodlawn Memorial Park.
JEFFIE C. JONES
Jeffie “Jay” Cooper Jones, 74, wife of Alvin Franklin Jones, died Wednesday, December 31, 2014 at Baptist Easley Hospital.
Born in Pickens County, she was a daughter of the late Jeff Columbus and Viola Alexander Cooper.
She retired from Sam Wyche Sporting Goods and was a member of Eastside Baptist Church in Liberty.
Surviving in addition to her husband are a son, David William Brissey of Piedmont; daughter, Amanda B. Wood of Greer; brother, Robert “Bob” Cooper of Liberty; sisters, Gladys C. Johnson, Lillian C. Odom, Betty C. Bowman, Shelba C. Owen, and Faye C. Suddeth, all of Liberty; step-sons, Randy Jones of Greenville and Mark Jones of Piedmont; five grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
Funeral services were held Sunday at Eastside Baptist Church.
NELSON D. ROSS, JR.
Nelson Daniel Ross, Jr., 91, of Greer, died January 1, 2015 at McCall Hospice House.
A native of Schenectady, NY, son of the late Nelson Daniel Ross, Sr. and Emma VanDer Zee Ross, he was a U.S. Army Air Corps Veteran of World War II, a retired engineer for General Electric and a member of Praise Cathedral.
Surviving are his wife, Barbara McCue Ross of the home; son, Richard N. Ross of Piedmont; daughter, Sandra Gauthier of Schenectady, NY; step-son, Chandler Husband of Travelers Rest; step-daughter, Katrina Samford of Marietta; seven grandchildren; 17 great-grandsons; one great-great-grandchild; seven step-grandchildren; and 18 step-great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were held Sunday at Praise Cathedral. Burial followed in Greenville Memorial Garden.
Memorials may be made to Praise Cathedral, 3390 Brushy Creek Road, Greer, SC 29650.
JACK CAMPBELL, JR.
GREENVILLE – Jack Charles Campbell, Jr., 84, widower of Catherine Bagwell Campbell, died Friday, January 2, 2015.
Born in Anderson County, he was the son of the late Jack Hugh Charles Campbell, Sr. and Sybil Saxon Campbell. He was retired from Federal Aviation, a member of Washington Baptist Church and a U.S. Air Force veteran. Jack was also a State Constable, a member of the Augusta Road Ruritan Club and a volunteer for the Pelzer Rescue Squad.
Surviving are daughter, Wanda Phelps (Tom) of Greenville; son-in-law, Jack Sizemore of Greenville; grandchildren, Lee and Chris Sizemore, Richard and Martin Phelps; great-grandson, Vince Phelps.
He was predeceased by a daughter, Kathy Sizemore.
Visitation was held from 4:00 – 5:30 p.m. Sunday, January 4, at Gray Mortuary, Pelzer.
A graveside service was held at 11:00 a.m. Monday at Greenville Memorial Gardens.
Condolences: www.graymortuary.com
PERRY A. ‘DUDE’ BURNS
Perry A. “Dude” Burns, 90, of Greenville, widower of Cecile Eskew Burns, died Monday, January 5, 2015.
Born in Pelzer, he was a son of the late James Oliver and Mary Radford Burns.
He was a veteran of the U.S. Army, was a member of Providence Baptist Church and retired from Woodside Mills.
He is survived by three children, Donnie Finley, Barbara Diane Stallsworth, and Mary Elaine Shepard; 14 grandchildren; numerous great-grandchildren; and two sisters, Evelyn De Young and Pauline Burns.
Funeral service was held Wednesday, January 7 in the Northwest Chapel of Thomas McAfee Funeral Home. Burial followed at Woodlawn Memorial Park.
LOGAN McALISTER
CLEVELAND, SC – Logan Thomas McAlister, 28, son of Catherine Smith McAlister and Lanny and Sherry McAlister, died Saturday, January 3, 2015.
Born in Anderson County, Logan was employed with Southern Weaving and loved to work at Stoneybrook Fishing Lake. He attended Journey Outreach in Easley and was an avid Clemson fan, history buff with a fascination of WWII, soccer fan and loved his dogs.
In addition to his mother of Pelzer and his father and step-mother of Cleveland, he is survived by brothers, Drew and Bryan McAlister, both of Pelzer; step-brothers, Aaron Smith of Greenville and Chad Smith of Battle Lake, MN; step-sister, Stacy Rouse of Cleveland; step-maternal grandparents, Ed and Joyce Moore; and a number of aunts, uncles and cousins.
Visitation was held from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, January 6 at Gray Mortuary, Pelzer.
A graveside service was held at 11:00 am Wednesday, January 7 at Guthrie Grove Church of God of the Abrahamic Faith.
Flowers will be accepted or memorials may be made to Guthrie Grove Church of God of the Abrahamic Faith, 403 Guthrie Grove Church Rd., Pelzer, SC 29669 or Journey Outreach, P.O. Box 2015, Easley, SC 29641.
The family is at their respective homes.
Condolences: www.graymortuary.com
HERMAN ALEWINE
Herman Lee Alewine, 60, of Williamston, husband of Karen Clark Alewine, died Tuesday, January 6, 2015.
Born in Greenwood, he was a son of the late William Mickey and Edith Sullivan Alewine.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by sons, Mike Alewine of West Pelzer, Bryan Alewine of Simpsonville and Sam Alewine of the home; sisters, Ann Fricks of Belton, Sandy Alewine of Fountain Inn and Brenda White of Iva; and four grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held at 3:00 p.m. Saturday, January 10 in the funeral home chapel of Gray Mortuary, Pelzer.
HARRIETTE TUCKER ELROD
Harriette Inez Tucker Elrod, age 85, of Williamston, passed away on Sunday, January 4, 2015, at Rainey Hospice House with her family by her side. Born in Williamston, she was the daughter of the late Harrison Tucker, Sr. and the late Sue Brown Tucker. She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert F. Elrod, Sr., who died in 2008.
After graduating from Williamston High School, Harriette attended the University of Georgia where she served as the only female member of the Cavalry. She received her undergraduate degree from Winthrop College and earned her Master’s degree from Furman University. She was a retired educator who taught many different grade levels in several schools in Mississippi and South Carolina, however her greatest passion was teaching history at the high school and Junior college levels. She was intensely interested in people’s stories and was quick to recount interesting tales of local history.
Harriette was currently serving as the Vice Regent of the Hudson Berry Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. She also served as President of the United Methodist Women for the state of Louisiana as well as holding numerous other offices and appointments.
Harriette had an unwavering trust in God and lived her life as a faithful servant and shining example of a Proverbs 31 woman. She was a member of Shiloh United Methodist Church.
Survivors include her son, Robert F. Elrod, Jr. and his wife, Marya, of Franklin, TN; two daughters, Ida Sue Elrod of the home, and Frances Ann Mihalik and her husband, Joe, of Williamston; a brother, David D. Tucker of Rural Hall, NC; a sister, Mary Tucker McPhail of Anderson; seven grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. In addition to her parents and her husband, Robert, Harriette was preceded in death by a daughter, Malinda Lou Elrod, and a brother, Harrison Tucker, Jr.
Following a private burial, a Memorial Service to celebrate the life of Harriette Elrod will be held on Saturday, January 10, 2015, at 3 p.m. at the Chapel of The McDougald Funeral Home with Rev. Perry Evatt officiating. The family will receive friends at The McDougald Funeral Home following the service until 5 p.m.
RUTH HUEY WILSON
Ruth Huey Wilson, 73, wife of Lowry M. Wilson, Jr., died Sunday, January 4, 2015 at the Baptist Easley Hospital.
Born in Laurens, she was the daughter of the late James A. and Mary Durham Huey.
She was a member of Providence Presbyterian Church.
Surviving are three children, Lowry M. Wilson, III of Pickens, Jimmy A. Wilson of Durham, NC, and D’etra Fitch of Powdersville; three grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
Graveside services were held Wednesday at Rosemont Cemetery in Clinton.
Memorials may be made to the Providence Presbyterian Church, 4000 Hwy. 153, Greenville, SC 29611-7404.
