Obituaries Week of June 17, 2015

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CLARA SUE COTHRAN, ESTON FOSTER, JAMES EARL AIKEN, WARDELL OWENS, WARDELL OWENS, MAVIS BASSE, KIM COX, SUSAN McELRATH, JANE THURSTON, TOM RAINEY, PAULINE B. NOE, GERTRUDE MUTH, JOAN DAVIS, MARY SOUTHERN, BETTY GARDNER

CLARA SUE COTHRAN

WILLIAMSTON – Clara Sue Roberts Cothran, 83, wife of Cecil Edwin Cothran, passed away Wednesday, June 10, 2015.

Born in Pelzer, she was a daughter of the late Charlie and Ruby Bryant Roberts.  She was retired from Cushman Mill and a member of the Williamston First Baptist Church.

She was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother.

Surviving in addition to her husband are daughters, Cindy C. Alewine (David) and Pat Jones (Brad), all of Anderson; grandchildren, Katie and Jonathan Jones, Andy and Joe Alewine; sister, Dot Davis of Williamston; brother, Joe Roberts (Ann) of Myrtle Beach.

She was predeceased by a brother, Marion Roberts.

Visitation was held from 1:30 -3:00 Friday, June 12, at Williamston First Baptist Church.

The service followed at 3:00 at the church.  Burial was in Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Anderson.

Gray Mortuary, Pelzer

Condolences: www.graymortuary.com

ESTON FOSTER

C. Eston Foster, 76, of Liberty, died Tuesday, June 9, 2015 at his home.

Born in Pelzer, he was the son of the late Columbus Ransom and Merlie Black Foster.

He was a carpenter and was a member of Flat Rock Baptist Church.

Surviving are his wife, Gladys Mae Looper Foster of the home; two daughters, Libby Maw of Liberty, and Robin Brock of Fountain Inn; three sisters, Margaret Limbaugh of Greenville, Deleana Wilson of Piedmont, and Edith Day of Easley; brother, Vealon Foster of Greenville; two grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

Graveside services were held Friday at Flat Rock Baptist Church Cemetery.

JAMES EARL AIKEN

James Earl Aiken, 60, of Greenville, died Sunday, June 7, 2015 at Greenville Memorial Hospital.

Born in Greenville, he was the son of Sophia Aiken and the late Henry Gaines.

Surviving in addition to his mother is his wife, Gwendoyn Aiken of the home; daughters, Erica Howard of Piedmont, Shereka Williams of Columbia; son, Jermaine Aiken of Greenville; sisters, Deborah Aiken Pennie of Simpsonville, Tecora Edwards of Greenville, Margaret Smith of Virginia Beach, VA, Rozena Johnson of Travelers Rest, Barbara Aiken, Yvette Drummond, Demetra Lattimore, all of Greenville; brothers, Willie Aiken of Greenville, Billy Aiken of Piedmont, Alonzo O’Neal of Greenville, Willie Gaines of Greenville; and nine grandchildren.

Funeral service was held Saturday, June 13, 2015 at Watkins, Garrett & Woods Mortuary. Burial followed in Resthaven Memorial Gardens.

WARDELL OWENS

Wardell Owens, 87, of Pelzer, died Tuesday, June 9, 2015.

He was born in Anderson County to the late Herman Owens and Lillie Shamley Owens.

He retired from textiles and was also in the logging business.

He was a member of Sweet Canaan Baptist Church, Piedmont.

Surviving are his wife, Rev. Estell Henderson Owens of the home; daughters, Vivian Grayden of Mauldin, Tibitha Henry of Pelzer, Goraline Henry of Piedmont, Sacajawea Blassingame of Pelzer, and Tamiko Simpson of Mauldin; sons, Wardell Owens, Jr., Harvey Owens and Gerald Owens, of Pelzer; one grandchild reared in the home, Ariel Henry; sisters, Vetta Summers of Williamston, and Minnie Sue Franklin of Detroit, MI; brother, Levonia Owens of Greenville; 18 grandchildren; 42 great-grandchildren; and 2 great-great-grandchildren.

Funeral services were held Saturday, June 13 at Sweet Canaan Baptist Church. Burial followed in the church cemetery.

MAVIS BASSE

Mavis Mary Basse, 60, of Williamston, died Tuesday, June 9, 2015.

Born in New Orleans, LA, she was a daughter of Marion Gros Basse and the late Gerard Landry Basse.

Additional survivors include sisters, Ilene Ann Fernandez Boudreaux of Williamston and Janice Elizabeth Gaskill of Easley.

Funeral service was held Monday, June 15 at New Beginning Lighthouse Church of Lafitte. Burial was at St. Pius Cemetery, Crown Point, LA.

KIM COX

PELZER – Kim Alaine Marshall Cox, 58, widow of Johnny Cox, Jr. passed away June 10, 2015 at her home.

Born in Flint, Michigan, she was a daughter of the late Allen James and Norma Jean Lawson Marshall.  She was formerly employed with Cushman Mill.

Survivors include daughter, Marie Cox of Pelzer; grandson, John Chapman of Pelzer; sister-in-law, Carolyn Cox of Pelzer, Joe and Nancy Cox of Pelzer; brothers, Kevin Marhsall of Williamston, Terry Marshall of Belton, David Marshall of Donalds; sister, Cindy Monroe of Pickens.

She was predeceased by brother, Randy Marshall; sister, Donna Hamby; sister-in-law, Cathy Lomax.

Visitation was held from 1-2:30 Saturday, June 13, at Gray Mortuary, Pelzer.

The service followed at 2:30 in the funeral home chapel.  Burial was at Greenville Memorial Gardens.

In lieu of flowers, Kim requested memorials be made to her grandson’s college fund (John). The family is at the home of Marie Cox, 706 Shady Acre Court, Pelzer.

SUSAN McELRATH

Susan Deas McElrath, 82, of Pelzer, widow of Ernest Grady McElrath, Sr., died June 14, 2015.

Born in Lancaster, she was a homemaker and member of Ware Place Church of God.

Surviving are children, Ernest McElrath, Jr. of Possum Kingdom, Maxie McElrath of Marietta, Maryann McElrath of Pelzer, Clyde McElrath of Piedmont; seven grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren.

Funeral service was held Tuesday, June 16, at Gray Mortuary. Burial followed at Greenville Memorial Gardens.

JANE THURSTON

PELZER—Jane McCall Thurston, 76, wife of James Ray Thurston, went home to be with her Lord and Savior Saturday, June 13, 2015.

Born in Piedmont, she was a daughter of the late Guy and Hattie Lee Traynham McCall. She was retired from BKI and was a member of Washington Baptist Church.

Surviving are her daughters, Beth Byars (Larry) of Anderson, Janice Lewis (John) of Maryville, TN, Jodi Cantrell (Wes) of Pelzer; brother, Johnny McCall (Helen) of Pelzer; special nephew, Dodd McCall (Dana) of Pelzer; eleven grandchildren; thirteen great-grandchildren.

She was predeceased by son-in-law, Richard Lavender; brother, J.W. McCall; and grandson, Bryan Lavender.

Visitation was Sunday, June 14, from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. at Gray Mortuary. The funeral was held Monday, June 15, 11:00 a.m. at Washington Baptist Church. Burial followed in the church cemetery.

The family is at the home.

Condolences: www.graymortuary.com

TOM RAINEY

John Thomas “Tom” Rainey, 71, of Piedmont, husband of Gina L. Coster Rainey, died Saturday, June 13, 2015.

Born in Starr, he was a son of the late John B. Rainey and Martha Todd Jacobsen. A U.S. Navy veteran, he was also a retired Greenville County Deputy Sheriff and a member of Grove Station Baptist Church.

In addition to his wife, survivors include daughters, Marie Rhodes of Starr, Jeneen Graham of Easley, Donna Phillips of McCormick; sons, Bill Rainey of Starr, Darrell Cone of Travelers Rest; brother, David Rainey of Starr; sister, Elaine Dean of OK; nine grandchildren; four great-grandchildren.

The funeral was held Monday, June 15, at Grove Station Baptist Church. Burial followed at the church cemetery.

Memorials may be made to Rainey Hospice House, 1835 Rogers Road, Anderson, SC 29621.

PAULINE B. NOE

Pauline Black Noe, 78, widow of James Daniel “Pete” Noe, died June 13, 2015 at The Cottages at Brushy Creek in Greer.

Born in Greenville County, she was a daughter of the late Roy and Helen Barbare Black, a homemaker, and of the Baptist faith.

Surviving are a son, Glenn Noe of Taylors; brother, Cadillac Black of Travelers Rest; one sister, Dee Hall of Piedmont; two grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

Graveside services were held Tuesday at the Mountain View United Methodist Church Cemetery.

GERTRUDE MUTH

WILLIAMSTON/GARDEN CITY BEACH

Gertrude Hinson Muth died Friday, June 12, 2015.

Born into a family of educators in Stanley County, North Carolina, she was the youngest of 10 children of the late Mary Catherine and Calvin H. Hinson. Her husband, Leonard A. Muth, and their son, Mike, preceded her in death. She has three grandsons, Michael Muth (Julie) of Chicago, IL, Richard Muth of Denver, CO, and Gregory Muth (Elizabeth) of Columbia, SC, and four great-grandsons, Christopher, Kyle, Holden, and Barrett.

After graduating from Appalachian State University, Mrs. Muth earned a Master’s Degree from George Peabody University in Nashville. Early in her career, she taught at Pelzer Elementary for six years and in Wake Forest, NC for two years. Later teaching physical education at Wren High School for 27 years, Gertrude Muth has earlier stated that she hoped her greatest contribution in life would be, “that I positively influenced the lives of my former students.”

Funeral services were held on Wednesday, June 17, 5:30 p.m. at Gray Mortuary in Pelzer. The family will receive friends one hour before the service.

In lieu of flowers, it is requested that contributions be made to the Mike Muth Scholarship Fund, 2 Camelia Circle, Williamston, SC 29697.

Graveside services and interment will be held on Thursday, June 18 at 11:00 a.m. at Meadow Creek Primitive Baptist Church, 20063 Meadow Creek Church Road, Locust, NC 28097.

Condolences: www.graymortuary.com

JOAN DAVIS

PIEDMONT—Joan Mildred Cooper Davis, 72, wife of Edward L. Davis, died Sunday, June 14, 2015.

Born in Anderson County, she was a daughter of the late S.T. and Vester Holcombe Cooper. She was a homemaker and a member of Conestee Church of God of Prophecy.

Additional survivors include sons, Tim (Sonya), Tony (Royal), and Barry (Angie) Davis, all of Piedmont; sisters, Nina Sue McClain of Greer, Alta Vanadore of Anderson; thirteen grandchildren; and eleven great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by son, Michael Davis; and brother, Jerry Cooper.

Visitation was held Tuesday, June 16, from 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. at Gray Mortuary. The funeral was Wednesday at 2:00 p.m. in the mortuary chapel. Burial followed at Greenville Memorial Gardens.

The family is at the home.

Condolences: www.graymortuary.com

MARY SOUTHERN

BELTON—Mary Louise Cothran Southern, 79, widow of Thomas Darwin Southern, passed away surrounded by her loving family on Monday, June 15, 2015.

Born in Belton, she was a daughter of the late Thomas Arabian and Blanche Hendrix Cothran. She was a homemaker and a member of Washington Baptist Church.

Survivors include sons, Michael Darwin Southern (Ellen) of Belton, Thomas Lee Southern (Marisa) of Belton; daughter, Vivian Lynn Southern Koutsogiannis (John) of Simpsonville; sisters, Jane Kelly, Linda Lee Coker and Joyce Coker, all of Pelzer; brothers, Kenneth, William, and Glen Cothran of Belton; Ricky Cothran of Pelzer, grandchildren, Ashley, Matthew and Jennifer Southern, Peter and Tommy Koutsogiannis; and great-grandson, Mason. She was predeceased by sister, JoAnn Davenport; brother, Thomas Cothran, Jr. and one granddaughter, Kathryn Lee Southern.

Visitation was held from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m., Wednesday, June 17 at Gray Mortuary, Pelzer. The funeral will be Thursday at 10:00 a.m. at Washington Baptist Church. Burial will follow at Cedar Shoals Baptist Church.

Flowers will be accepted or memorials may be made to Children’s Organ Transplant Association (COTA) in honor of Matthew or Kathryn Southern, www.cota.org.

The family is at the home of Mike and Ellen Southern, Belton.

Condolences: www.graymortuary.com

BETTY GARDNER

PELZER—Betty Cole Allen Gardner, 87, widow of William M. Gardner, died Monday, June 15, 2015.

She was twice married, first to the late John W. Allen, Sr.

Born in Eastover, she was a daughter of the late Rufus Lafayette and Ina Pearl Sanders Cole. She was retired from the USDA Farmers Home Administration and a real estate agent. She was also a member of Washington Baptist Church.

Surviving are daughters, Cynthia Allen Kelly (Joe) of Iva, Pearl Ann Allen Acuff (David) of Pelzer; son, John W. Allen, Jr. (Debbie) of Spartanburg; daughter-in-law, Pattie Allen of Pelzer; grandchildren, Angie Acuff, Davey Acuff (Ashley), Starr Brown, Joe Kelly (Amy); great-grandchildren, Amber Acuff, Luke Acuff, Savannah Brown, Anna Kelly; caregiver and loving friend, Pam Powell.

She was the last of ten Cole children.

She was predeceased by son, George T. Allen.

A memorial will be Saturday, June 20 at 11:00 a.m. at Washington Baptist Church. Visitation will follow the service.

Memorials may be made to Washington Baptist Church Building or Bus Fund, 208 Washington Church Road, Pelzer, SC 29669.

The family is at her home.

Gray Mortuary, Pelzer

Condolences: www.graymortuary.com