FRED GENE ALEXANDER, LILLIE REE BROWN, CAROL E. HUGHES, MARY ETTA ALFORD, SHARON WILLIS, CHARLES DAVIS, PATRICIA LOVE, PAUL RAMSEY, D.J. WALTERS, JUANITA RIDDLE, THELMA GAMBRELL, MERLEE WILSON
FRED GENE ALEXANDER
Fred Gene Alexander, 80, of Pelzer, husband of Wanda Davenport Alexander, died Wednesday, November 30, 2016.
Born in Pelzer, he was the son of the late George Washington and Celie McGinnis Alexander.
Mr. Alexander served as a Staff Sergeant in the U.S. Air Force and retired from the U.S. Postal Service. He was a part time associate for Thomas McAfee Funeral Home and a member of Calvary Baptist Church, Williamston where he was past chairman of the Deacon Board.
He served on the Anderson County Council from 1983-1984 and served as Vice Chairman in 1984. He was a member of the Appalachian Council of Government in 1984, a member of the Big Creek Water Board, the Anderson County District One School Board from 1990 to present and has been Chairman since 1991. Mr. Alexander served as President of the Piedmont Business Association, Vice Chairman of the Piedmont Improvement Association, Charter Member of the Tri City Gideons, and member of the Pelzer Lions Club and was a Past President. He was also a private pilot.
Surviving, in addition to his wife of 61 years, are two sons, Randy Alexander and wife Debbie of Williamston, and Barry Alexander of Pelzer; daughter, Rhonda Hightower and husband Richard of Pelzer; 11 grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren. Mr. Alexander was the last surviving member of his immediate family.
Visitation was held Friday, December 2, 2016 from 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. at Calvary Baptist Church, Williamston. The funeral service was held Saturday, Dec. 3 at 2 p.m. at the church. Burial was at White Plains Baptist Church Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to Pruitt Hospice, 102 East Curtis Street, Simpsonville, SC 29681.
Condolences may be sent to the family at www.thomasmcafee.com
Thomas McAfee Funeral Home, Downtown.
LILLIE REE BROWN
Lillie Ree “Mother” Brown, 98, of Greenville, died Thursday, November 24, 2016 at Magnolia Manor.
Born in Laurens County, she was the daughter of the late Abe and Janie Goodman Mills.
She was predeceased by her husband, Idine Brown.
Surviving are special daughter, Linda Brown Chancelor of Mauldin; son, Idine Brown, Jr. of Piedmont; sister, Inez Cook of Greenville; two grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.
Funeral service was held Friday, December 2 at Rocky Creek Baptist Church. Burial followed in Greenville Memorial Gardens.
CAROL E. HUGHES
Carol Ellison Hughes, 95, of Spartanburg, widow of W.W. Woodrow Wilson Hughes, Sr., died Nov. 29, 2016 at Spartanburg Regional Hospice Home.
Born in Anderson County, she was a daughter of the late David Crockett and Botie Norris Ellison.
She was a retired school teacher from Spartanburg County and was a member of Morningside Baptist Church.
Surviving are one son, Woodrow Wilson Hughes, Jr., of Spartanburg; one daughter, Carol Bruce Johnston of Avondale Estates, GA; one brother, David C. Ellison of Piedmont; five grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were held Thursday, Dec. 1 at the Wood Mortuary. Burial followed in Wood Memorial Park.
Memorials may be made to Lottie Moon Christmas Offering c/o Morningside Baptist Church, 897 S. Pine Street, Spartanburg, SC 29302.
MARY ETTA ALFORD
Mary Etta Pilgrim Alford, 81, of Belton, wife of William “Bill” Alford, died Wednesday, November 30, 2016.
She was twice married, first to the late George Lewis Richey.
Born in Flat Rock, SC, she was a daughter of the late William and Etta Massey Pilgrim. She was retired from Meals on Wheels and formerly employed with Bobbie Dan Manufacturing.
In addition to her husband, she is survived by daughter, Vicki L. Marler of Belton; sister, Shelby Jean Timms of Starr; two grandchildren; three great-grandchidlren.
A graveside service was held Friday, December 2, at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Anderson.
The family is at the home of her daughter, 832 Mize Road, Belton.
SHARON WILLIS
Sharon Edith Miller Willis, 72, of Williamston, widow of David Thomas Willis, died Sunday, November 27, 2016.
She was twice married, first to the late John Cleve Davis.
Born in Anderson, Indiana, she was the daughter of the late Francis L. and Fay Miller. She was formerly a registered nurse and a member of Whitefield Baptist Church.
Survivors include daughter, Kristi Butler of Denver, CO and one grandchild.
A graveside service was held on Monday, December 12 at Whitefield Baptist Church Cemetery.
CHARLES DAVIS
WILLIAMSTON – Charles Henry Davis, 77, widower of Margaret Davis, died Sunday, December 4, 2016.
Born in Greenville County, he was the son of the late John Henry and Pearl Inez Davis Davis. He was a member of West Pelzer Baptist Church where he served as a deacon.
Survivors include sisters, Sue Gaillard of Williamston, Margaret Barrett of Lyman and Rhyland Stewart of Greer.
Visitation was Wednesday, December 7, at Gray Mortuary, Pelzer.
The service followed in the mortuary chapel. Burial was at Sandy Springs Baptist Church Cemetery, Pelzer.
Memorials may be made to West Pelzer Baptist Church, 29 Main Street, West Pelzer, SC 29669.
The family is at the home of his niece, Annette Drake.
Condolences: www.graymortuary.com
PATRICIA LOVE
Patricia “T.J.” Love, 63, of Piedmont, wife of the late Robert Alan Love, died Saturday, December 3, 2016.
Born in Mecklenburg County, NC, she was the daughter of the late Joseph and Nannie Stroud.
She was a member of Redemption World Outreach.
Surviving are her daughter, Brittany Love; two grandchildren; three sisters, Nancy Jo Jacobs, Lucy Stroud Miller, and Lela Stroud Wellman; and one brother, Joseph James Stroud, Jr.
Funeral service was held December 7 at Thomas McAfee Funeral Home, Northwest Chapel.
Memorials may be made to Greyhound Crossroads Rescue Organization, Greenville SC Area, 314 Sample Road, Greenwood, SC 29646.
PAUL RAMSEY
Paul Gregory Ramsey, 68, of Williamston, widower of Mildred Inez Keeler Ramsey, died Saturday, December 3, 2016 at his home.
Born in Anderson, he was the son of the late Joe Frank and Doris Free Ramsey. He was employed with Milliken and a member of Macedonia Baptist Church.
Survivors include daughter, Christina Rhodes of Williamston; son, Greg Crooks Ramsey of Walhalla; sisters, Gail Mayfield and Jeannie Cody; seven grandchildren; two great-grandchildren.
Funeral service was held Tuesday, December 6, at Macedonia Baptist Church. Burial followed in the church cemetery.
D.J. WALTERS
Autry Dean Walters, III, 19, of Anderson, died November 29, 2016.
Born in Anderson, he was the son of Autry D. Walters, Jr. and April Denise Cartee Gravley.
He worked in landscaping and mechanics and was a member of Six and Twenty Baptist Church.
In addition to is parents, he is survived by his sister, Christyana Walters of Anderson; grandparents, Elizabeth Jane Cartee of Pendleton, Marlene Kay of Williamston; and step-father, Scottie Gravely.
Funeral service will be held at Six and Twenty Baptist Church, Thursday, Dec. 8 at 3 p.m. Interment will follow at the church cemetery.
Memorials may be made to D.J.’s Go Fund Me page online at https://www.gofundme.com/funeral-expenses-for-dj-walters.
JUANITA RIDDLE
Juanita Leagan Riddle, 88, of Pelzer, widow of Harold Konard Riddle, died Sunday, December 4, 2016.
Born in Mooresville, NC, she was a daughter of the late Luke and Dillie Boulware Leagan.
She was owner/operator of Glamorette Beauty Shop and a Baptist.
Survivors include sons, Tony Riddle of Pelzer, Jerry “Pete” Riddle of West Pelzer, Kip Riddle of Abbeville; sister, Ruby Turner of Ninety-Six; nine grandchildren; ten great-grandchildren.
A graveside service was held Tuesday, December 6, at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Anderson.
Memorials may be made to West Pelzer Baptist Church, 29 Main Street, West Pelzer, SC 29669.
THELMA GAMBRELL
Thelma Chastain Gambrell, 91, of Taylors, wife of the late Harrison Gambrell, died Friday, December 2, 2016.
Born in Anderson County, she was a daughter of the late Frank and Minnie Hanks Chastain.
She was a member of Lee Road United Methodist Church.
She is survived by one son, Gary Gambrell of Powdersville; four grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and one sister, Macy Barnett of Atlanta.
A graveside service was held Wednesday, December 7 at Greenville Memorial Gardens.
Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, 301 University Ridge, Ste 5000, Greenville, SC 29601.
MERLEE WILSON
Merlee Gilstrap Wilson, 80, of Williamston, widow of Kyle Martin Wilson, died Thursday, December 1, 2016 at AnMed Health Medical Center.
Born in Pickens County, she was the daughter of the late Grover and Myra Gilstrap. She worked in retail sales.
Surviving are a son, Kyle M. Wilson, Jr., sister, Geraldine Finley; and a brother, Calvin Gilstrap.
Funeral services were held Wednesday at Sullivan-King Mortuary Chapel. Entombment followed in Forest Lawn Memorial Park V.A. Mausoleum.
