“Farmer Tom” Trantham, Jr., Bill Stanton, Jimmy Ford, Donna Jean Wright
Donna Jean Wright
Ware Shoals – Donna Jean Fry Wright, 79, widow of Donald Frank Wright, of Highway 25 North, died Monday, September 5, 2022 at her home.
Born in Emmetsburg, IA she was a daughter of the late Roy and Alice Darlene Fread Fry. She was of the Baptist Faith and was retired from Bosch of Anderson.
Surviving are two daughters, Mrs. (Glenn) Brenda Bowers of Avon, IA and Vicki Goodman (John) of Abbeville, a sister Carol Meints of St. Charles, IA, seven grandchildren, John Paul Goodman III (Jessica), Faith Bowers, Ashley Powell (Paul), Mason Benton (Brandi), Alysha Lucy (Josh), Ryan Carter (Haley), Harley Charles (Katheran), and Donald Bowers, fourteen great-grandchildren, Kiersten Goodman, Jaxson Goodman, Ayden Powell, Aryana Powell, Aubrey Benton, William Benton, Liam Lucy, Leia Lucy, Maylee Carter, Rylen Carter, Levi Carter, Weston Carter, Jackson Charles and Wyatt Charles.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM on Friday, September 9, 2022 at Narrow Way Fellowship Church, 808 Anderson Drive, Williamston with Rev. Catlin Tierce officiating. Burial will follow in Shiloh United Methodist Church Cemetery, 1135 Reid Bagwell Road, Piedmont.
The family is at their respective homes and will receive friends from 10-11 at the church prior to the service. Online condolences may be made at www.ParkerWhitePruitt.com.
Jimmy Ford
Jimmy Fred Ford of Honea Path, 79, husband of Edna Louise Atkins Ford, passed away Wednesday, August 31, 2022.
Born in Honea Path, he was the son of the late Fred William and Lillian Maree Thompson Ford. He retired from Duke Power and was a member of Crossroads Fellowship Church.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by his children, Rev. Scot Ford of Fort Mill, Terri Ford Woodrome of Honea Path, Elizabeth Ford Gossett of Lyman, and Dr. Shane Chastain of Powdersville; sisters, Shirley King of Belton and Gayle White of Clemson; sixteen grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren plus one on the way.
Visitation was held September 3 at Crossroads Fellowship Church, Honea Path, with the funeral following in the church. Entombment was at Forest Lawn Memorial Park Mausoleum, Anderson.
In addition to flowers, memorials may be made to Crossroads Fellowship Church, Building Fund, 7832 Highway 20, Honea Path, SC 29654, or Jones Hill Church of God, 1014 Dalton Road, Marietta, SC 29661.
The family is at the home.
Gray Mortuary, Pelzer
Condolences: www.graymortuary.com
Bill Stanton
Pelzer – William “Bill” Stanton, 92, husband of the late Mae Owens Stanton, passed away Sunday, September 4, 2022.
Born in Pelzer, he was a son of the late Greeley and Grace Gilreath Stanton. Bill worked every day of his life since he was 9 years old and retired from Kendall Mill. He loved traveling and collecting anything to resell.
He is survived by daughters, Becky Stanton Elrod (Dwight) and Debbie Stanton (Tony); grandchildren, Don Elrod (Melissa) of Rock Hill, Tracy Elrod of Piedmont; great-grandchildren, Evan Boan of Rock Hill, Kati Elrod of Piedmont, David and Savannah Elrod of Rock Hill; and his faithful cat, Lucky.
Visitation will be held on Wednesday, September 7, from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. at Gray Mortuary. A graveside service will follow at 3:00 p.m. at Greenville Memorial Gardens.
Gray Mortuary, Pelzer
Condolences: www.graymortuary.com
“Farmer Tom” Trantham, Jr.
Pelzer – Thomas Joseph “Farmer Tom” Trantham, Jr., 81, husband of Linda Jean Wheeler Trantham, passed away Saturday, September 3, 2022.
Born in Biltmore, NC, he was the son of the late Thomas Joseph Trantham, Sr. and Maralie Spake Trantham. He was the owner and operator of Happy Cow Creamery and a member of Washington Baptist Church.
Tom was instrumental in organizing the hay lift in 1986 when a severe drought hit many southeastern states. He later repaid the farmers, who generously donated hay by hosting a Thanksgiving dinner on his farm to welcome and feed approximately 500 farmers from across the nation.
Whether serving on various agricultural committees or testifying before Congress, Tom helped bring about many positive changes in the agricultural community, both state and nationwide. He was named 2015 South Carolina Farmer of the Year and received South Carolina’s highest award the Order of the Palmetto in 2021 by Governor Henry McMaster.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by daughters, Tammy Suzanne Trantham of Asheville, NC and Tracey Lee Ferrill (Tom) of Maroa, IL; son, Thomas Joseph Trantham, III (Ashley), of Pelzer; sisters, Joyce Keever of Asheville, NC and Kathy Schofield of Gastonia, NC; grandchildren, Carley Suzanne Carlson, Tiffany, Ross, and Taylor Ferrill, Bryce Elizabeth Trantham, Thomas Joseph Trantham, IV, Zachary, Seth, Jake, and Gracie Tripp; and great-grandchildren, Zeke and Stetson Ferrill.
Visitation was held on Tuesday, September 6, from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Washington Baptist Church Family Life Center.
The funeral will be Wednesday, September 7, at 11:00 a.m. at Washington Baptist Church Family Life Center, with burial to follow in the church cemetery.
Flowers will be accepted or memorials may be made to Nehemiah’s Wall, Washington Baptist Church, 208 Washington Church Road, Pelzer, SC 29669, or to the SC Governor’s School for Agriculture at John de la Howe, 192 Gettys Road, McCormick, SC, 29835.
The family will be at the home.
Gray Mortuary, Pelzer
Condolences: www.graymortuary.com
