David Ray Burton, Jr., William “Will” Dee Kirby, Sr., Rita Freeman, Doris Ann Harper, Oscar Dean McCombs, Jr., Leon Babb
Leon Babb
Leon Babb, 86 of Fork Shoals, husband of Frances Elizabeth Pressley Babb, passed away Saturday, December 27, 2025.
Born in Greenville County, he was a son of the late Jack Clifton and Lillie Mae Bryant Babb. He retired from Marshall Williams Company.
In addition to his wife he is survived by brother, Jack Babb of Greer and sister, Patsy Coble of Easley.
No services are planned at this time.
Gray Mortuary, Pelzer
Condolences: www.graymortuary.com
Oscar Dean McCombs, Jr.
Pelzer- Oscar Dean McCombs, Jr., 90, husband of Jean McCombs, passed away Sunday, December 28, 2025.
Born in Greenville, he was the son of the late Oscar and Louise Durham McCombs.
Dean was a member of Guthrie Grove Church of God of the Abrahamic Faith. He retired from JP Stevens. He enjoyed spending time with his family and grandchildren.
He is survived by daughters, Wanda Evans (Neal), Renee McCombs, and Angela Stacy (Toby); son, Dean McCombs, III (Deanne); nine grandchildren; and seventeen great-grandchildren.
He was predeceased by sister, Joan McKee.
A graveside service will be held Friday, January 2, at 2 pm at White Plains Baptist Church Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to Guthrie Grove Church of God of the Abrahamic Faith, 403 Guthrie Church Rd, Pelzer, SC 29669.
Gray Mortuary, Pelzer
Doris Ann Harper
Doris Ann Harper of Williamston, 89, wife of the late Billy Harper, passed away Friday, December 26, 2025.
Born in Pelzer, she was the daughter of the late Adger and Catherine Picklesimer Shaw.
Mrs. Harper was a member of Calvary Baptist Church.
She is survived by niece, Denise Barrett; great niece, Lauren Phillips; and sister-in-law, Rachel Picklesimer.
A graveside service was held December 30 at Forest Lawn Memorial Park.
Gray Mortuary, Pelzer
Rita Freeman
Rita Faye Coker Freeman of Pelzer, 65, wife of Ted Allen Freeman, passed away Thursday, December 18, 2025.
Born in Greenville, she was the daughter of the late Roy Earl and Barbara Ann Duncan Coker. She retired from Ellen Woodside Elementary School and was a member of Waycross Community Church.
In addition to her husband, she is survived by daughters, Melissa Freeman, and Amanda Mejean; brother, Ronnie Lee Coker; eight grandchildren.
Visitation was held December 23 at Waycross Community Church. The funeral service followed in the church. Entombment will be at Greenville Memorial Gardens Mausoleum Chapel.
Gray Mortuary, Pelzer
William “Will” Dee Kirby, Sr.
William Dee Kirby, Sr. “Will,” of Greenville, SC passed away peacefully at his home in Greenville, SC on Saturday, December 13th, 2025. He was 83 years old. He is survived by his wife and the love of his life for 57 years, Margaret G. Kirby (Peggy) and his sons William Dee Kirby, Jr. (Gail) and Bryan Garrison Kirby, Sr. (Heather). Will loved his grandchildren, Daniel, Anna, Garrison, Callie, and Abi, along with numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
Will was born in St. George, SC in March of 1942 to Bryan and Pallie Kirby. He was their youngest son and brother of Carroll Kirby (Ann) and Elinor Malendoski (Bill). He and his siblings often enjoyed summers with family in Fountain Inn, SC. Will completed his early education in St. George where he played football and served as President of his Senior Class at St. George High School.
He began his Clemson A&M College career in the Fall of 1960 when he was dropped off in front of Tillman Hall with only a suitcase and a footlocker. Will joined Army ROTC at Clemson as a freshman. Throughout his time at Clemson, Will was an active member of the Baptist Student Union (BSU) and attended First Baptist Church Clemson very faithfully where he was “adopted” by members from the church family. While attending one session of summer school at Clemson, Will served as President of Summer BSU where he attended a lakeside bonfire at the home of the Malphrus family off Strawberry Lane; it was here he was introduced to Peggy Garrison, a local high school student and member of First Baptist.
After graduating Clemson with a degree in History in 1964, Will was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the U.S. Army and served in the 261st Signal Company of the Signal Corps. He was stationed at Fort Huachuca, AZ and later at Fort Hood, TX. Will and Peggy dated while Will served with the Army and Peggy finished her degree at Winthrop. They were married in 1968 in Clemson at First Baptist Church and honeymooned in Gatlinburg, TN.
Following 2 years of active duty serving the country he loved, Will transitioned to Army Reserve status where he joined the local unit in Greenville, SC, and served until 1970, when he was honorably discharged with the rank of Captain. While serving in the Reserves, Will met Chaplain Dr. Grady Dukes who invited Will and Peggy to attend Northgate Baptist Church in Greenville where Dr. Dukes served as pastor.
As they settled in Greenville, Will began his professional services career as a Business Consultant with what would become The PM Group of South Carolina, Inc. His professional passion was helping his clients and friends navigate an ever-changing tax code. Will continued to own and work at The PM Group for more than 50 years and was still actively working until the day he died.
He lived out his calling to introduce people to the love of God through Jesus Christ. Will’s primary passions were the love of his family and the ministry of Northgate Baptist Church. At Northgate, he served as a Deacon and regularly taught adult Sunday school, sang in the choir, cooked for the weekly Men’s Prayer Breakfast, and visited families who had recently moved into the area. Will was also passionate about Christian Learning Centers of Greenville which hosts public school children in Released-Time format at local churches where they can hear the Good News of God’s love as part of their school day. Will also loved assisting the ministry of Compassion Connection by delivering furniture to and visiting with low-income senior citizens.
Will’s pastimes included being an avid reader of theology and politics, tinkering in his basement garage, listening to music, and enjoying a good fire. A lifelong member of IPTAY at Clemson, Will was a faithful fan of Clemson sports and loved making family memories around watching his Tigers play. As much as Will loved to cheer for the Tigers, the time before and after games with his family and friends allowed for real conversations and connections. These moments will be treasured forever. Will also loved time with his family at the Isle of Palms, SC where he cooked a St. George-style breakfast each morning for any of the kids that would rise to partake, even those who were a bike-ride away. His family will miss Will’s hugs, his St. George accent and stories, his cheering at grandkids’ sporting events, cheering together at Clemson sporting events, solving jigsaw puzzles together, Saturday morning breakfasts, his prayers at family gatherings, and his faithful presence, support, and encouraging words.
His life was marked by a sincere faith in Jesus’ finished work on the cross, and the love and peace that comes with knowing Jesus. Will’s faith in Christ enabled him to serve others with love, patience, faithfulness, generosity, and steadfast unwavering support.
His family is confident and comforted by the fact that Will is now a witness to the Resurrection of His Savior, Jesus.
The family gave thanks to God for his life with a service on Sunday, December 21, 2025, at Northgate Baptist Church, 633 Summit Drive in Greenville, S.C. at 4:00 p.m. The family received friends in the church Sanctuary beginning at 2:30 p.m. before the service. The service will be livestreamed at www.youtube.com/@northgatebaptist
A Graveside service with Military Honors was held at a later date at Woodland Cemetery on the campus of Clemson University.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Christian Learning Centers of Greenville or Compassion Connection through the North American Mission Board
Friends are encouraged to share their favorite memories of Will with the family by clicking on the button labeled “Share A Memory.”
David Ray Burton, Jr.
David Ray Burton, Jr.of Piedmont, 72, husband of Melissa Reese, passed away Sunday, December 21, 2025 at his home.
Born in Wiliamston, he was a son of the late David Ray Burton, Sr. and Elizabeth Jane Thomason Burton. He retired from Terraco Chemical Company.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by daughter, Angie Smith and son, Robert Burton; three grandchildren; brothers, Danny and Aaron Burton; and sisters, Judy Godfrey, Debra Eddelman, and Lisa Bowen.
A cryptside service was held December 26 at Greenville Memorial Gardens Mausoleum.
Gray Mortuary, Pelzer
Condolences: www.graymortuary.com
