OBITUARIES
THE SUMTER ITEM
HARRY BRIGGS JR. A simple request for a school bus for young students of Scott’s Branch in Summerton changed the course of history in the United States of America. “Harry Briggs Jr. et al. v. R.W. Elliott, chairman, et al.” became known as Briggs v. Elliott. Harry Briggs Jr. was BRIGGS the child associated with the lead name in the landmark case, which led the way for the United States Supreme Court to strike down separate but equal education across the country in the Brown v. Board of Education case. Harry Briggs Jr. passed away on Aug. 9, 2016, at home in the Bronx, New York, at the age of 75, after succumbing to his battle with a lengthy illness. Harry Briggs Jr. was a son of the late Harry Briggs Sr. and Eliza Gamble Briggs of Summerton. He was born on Feb. 10, 1941, in Clarendon County. After graduating from Scott’s Branch High School in South Carolina, Harry migrated to New York City. He worked for Madison Square Garden and the Jacob Javits Center in Manhattan, New York, until his retirement. He never returned to live in the town or county that forced the Briggs family to flee for their own safety more than 50 years ago. Briggs et al. v. R.W. Elliott et al. was filed in May of 1950 by former Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall. As the case progressed, it moved from simply pursuing equalization of facilities and obtaining buses to attacking segregation. The ruling set the stage for Briggs to be appealed to the Supreme Court, where it was combined with four other desegregation cases, including Brown v. Board. The Brown v. Board of Education decision served to greatly motivate the Civil Rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s and ultimately led to the abolishment of racial segregation in all public facilities and accommodations. Harry Briggs Jr. was preceded in death by his first wife, Marie Sanders Briggs. He leaves behind to mourn: his loving wife, Helen Mack Briggs; as well as his children, Ronald Juniors (Carolyn) of Sumter, Gregory Juniors (Linda Goldsmith) of New York, New York, Patricia Briggs-Perry of New York, New York, and Audra Briggs of Long Island, New York; one sister, Catherine (Joseph) Smith of Corona, New York; one brother, Nathaniel Briggs of Teaneck, New Jersey; one aunt, Hattie Gamble of New York, New York; and eight grandchildren. Celebratory services for Mr. Briggs will be held at 1 p.m. on Friday at Clarendon School District 1 Resource Center (Old Scott’s Branch High School), 1154 Fourth St., Summerton, with the Rev. Nelson B. Rivers III officiating and the Rev. Williette Canty presiding. Burial will follow in St. Mark AME Church cemetery, Summerton. Wake services will be held today at Samuels Funeral Home, 114 N. Church St., Manning. In lieu of floral arrangements, donations are being accepted for St. Mark AME Church, P.O. Box 262, Summerton.
SKYLER LANE JOHNSON PINEWOOD — Skyler Lane Johnson, 14, died on Tuesday, Aug. 16, 2016, at his home. Born on Aug. 1, 2002, in Sumter, he was a son of Stephen Lamar Johnson Jr. and Pamela McLeod Johnson. He was a member of the 7-8 Sumter National all-star baseball team, JOHNSON 9-10 Sumter American all-star baseball team and the 13 Sumter Dixie Junior Boys all-star baseball team. He played Laurence Manning Academy B team baseball and basketball and junior varsity football. Skyler loved snow skiing, the lake, the dairy, riding his four wheeler and his sister’s pink golf cart. He was an avid hunter, fisherman and Clemson
Tiger fan. He especially loved baseball. He was known for his sense of humor and cheering people up when they were having a bad day. He had a special relationship with his brothers and sister; they were all best friends who could talk to each other about anything. Skyler’s nickname was “Bucky.” His brothers loved to pick on him and they gave him several other nicknames. They babied him and he knew how to convince his brothers to do his work for him so he could hunt and fish. He was a rising freshman at Laurence Manning Academy. Skyler loved God and he was a member of Pinewood Baptist Church. He is survived by his parents of Pinewood; two brothers, Stephen and Steve Johnson; a sister, Savannah Johnson; paternal grandparents, Steve and Glenda Johnson of Sumter; maternal grandparents, Jesse and Margie McLeod of Pinewood; a maternal great-grandmother, Mary “Polly” McLeod of Pinewood; several aunts, uncles and cousins; his best buddies, Kyle Horton, Wyatt Roland, Shayne Stephens, Van Gardner, Tripp Joye, Justin Lowder, Mark Lupori and many others; and his dog, Cobra. A funeral service will be held at 3 p.m. on Friday at the Laurence Manning Academy gymnasium with the Rev. Kirk Carlisle and the Rev. Arthur Sharpe officiating. Burial will follow in Pinewood Cemetery. Pallbearers will Tanner Brunson, Chris Brunson, Shane Walton, Wade Walton, Wesley Osteen, C.J. McLeod, Eric Brown and Randy Wright. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. today at the Laurence Manning Academy gymnasium and other times at the home, 3510 Cody Road, Pinewood. Memorials may be made to Laurence Manning Academy, The Johnson Center, P.O. Box 278, Manning, SC 29102. Stephens Funeral Home & Crematory, 304 N. Church St., Manning, is in charge of arrangements, (803) 435-2179. www.stephensfuneralhome.org
JUSTIN S. WORKMAN Justin S. “Poochie” Workman, 25, entered into eternal rest on Saturday, Aug. 13, 2016, at Palmetto Health Tuomey. Born on April 14, 1991, in Sumter County, he was a son of Robert Workman and raised in the home of his mother Sheila Dinkins Bradley and stepfather, Paul Bradley. He attended the public schools of Sumter County and graduated from Sumter County Adult Education Class of June 6, 2012. He was employed with IGA (Wesmark) as a customer service associate. After leaving IGA, he worked at Enterprise, Columbia, and when he departed this life, he was employed at Amazon, Columbia. His memories will be cherished by: his mother, Sheila; stepfather, Paul Bradley; his father, Robert Workman; three brothers, Anthony D. Robinson Jr. of Sumter, Bryan Bradley of Covington, Georgia, and Rodriquez Green of Timmonsville; three sisters, Erica Bradley, Ashia Bradley and Danisha Walker, all of Sumter; maternal grandparents, Albert (Alice) Dinkins Sr. and Ruby Dinkins of Rembert; paternal grandmother, Mary Workman; five uncles; two aunts; three nieces; a special cousin, Monica Bennett; a special friend, Arnasia Smith; a host of other relatives and friends. Funeral services will be held at noon on Friday at Mulberry Missionary Baptist Church, 1400 Mulberry Church Road, Sumter, with the Rev. Nate Brock, pastor, eulogist. The family is receiving relatives and friends at the home, 820 Pitts Road, Sumter. The remains will be placed in the church at 11 a.m. The funeral procession will leave from the home at 11:20 a.m. Floral bearers and pallbearers will be family and friends. Burial will be in Mulberry Missionary Baptist Church cemetery. Services directed by the management and staff of Williams Funeral Home Inc., 821
N. Main St., Sumter. Online memorial messages may be sent to the family at williamsfuneralhome@sc.rr. com. Visit us on the web – www.WilliamsFuneralHomeInc.com.
LENA G. EPTING Lena Motelle Gambrell Epting, 92, widow of Robert D. Epting, peacefully slipped away to be with the Lord on Aug. 15, 2016. A longtime resident of Gilbert, she had been residing in Sumter for the past eight years. Born on Jan. 10, 1924, in Laurens, she was a daughter of Ottis and Althea Foster and Floyd Gambrell. Motelle retired from General Electric and North American Phillips, where she and her husband were both employed. She enjoyed her family, tending her flowers, crocheting, her cat, and First Calvary Baptist Church before being overtaken by Alzheimer’s disease. She was preceded in death by her parents and husband; grandson, James Robert Epting; sisters, Ruth Evelyn Davis, Margaret Blumer and Ruby Nell Basden; and brothers, Carl Gambrell and Jack Gambrell. She is survived by her son, Phillip Martin Epting (Geannie) of Sumter; and daughter, Sandra Phyllis Smith (Jesse) of Gilbert; grandchildren, Jennifer Epting Mitchell (Sean), Elizabeth Epting MacDonald (James), Amy KellerSmith and Scott Wyman Smith; great-grandchildren, Rebekah and Michelle Woods, Victoria, Jacob, Owen and Abbigail Mitchell, Mary Ruth Duncan, and Lachlan and Sawyer MacDonald; brother, William “Bill” Gambrell; nieces, nephews and extended family members. The family would like to thank her wonderful caretakers at McElveen Manor Residential Care Facility and Beacon Hospice for their care and compassion over the years. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday at First Calvary Baptist Church, Leesville, followed by burial in the church cemetery. There will be a visitation with family in the First Calvary Chapel. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America. www.caughmanharmanfuneralhome.net
ELMA C. BROWNING Elma Reatha “Pete” Chandler Browning, age 87, beloved wife of 45 years to Albert Ellis Browning Jr., died on Monday, Aug. 15, 2016, at Palmetto Health Tuomey. Born in Kellytown, she was a daughter of the late Daniel Elijah and Lena Bell McElveen Chandler. Elma retired from Campbell Soup in 1990 after 24 1/2 years of service. She will be remembered as a loving wife, mother, sister, grandmother and greatgrandmother. Surviving in addition to her husband are two sons, Wayne Derek Hall of Celina, Texas, and Mark Steven Hall of Angier, North Carolina; two daughters, Cheryl Darlene (Smith) Hunt of Pikeville, Kentucky, and Cheire Eileen (Hall) Bochette of Brownville, New York; one sister, Bobbi Jean Davis of Sumter; 21 grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by three brothers; three sisters; and two granddaughters, Eriecca Renee Hall and Mildred Brooke Bochette. A memorial service will be held at 5 p.m. on Saturday at the Bullock Funeral Home Chapel. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service from 4 to 5 pm at Bullock Funeral Home. Memorials may made to the SPCA, 1140 S. Guignard Drive, Sumter, SC 29150. You may go to www.bullockfuneralhome.com and sign the family’s guest book. The family has chosen Bullock Funeral Home for the arrangements.
THURSDAY, AUGUST 18, 2016
CARL H. ROSS Carl Hewitt Ross, age 72, died on Tuesday, Aug. 16, 2016, at Palmetto Health Tuomey. Born in Sumter, he was a son of the late Robert D. Ross Sr. and Katie Boykin Ross. Mr. Ross was a farmer and raised cows. He enjoyed eating barbecue, visiting and spending time with others. He always loved to attend church. Surviving are two brothers, David C. Ross and his wife, Linda, of Dalzell and James W. Ross and his wife, Shirley, of Sumter; two sisters, Annie Ross DuBose of Sumter and Carolyn R. Apperson of Jacksonville, Florida; along with a host of nieces, nephews, greatnieces and great-nephews. He was preceded in death by five brothers, Charles B. Ross, Thomas L. Ross, Robert D. Ross Jr., Henry B. Ross and Blanding D. Ross; and one sister, Katherine B. Brown. A graveside service will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday in the Ross Cemetery with the Rev. Billy Lewis officiating. Pallbearers will be the nephews and great-nephews. Honorary pallbearers will be Robert Kelly, Bubba Lenoir, Dr. Philip H. Brandt and Marion Watkins. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Ross Cemetery Fund, P.O. Box 175, Dalzell, SC 29040. You may go to www.bullockfuneralhome.com and sign the family’s guest book. The family has chosen Bullock Funeral Home for the arrangements.
HERMAN LOWERY Deacon Herman Lowery was born on May 2, 1930, in Lynchburg, a son of the late Eugene and Viola McLeod Lowery. Widower of Mozell Gipson Lowery, he died on Saturday, Aug. 13, 2016, at Palmetto Health Tuomey. Born in Lee County, he attended the local public school system and was further educated in the university of life. At an early age, he confessed faith and united with St. Peter AME Church. Later, he united with Salem Baptist Church, where he was a musician, trustee and later ordained as a deacon. He was a mentor for youth and a community service activist. He was employed at Sumter Concrete for a number of years prior to retirement from Santee Print Works. Survivors include his children, Johnny Ray Lowery of Savannah, Georgia, Connie V. Lowery of Augusta, Georgia, and Terrence Lowery of the home; eight grandchildren; a great-grandchild; siblings, Earnestine Singletary, Mozell White, Ruby Walters, Mazarine Parrot, Joreatha Gadson, Betty Wilson, Jasthro Lowery and Nathaniel Lowery; a host of nieces, nephews, other close relatives and friends. Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. on Friday at Salem Chapel and Heritage
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Center, 101 S. Salem Ave., Sumter, with the Rev. Dr. Larry C. Weston officiating. Interment will follow in Evergreen Memorial Park cemetery. Public viewing will be held from 3 to 6 p.m. today at Job’s Mortuary. Mr. Lowery will be placed in the church at 10 a.m. for viewing until the hour of service. Job’s Mortuary Inc., 312 S. Main St., Sumter, is in charge of arrangements. Online memorials may be sent to the family at jobsmortuary@sc.rr.com or visit us on the web at www.jobsmortuary. net.
HELEN E. STEVENSON Helen Elizabeth “Beth” Stevenson, 94, wife of William H. Stevenson Jr., died peacefully on Aug. 16, 2016, at her home in Sumter. Born on Jan. 31, 1922, in the tiny town of McConnells, she was a daughter of the late Louis and Elizabeth Burris Branch. A graduate of Winthrop College, she initially worked as director of Christian Education at First Presbyterian Church in Sumter and was an active member there for the remainder of her life. She met her future husband, William H. Stevenson Jr., at a church picnic and they were married on Feb. 13, 1954. Beth was a school teacher for 30 years at Willow Drive Elementary School. Surviving are her husband of Sumter; two daughters, Elizabeth Stevenson, M.D. of Slidell, Louisiana, and Mary Stevenson of Atlanta; two sons, William H. Stevenson III of Huntsville, Alabama, and David Stevenson of Cumberland, Pennsylvania; five grandchildren; and a number of relatives from her extended family. A private graveside service will be held on Monday at Sumter Cemetery with the Rev. Nicholas Cheek officiating. The family will receive friends at the home, 60 Bryn Mawr. Memorials may be made to First Presbyterian Church, 9 W. Calhoun St., Sumter, SC 29150. Online condolences may be sent to www.sumterfunerals. com Elmore Hill McCreight Funeral Home & Crematory, 221 Broad St., Sumter, is in charge of the arrangements, (803) 775-9386.
WILBERT HAMMETT MANNING — Wilbert Hammett, 37, died on Tuesday, Aug. 16, 2016, at Grady Medical Center, Atlanta. He was born on Dec. 5, 1978, in Manning, a son of Willie M. Hammett and Loretta Dixon. The family is receiving friends at the home of his parents, 1066 Oriole Place, Manning. These services have been entrusted to Samuels Funeral Home LLC of Manning.
2016 The Sumter Item is asking its readers to join in its efforts to help United Ministries of Sumter County. Please choose to donate to one of the following: CRISIS RELIEF, which assists people who have received eviction and utility disconnect notices, and helps provide food, furniture and appliances for domestic violence victims. HOMELESS SHELTER (Samaritan House), which gives a safe place to sleep for up to 20 men and eight women. HOME REPAIR AND WHEELCHAIR MINISTRY (SAM), which makes homes safe, dry, secure and accessible by repairing roofs, floors, etc. PLEASE APPLY MY DONATION WHERE IT IS MOST NEEDED Name: Address: Phone:
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