Issuu

OBITUARIES

SUNDAY, JANUARY 19, 2014

ROSA WILDER HILTON ROCK HILL — Rosa Wilder Hilton, 97, of Westminster Towers, passed away Friday, Jan. 17, 2014, at the Westminster Health Center in Rock Hill. A memorial service for Mrs. Hilton will be held 11a.m. Monday at Greene Funeral Home Northwest Chapel, 2133 Ebenezer Road, with HILTON the Rev. Mary Katherine Robinson officiating. A private burial will be held for Mrs. Hilton prior to the service. The family will receive friends immediately following the service at the funeral home. Mrs. Hilton was born in Sumter, the daughter of the late Robert Eugene Wilder and Ila Mayers Wilder. She was a member of Oakland Avenue Presbyterian Church for 67 years. Mrs. Hilton attended Agnes Scott College and graduated from the University of South Carolina. She taught at the Episcopal Day School and retired from the Rock Hill school system after many years of teaching. She was a member and past president of the Junior Welfare League, former member of the Debutante Club and served on the Nature Museum board. In addition to her parents, Mrs. Hilton was preceded in death by her husband, Harry Brooks Hilton. Mrs. Hilton is survived by her son, Gene B. Hilton, and his wife, Carolyn, of Charlotte; her daughters, Rosellen Dunn and husband, Eric, of Lake Wylie and Harriet Price and husband, Frank, of Rock Hill; and her seven grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. Memorials may be made to Oakland Avenue Presbyterian Church, 421 Oakland Ave., Rock Hill, SC 29730 or Hospice and Community Care, PO Box 993, Rock Hill, SC 29731. Condolences may be made at www.greenefuneralhome.net. ALLEN W. GRIFFIN Sr. Allen Woodbury Griffin Sr., 77, husband of Joy G. Griffin, died Saturday, Jan. 18, 2014, at the Tuomey Regional Medical Center. Born in Sumter, he was the son of the late George Griffin and Emma Turner Griffin. He was a retired brick mason. In addition to his wife of Sumter, he is survived by a son, Allen W. Griffin Jr. of Sumter; three daughters, Peggy Tedder of Sumter, Dianne Jeffcoat of Lexington, and

Cynthia Brown of Sumter; one brother, Otto Griffin of Sumter; 11 grandchildren; 16 greatgrandchildren. Funeral services will be held at 4 p.m. Tuesday at Green Acres Assembly of God with the Rev. Michael Bowman and the Rev. Scott Eadie officiating. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the family, 3140 Avin Rd., Sumter, SC 29154. The family will reGRIFFIN ceive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday at the Elmore-Hill-McCreight Funeral Home. Online condolences may be sent to www. sumterfunerals.com. Elmore-Hill-McCreight Funeral Home & Crematory, 221 Broad Street, Sumter, is in charge of the arrangements (803) 775-9386.

BOBBY JOE BROWN Bobby Joe Brown, age 81, died on Friday, Jan. 17, 2014, at Carolinas Medical Center-Pineville. Bob was born on May 19, 1932, to William Alexander and Nettie Lou Brown in Belton. He graduated from Belton High School in 1950 and attended the University of Ala- BROWN bama. Bob was a proud member of the United States Air Force. He served during the Korean and Vietnam Wars. His last duty was wing base sergeant major of Shaw Air Force Base in Sumter, where he retired in May 1971. Bob had a wonderful and successful second career of 28 years as the franchise owner of MRI Sales Consultants of Charlotte. Bob is survived by his wife, Peggy; his son, Danny Brown (Tammy); his daughter, Ginger Brown Cox (Michael); his sisters, Mary Clowney (Bill) and Pat Coker (Larry); his grandchildren, Matthew Brown, Blayke Brown, Amy Cox Watford (Trent) and Kimberly Cox McCorvey (Willis); and two great-grandchildren, Jane and Meg Watford. Bob is preceded in death by his first wife, Jane Harper Brown; his brothers, Jack Brown, Harold “Buster” Brown and John Mack Brown. Bob traveled the world and had wonderful memories of the places he visited. He loved Hawaii and Myrtle Beach, but his home in

Charlotte was always called “the most beautiful place in the world”. Bob was known for his funny one-liners and was the life of any gathering. He was a terrific grandfather who enjoyed “scooter-pootin’” and “wheeling and dealing” with the grandchildren. All who knew Bob will miss his generosity and fun-loving spirit. The family wishes to extend our sincere thanks to Bob’s care team at Carolinas Medical Center-Pineville who ministered to the entire family. A memorial service will take place at 11 a.m. Monday at McEwen Funeral Service Pineville Chapel, 10500 Park Road, Charlotte, NC. Visitation will take place immediately following the service. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Loaves & Fishes (704) 523-4333 or mail to 648B Griffith Road, Charlotte, NC 28217 or loavesandfishes.org. Condolences may be made at www.mcewenpinevillechapel.com.

DAVID WAYNE SISK I A memorial service for David Wayne Sisk will be held at 11 a.m. Monday at Wise Drive Church of the Nazarene, where he was a member. David was born May 2, 1960, in Shelby, N.C., a son of Evelyn S. Wright and the late Clarence Eugene Sisk, and passed away Jan. 12, 2014. He is survived by his wife, Lisa Sisk; sons, David W. Sisk II and Matthew Sisk (Dana); step-daughters, Katharine P. Riley (Cory) and LeiAnne Pennycuff; granddaughters, Devine Sisk and Brianna Riley; grandsons, Kaden Polk, Christopher Riley and Michael Mcgaughey; brothers, Charles Lindy Sisk (Roxie) and Paul Allen Sisk I (Inge); and a sister, Cynthia Lynn Villareal (Rudy); a number of nieces, nephews, great-nieces and greatnephews, all of whom he loved. He was preceded in death by his father; stepfather, Willie Dean Wright; and a niece, Misty Dawn Peavey. JULIUS THOMAS Julius Thomas, husband of Loretta McFadden Thomas, entered eternal rest on Jan. 11, 2014, at the McLeod Regional Medical Center in Florence. The family is receiving friends at the residence, 309 Bradley Avenue, Bishopville. Visitation will be held 1 to 7 p.m. Monday at the mortuary. A funeral service will be held at noon Tuesday at Liberty Hill Missionary Baptist Church, 55 Dove Lane, Bishopville,

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the Rev. Dr. Jerome Douglas, pastor, and the Rev. Richard Addison, eulogist. Burial will follow in the St. Paul Memorial Gardens in Elliott. Online condolences may be sent to the family at wilsonfuneralhome403@gmail.com. Wilson Funeral Home, 403 S. Main Street, Bishopville is in charge of arrangements.

OZIAS GRAY Jr. Ozias Gray Jr. was born in the town of Sardis, Miss., on Oct. 27, 1936. He was the second of two children, and the only son of Ruby Lee Dickens and Ozias Gray Sr. Shortly after his mother’s passing, Ozias moved to Detroit, Mich., with his father and sister. As a young man, he enjoyed art and was a talented painter and illustrator. He was a model student and a member of the National Honor Society upon his graduation from Sidney D. Miller High School in Detroit. Chief Master Sergeant Ozias Gray Jr.’s honorable military service spanned more than 31 years. He proudly served on the crew of Air Force One from November 1975 — November 2006 with outstanding service to Presidents Gerald R. Ford, Jimmy Carter, Ronald W. Reagan, George H. W. Bush, William J. Clinton and George W. Bush. His military service included stints in Lackland AFB, Texas from September 1956 to November 1956; Blytheville AFB, Arkansas, from

November 1956 to March 1958; Shaw AFB, South Carolina, from March 1958 to August 1961 (meets Willean); Thule Air Base, Qaasuitsup, Greenland, from September 1961 to September 1962; Shaw AFB, South Carolina, from October 1962 to August 1965 (Erik is born); Andrews AFB, Maryland, from August 1965 to October 1970 (Marcea is born); Andersen AFB, Guam, from October 1970 to May 1973 (Jason is born); and Andrews AFB, Maryland, fromJune 1973 to March 1988. After his retirement from the Air Force, he continued to serve on the crew of Air Force One as a federal employee until he retired from the federal government in November 2006. He amassed a total of 50 years combined military and federal service. Ozias moved to Sumter with his wife, Willean, in November 2006, where he enjoyed the company of family and friends until his departure on Jan. 13, 2014. Ozias was preceded in death by his mother, Ruby Lee Dickens; his father, Ozias Gray Sr.; his sister, Louise Brown; his step-mother, Fannie McKinney; and his step-sister Lula Mae McKinney. He is survived by his wife of 53 years; his children, Erik J. Gray, Marcea Gray-Vaughn (Christian) and Jason E. Gray; his grandchildren, Erik Jason Gray Jr., Janea Washington (Steven), Kendyl Denise Gray-McDonald

and Sydney Elise GrayMcDonald; his greatgrandchildren, Kharron Timothy Love, and Giselle Sophia Washington; and a host of beloved family members and friends. Public viewing will be held today from 2 to 7 p.m. at Job’s Mortuary. The body will be placed in the church on Monday at 11 a.m. for viewing until the hour of service. The funeral service will be held at noon Monday at Alice Drive Baptist Church, 1305 Loring Mill Road, Sumter, with Pastor Clay Smith officiating. Interment will be in the Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Va. Family will receive friends at 991 Antlers Drive, Sumter, SC. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that contributions be made to the Alzheimer’s Association and The American Red Cross. Job’s Mortuary Inc., 312 South Main St., Sumter, SC is in charge of arrangements. Online memorials may be sent to jobsmortuary.net.

CLAUDE L. WRIGHT It is with sorrow to announce the passing of Claude L. Wright, who passed away on Jan. 6, 2014. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Monday in the funeral home chapel. Interment will follow in the memorial gardens in McBee. The family is receiving friends at 637 S. 11th St. in McBee. New Life Funeral Services in charge of arrangements.

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