OBITUARIES
THE SUMTER ITEM
MARY ATHLENE THAMES Mary Athlene Hodge Thames, 80, beloved wife of Frank A. Thames for 62 years, departed this earth for her heavenly home on Monday, Jan. 4, 2016, at her home surrounded by all THAMES of her loved ones. Born on Sept. 26, 1935, in Clarendon County, she was a daughter of the late Harvey P. and Susie Lee Hodge. She was a lifetime member of Providence Baptist Church, where she faithfully served her Lord as a Sunday school teacher for more than 60 years. Until her health declined, she was a choir member, GA leader, CIA leader, Vacation Bible School director and teacher, and served on numerous church committees. She was active in the Women’s Missionary Union and was involved in the Partnership Evangelism Program through the International Mission Board. She served as a missionary to Venezuela, Chile and Brazil. She was also known as the community “Soup Lady,” providing her homemade vegetable soup to the shut-ins in her community. She is survived by her husband Frank of Sumter; a son, Jeffrey Thames (Diane) of Manning; a daughter, Hope Thames Turner (Bob) of Sumter; a son-in-law, Tom Brewer of Manning; a daughter-in-law, Donna Thames of Manning; four grandsons, David Geddings (Jennifer) of Ladson, Tommy Brewer (Shanna) of Bishopville, Chris Geddings (April) of Sumter and Kent Thames (Julia) of Charleston; five great-grandchildren, Joseph Buddin, Quinn Brewer, Mary Katherine Geddings, Isabella “Honey” Brewer and Tripp Thames; her brothers, Robert Hodge (Terri) and the Rev. Jerry Hodge (Patsy); and her sisters, Sarah Geddings and Ann McDonald (Frankie). She was preceded in death by two children, Joy Thames Brewer and Andy Thames. They were eagerly awaiting her arrival at the pearly gates. She was also preceded in death by brothers, Ernest Koone, Frank Koone, Carl Koone, John William Hodge, Harvey Hodge Jr. and Jimmie Hodge; and sisters, Gertrude Barbato, Mildred Gardner, Jill Hodge and Jack Hodge. A Celebration of Athlene’s Life will be held at 3 p.m. on Thursday at Providence Baptist Church with the Revs. Wayne McElveen, Tom Vassar, Stacey McDonald, Jerry Hodge and Jim Johnson officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. Pallbearers will be her grandsons and great-grandsons. Honorary pallbearers will be members of the Saints Over Sixty Class that Mrs.
Thames taught before her health declined. The family would like to thank Embrace Hospice and Mom’s loving caretakers, Susie Dennis, Nicole Dennis, Kathy Marsh and JoJo Jackson-Brown. With their tender care, Mom’s life with us was extended. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. today at Stephens Funeral Home and at other times at the home of her daughter, Hope Turner, 1860 Hideaway Drive, Sumter. Memorials may be made to Providence Baptist Church Cemetery Fund, 2445 Old Manning Road, Sumter, SC 29150. Stephens Funeral Home & Crematory, 304 N. Church St., Manning, is in charge of arrangements, (803) 435-2179. www.stephensfuneralhome. org
BETTY LOU R. MOODY Betty Lou Rubin Moody, daughter of the late Sallie Pringle and Ivory Rubin, died on Sunday morning, Jan. 3, 2016, at Palmetto Health Tuomey. Funeral arrangements will be announced later by Sumter Funeral Service Inc.
ROGER DENNIS SR. Roger Dennis Sr., 62, departed this earthly life on Friday, Jan. 1, 2016, at Palmetto Health Tuomey. Born on July 6, 1953, in Washington, D.C., and later moved to Horatio, he was a son of the late Leon Spann Dennis and Liela Richbow Dennis. “Roy,” as he was affectionately known, attended the public schools of Sumter County. He was employed with Fred’s Painting Co. for more than 29 years, until his health failed. He enjoyed his hobby of working on cars and going to baseball games in the surrounding areas. He was married to Martha McLeod Glover Dennis for 51 years. To this union two sons were born and he fathered his five stepchildren as his own. He was preceded in death by one son, Michael Leon Dennis. He leaves to cherish his memories: his wife, Martha Dennis; two sons, Roger Dennis Jr. (Rebecca Lipscombe) of Rembert and Kevin Miller of Horatio; two stepsons, Frank Glover of Maysville, Kentucky, and Ronnie (Patrica) Glover of Washington, D.C.; three stepdaughters, Janet (Theodore) Robertson of Lugoff, Ethel (Terry) Mathis of Sumter and Patrica Glover of Columbia; one brother, Leon Dennis of Columbia; one sister, Liela Dennis of Columbia; two uncles, Charlie Richbow of Maryland and Rash Richbow of Columbia; 17 grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren; one brother-in-law; two sistersin-law; a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. on Thursday at John Wesley Sr. Memorial
Chapel, Williams Funeral Home Inc., 821 N. Main St., Sumter, with the Rev. Willie Dennis, eulogist, and Evangelist Barbara M. Dinkins officiating. The family is receiving relatives and friends at the home, 6055 Ellerby Mill Road, Rembert. The procession will leave at 12:15 p.m. from the home. Floral bearers and pallbearers will be friends of the family. Online messages may be sent to the family at williamsfuneral@sc.rr.com. Visit us on the web at www. williamsfuneralhomeinc.com. Services directed by the management and staff of Williams Funeral Home Inc., 821 N. Main St., Sumter.
BEVERLY LAWSON Beverly Lawson, 57, widow of Lewis Lawson Sr., died on Monday, Jan. 4, 2016, at Palmetto Health Tuomey. Born on May 17, 1958, in Sumter County, she was a daughter of the late Richard Johnson and Mary Louise James. The family is receiving relatives and friends at the home of her brother, Rickey James, 2605 Nicholson Drive. Funeral arrangements are incomplete and will be announced by Williams Funeral Home Inc.
ROBERT J. LONGTEMPS SR. Robert J. Longtemps Sr., 70, husband of Judy Gilmore Longtemps, died on Monday, Jan. 4, 2016, at his home. Services will be announced by Elmore-Cannon-Stephens Funeral Home and Crematorium of Sumter.
WINDELL PALMER MANNING — Windell “Jack Diamond” Palmer, 66, husband of Mary White Palmer, died on Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2016, at his residence. He was born on June 10, 1949, in the North Santee section of Summerton, a son of Charlie “Bo” and Rosa Bowman Palmer. The family is receiving friends at the residence, 4468 S. Brewington Road, Manning. These services have been entrusted to Samuels Funeral Home LLC of Manning.
BILLIE COPELAND Billie Cole Wilson Copeland, 100, died on Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2016, at Palmetto Health Tuomey. Born in Florence, she was a daughter of the late William Alexander Cole and Marie Rice Cole. Mrs. Copeland was twice married, first to the late Harry Cooper Wilson for nearly 50 years, and then to the late James Aubrey Copeland. Mrs. Copeland was a member of Mayesville Presbyterian Church, where she served as a Sunday school teacher, a member of the Women of the Church, and in various other capacities. She was a member of the DAR and attended Converse College and Winthrop College.
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He was born on June 16, 1964, in Manning, a son of the late Alice Newman Miller and Albert Hayes. The family is receiving friends at the home of his sister, Geneva Miller, 1342 Hyman Drive, Ram Bay section of Manning. These services have been entrusted to Samuels Funeral Home LLC of Manning.
ANTWANE DARGAN Antwane “Chic” Dargan, 23, departed this earthly life on Wednesday, Dec. 30, 2015, in Sumter. Born on Sept. 12, 1992, in Sumter County, he was a son of Issac Bobbie Dargan and Reyna Hilton. He was educated in the public schools of Sumter County. He leaves to cherish his memories: his father and mother; one son, Antwane “AJ” Dargan (Laskehia Wheeler); his paternal grandmother, Angeline Dargan; his maternal grandfather, James Evans; two brothers, Jermaine Hilton and Timothy Scarborough, both of Sumter; six uncles; six aunts; four nieces; three nephews; a host of grandaunts, granduncles, cousins, other relatives and friends. Funeral services will be held at noon on Thursday at Corinth Baptist Church, Sumter, with Pastor Barbara Lash, pastor, and Minister Jake Sanders, eulogist. The family is receiving friends at the home of his mother, 861 Carolina Ave., Apartment 48, Sumter. The remains will be placed in the church at 11 a.m. The funeral procession will leave at 11:20 a.m. from the home. Floral bearers and pallbearers will be friends of the family. Burial will be in Bradford 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 at www. williamsfuneralhomeinc.com
DAVID LEE MCGOWAN David Lee McGowan, 53, beloved husband of eight years to Kimberly Jones McGowan, died on Monday, Jan. 4, 2016, at Palmetto Health Tuomey. A memorial service will be held at 4 p.m. on Thursday at St. Mark’s United Methodist Church. The family will receive friends following the service. You may go to www.bullockfuneralhome.com and sign the family’s guest book. The family has chosen Bullock Funeral Home for the arrangements.
PHILLIP NEWMAN FLORENCE — Phillip “Phil” Newman, 51, husband of Tora Kimbrough Miller, died on Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2016, at McLeod Regional Medical Center, Florence.
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Billie will be remembered for her love of God, church, family, and friends. To all of us, she manifested a servant’s heart and unparalleled generosity. She spent her entire life doing and caring for other people and all who knew her reaped the benefits. The family is grateful for the love and attention she received from the Mayesville community all of her life. Additionally, the family wishes to recognize the wonderful care, attention, and love that she received from the staff and residents of Solomon’s Home in Sumter. Surviving are one son, Harry C. “Bunt” Wilson Jr. and his wife, Lucy Sanders Wilson, of Sumter; three grandchildren, Lucy Grey Wilson McIver (Benjamin Waverly), Dr. Pressley Rhodes Wilson Warrick (Dr. Michael Todd) and Harry Cooper Wilson III (Mary McArthur); and seven greatgrandchildren, Waverly Bynum McIver, Lucy Morgan Cole McIver, Benjamin Waverly McIver Jr., Michael Cooper Warrick, Wilson Hughes Warrick, Elizabeth Grey Sanders Warrick and William Cole Warrick. She was preceded in death by two sisters, Lucille Cole Hay and Beverly Cole Griffin. Funeral services will be held at 3 p.m. on Thursday at Mayesville Presbyterian Church with the Rev. Brian Peake officiating. Burial will be in Mayesville Black River Cemetery. Pallbearers will be William Rhodes Mayes Jr., James E. Mayes Jr., Harold Linwood Turner, James F. Bland Jr., Dr. E. Macdonald DuBose, David S. Watson, the Rev. Dr. William H. “Rusty” Wilson III and Robert Muldrow. The family will receive friends following the graveside service at Mayesville Presbyterian Church Fellowship Hall and other times at the home of Lucy and Bunt Wilson, 223 Haynsworth St. Memorials may be made to Mayesville Presbyterian Church, P.O. Box 141, Mayesville, SC 29104; to Solomon’s Home, 620 N. Guignard Drive, Sumter, SC 29150; or to a charity of one’s choice. 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.
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