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OBITUARIES
THE ITEM
JoANN C. McCASKILL-HILL BISHOPVILLE — JoAnn Chamblee McCaskill-Hill died Sunday, Oct. 13, 2013, following a traumatic head injury. She was the wife of the late Alva Laverne McCaskill Jr. of McCASKILLBishopville HILL and currently of F. Leverne Hill of Sumter. She is survived by her three children: Lee McCaskill-Watson of Fort Pierce, Fla., A.L. McCaskill III (Karen) of Bishopville and Ann McCaskill McIlhenny (Tim) of Fort Walton Beach, Fla. She was predeceased by an infant son, Roger Shelton McCaskill. She was also survived by six grandchildren: Major Joshua T. Watson, MD, Laura McIlhenny Winningham, Micah McIlhenny, Alva L. McCaskill IV, Kristy McCaskill Hutson and Amber McCaskill, as well as seven great-grandchildren. The Hill family graciously welcomed her with opened arms, and Mr. Hill’s five children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren added much joy to the last few years of her life. An interment and memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at St. Mathew United Methodist Church in Bishopville with the Rev. Kimberly N. Evans officiating. Memorials may be made to the JoAnn Chamblee-McCaskill Scholarship Fund of Clemson University, Barr Hall, Clemson, SC, 29631, or to the charity of your choice. Hancock-ElmoreHill Funeral Home of Bishopville is in charge of the arrangements. ALMENIA RICHARDSON Almenia Benbow Richardson, wife of the late Leon Norman Richardson, passed on Saturday, Jan. 4, 2014, at Sumter Health and Rehabilitation Center of Sumter. Born in Williamsburg Coun- RICHARDSON ty, she was a daughter of the late James Benbow and Bertha Filmore Benbow. She was educated in Williamsburg County public schools and was a graduate of Tomlinson High School in Kingstree. She earned a bachelor of science degree from Allen University of Columbia and in 1976 a master’s degree from the University of South Carolina. She did further studies with the University of Iowa and South Carolina State College in Orangeburg. Almenia began her teaching career at Liberty Street Elementary School and in later years at Alice Drive Elementary School, where she remained and retired after 42 years of service. After retirement, her love for teaching continued with both Head Start of Sumter and Shaw Air Force Base Head Start program. Almenia’s professional affiliations were numerous and includ-
ed: South Carolina National and American Education and Parent Teachers Associations (PTA) and the International Reading Association. She was a Golden Life member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc.; a founding member of Eta Zeta Omega Chapter of Sumter and Camden, coordinator of Reading is Fundamental (RIF) Services and adviser instrumental in the chartering of Nu Gamma Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. of Morris College of Sumter. Almenia attended Mount Pisgah AME Church and later joined Emmanuel United Methodist and served faithfully as a Sunday school teacher and with the United Methodist Women. In addition to her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by her sister Mozella Bristow and three brothers-in-law. Surviving are: three sisters, Mable Davis of Wilton, Conn., Theresa Smalls of Georgetown and Inez Washington of Sumter; a brother, Franklin (Geneva) Benbow of Philadelphia; three sisters-in-law, Edna Richardson and Azalee Richardson of Sumter and special caretaker, Berthenia R. Willis of Tallulah, La.; Elizabeth White, a dedicated caretaker of the home; a special niece, Deborah Coleman Calhoun, who is like a daughter; and a host of other relatives. Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday at Emmanuel United Methodist Church, South Main and Bee streets, Sumter, with the Rev. Doris R. Bright, officiating, and the Rev. Willie F. Dicks Jr., eulogist. The public may view on Friday from 1 to 6 p.m. at Palmer Memorial Chapel, 304 S. Main St., Sumter. The sorority’s Ivy Beyond the Wall Service will be from 7 to 8 p.m. on Friday. Mrs. Richardson will be placed in the church at noon for viewing until the hour of service. Interment will follow in Hillside Memorial Park. The family will receive friends at the residences of her sister, Inez Washington, 509 Dicks St., and Deborah Coleman Calhoun, 819 Club Lane, Sumter. Memorial tributes may be made to: Education Advancement Foundation of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., PO Box 1444, Sumter, SC 29151. Palmer Memorial Chapel Inc. is in charge of the arrangements. Please leave condolences for the family on the website: www.palmermemorialchapel.com.
JAMES G. HUDSON James G. Hudson, 84, died Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2014, at Tuomey Regional Medical Center. Services will be announced by ElmoreCannon-Stephens Funeral Home and Crematorium of Sumter. DAVID HANKERSON III David Hankerson III, 54, son of the late David Hankerson II and Helen Green Eagling, was born Oct. 15, 1959, in Sumter. He departed this life on Tues-
day, Jan. 7, 2014, at McLeod Regional Medical Center. Funeral plans are incomplete and will be announced later by Job’s Mortuary Inc., 312 S. Main St., Sumter.
PAUL B. SCHMIDT Paul B. Schmidt, 44, husband of Lori Ash Schmidt, died Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2014, at Tuomey Regional Medical Center. Born Jan. 7, 1970, in Sumter, he was a son of Richard J. “Smitty� Schmidt and the late Chong Cha “Lee� Schmidt. He was employed as a customer service supervisor at Sumter Packaging. Survivors include his wife of Sumter; father and stepmother, Irene Schmidt of Sumter; a daughter, Amber Schmidt of Myrtle Beach; a brother, Tony Schmidt of Newport News, Va.; a sister, Cheryl Schmidt of Sumter; two stepbrothers, Rick Nelson of Sumter and Andrew Hansel of Pinehurst, N.C.; and a stepsister, Angela Timmons of Sumter. He was preceded in death by a son, Christian Schmidt; and stepmother, Glenna Schmidt. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday in Elmore-Cannon-Stephens Funeral Home chapel with the Rev. Mendel Baker officiating. Burial will be in Evergreen Memorial Park Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at Elmore-Cannon-Stephens Funeral Home and other times at the home. Memorials may be made to Bates Middle School Band in memory of Christian Schmidt, 715 Estate St., Sumter, SC 29150. Elmore-Cannon-Stephens Funeral Home and Crematorium of Sumter is in charge of the arrangements. LUCIOUS DAVIS Lucious Davis, 56, departed this life after a brief illness on Saturday, Jan. 4, 2014, at Tuomey Regional Medical Center, Sumter. Born on March 24, 1957, he was the son of Jasper Davis Sr. and Dessie Harris Davis. He was educated in the public schools of Sumter County and graduated from Mayewood High School. At an early age, he
joined Mechanicsville United Methodist Church, where he enjoyed going and singing gospel music. Two of his favorite songs were: “We Are Marching Up To Zion� and “On My Way Home.� Lucious was known for his bright smile, humble personality and humorous gestures. To know him was to love him. He was very inspirational and inspiring to everyone he met. He was employed at Georgia Pacific for many years and later for several years with New York High Styles. He leaves to cherish his memories: his father, Jasper Davis Sr., and his devoted loving mother, Dessie Harris Davis; eight sisters, Lillie (Eugene) Faulk of Conway, Mamie Davis of Newark, N.J., Betty (Larry) LaGrant of Columbia, Josephine (Eberdease) Thomas of Blythewood, Bernice Davis of Homestead, Fla., Cheryl (James) Woods of Irmo and Linda Davis and Vivian Davis, both of Atlanta, Ga.; three uncles, Edward (Shirley) Davis of Bishopville and Offey (Charlie Mae) Davis and Lucious Davis, both of Newark, N.J.; a friend who was like a brother, Jerome Tention; and a host of nieces, nephews, other family and many friends who will miss him dearly. Funeral services will be held at noon Friday at Mechanicsville United Methodist Church, 184 Lake Ashwood Road, Sumter, with the Rev. Kenneth N. Carter, pastor, eulogist, assisted by Pastor Eddie W. Davis, the Rev. Sarah Martin and the Rev. A.L. Downing. The family is receiving friends and relatives at the family home at 352 Ferrell Road, Sumter. The remains will be placed in the church at 11 a.m. The funeral procession will leave from the family home at 11:20 a.m. Floral bearers will be nieces and cousins. Pallbearers will be Thomas Jennings, Jerome LaGrant, cousins and friends. Burial will be in Mechanicsville United Methodist Church Cemetery, Sumter. Online memorial messages may be sent to the family at williamsfuneralhome@ sc.rr.com. Visit Williams Funer-
Bob’s
THURSDAY, JANUARY 9, 2014
al Home on the web at www.williamsfuneralhomeinc.com. Services directed by the management and staff of Williams Funeral Home Inc.
DOLCENA BLACKWELL MANNING — Dolcena Robison Blackwell, 95, widow of Luke “Buster� Blackwell, died Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2014, at Clarendon Memorial Hospital, Manning. She was born Jan. 10, 1918, in Manning, a daughter of the late Zoler and Vinnie Johnson Robinson. Family is receiving friends at her residence, 5631 Raccoon Road, Manning. These services have been entrusted to Samuels Funeral Home LLC, Manning. MINNIE BELL BURGESS Minnie Bell Burgess, 76, departed this earthly life peacefully at her home in Miami on Dec. 23, 2013. She was born on Nov. 19, 1937, in Clarendon County to the late Clyde and Rebecca James Burgess. She grew up in Gable and attended Walker Gamble High School. At the age of 18, she moved to Miami, where she was a Certified Nurse Assistant. She was an active member of Mount Calvary Missionary Baptist Church of Miami. She is survived by a sister, Juanita (Thomas) Joyner; a half-sister and brother, Claudia and Albert Burgess; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Visitation will be 3 to 6 p.m. Friday at the funeral home. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday at St. Rest Holiness Church, 360 E. Sumter St., Mayesville, with Bishop Tommy Lee Doe, Overseer Stephen James and Elder Lillie Witherspoon. Burial will follow in Bradsford Cemetery. The family is receiving relatives and friends at the home of her sister, Thomas and Juanita Joyner, 911 Flora Ave., Sumter. Online memorials can be sent to comfhltj@sc.rr.com. Community Funeral of Sumter is in charge of these arrangements. LILLIE B. DAVIS Lillie B. Davis was born on Feb. 23, 1923, to the late Gillon and Emma Burgess in New
Zion. She departed this life on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2014, at Palmetto Richland Hospital after an extended illness. She was joined in holy matrimony to the late John Davis, and to this union one child was born, the late Patricia Davis. Lillie earned a bachelor of science degree from Morris College and furthered her studies at the University of Pittsburgh, S.C. State University and the University of South Carolina. She began teaching in 1947 in Williamsburg County. She also taught in Florence and Clarendon counties before joining Sumter School District 17 in 1953. Mrs. Davis retired in 1978 after 31 years of teaching. She was a member of the S.C. Education Association, Eastern Star, Catchall No. 315, Royal Degree Circle and other organizations. Those who remain to cherish the loving memories of “Lillie� are six nieces: Nancy Sweat, Ramona Bradley, Deborah (Darryl) Dees and Emma Fleming, all of Sumter, Dinah Finley of Harrisburg, Pa., and Dorothy Ellis of Philadelphia; and a host of other relatives, family and friends to mourn her passing. Public viewing will be held on Thursday from 2 to 7 p.m. at Job’s Mortuary. The body will be placed in the church on Friday at 10 a.m. for viewing until the hour of service. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday at Trinity Missionary Baptist Church, 155 Wall St., Sumter, with Pastor Larry C. Western, officiating. Interment will follow in Hillside Memorial Park. The family is receiving friends at 520 Alpine St., Sumter. Job’s Mortuary Inc., 312 S. Main St., Sumter, is in charge of arrangements. Online memorials may be sent to jobsmortuary.net.
SHIRLEY McDUFFIE BISHOPVILLE — Ms. Shirley McDuffie of Moseley Street died Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2014, at McLeod Regional Medical Center after an illness. Arrangements will be announced by Boatwright Funeral Home of Bishopville.
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