OBITUARIES
THE SUMTER ITEM
CLARENCE E. HUGGINS Clarence Eugene “Gene” Huggins, 68, died Thursday, May 14, 2015, on Warriors Walk at Dorn VA Medical Center in Columbia. Born in Sumter, he was a son of the late Clarence Lester and HUGGINS Bernice Louise Davis Huggins. He was a member of Lewis Chapel United Methodist Church. He was a member and past vice president of the South Carolina Chapter of the Federation of the Blind. He was a U.S. Air Force veteran of the Vietnam War. He was a retired electrician and worked with YUASA Exide and EMS Chemie North America. Survivors include a son, Craig E. Huggins (Kristina) of Jacksonville, Florida; a daughter, Tanis P. Collins (Preston) of Shady Spring, West Virginia; six grandchildren, Mackenna Huggins, Wesley Collins, Bailey Huggins, Joanna Collins, Elija Huggins and Carolina Collins; two brothers, Alfred Huggins (Betty) and James Huggins (Linda), all of Alcolu; six nieces and nephews; four great-nephews; and his companion and guide dog, Mac. Funeral services will be held at noon Thursday at Lewis Chapel United Methodist Church with the Rev. Karen Starr officiating. Burial with military honors will be in the Fort Jackson National Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Craig Huggins, Le Huggins, Preston Collins, Justin Huggins, Alex Tisdale and Richie Kelly. Honorary pallbearers will be Mac, Wesley Collins and Elija Huggins. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Elmore-Cannon-Stephens Funeral Home and other times at the home. Memorials may be made to the Federation Center of the Blind of South Carolina, 119 S. Kilbourne Road, Columbia, S.C. 29205. Elmore-Cannon-Stephens Funeral Home and Crematorium of Sumter is in charge of the arrangements.
THOMAS H. GENTRY MANNING — Thomas Henry Gentry, 89, husband of Jean Tanner Gentry, died Friday, May 15, 2015, at Clarendon Memorial Hospital. Born August 21, 1925, in Summerton, he was a son of the late MUG NAME John Henry and Vera McClary Gentry. He was a 1950 graduate of Clemson College, a retired school teacher, a Mason for more than 60 years and he was a lifelong member of Summerton Baptist Church. He is survived by his wife in Manning; four daughters, Pamela Richbourg (Jimmy) of Sumter, Cathy McCord and Betty Phillips, both of Manning, and Margaret Floyd of Lugoff; a sister, Helen Wright of Martinsville, Virginia; seven grandchildren, Alison (Bennie) Baggette, T.J. McCord, Shannon Strange (Garet), Jordan Tyczka (Adam), John Stoner, Megan Hovermale (Michael) and Amanda Grant (Adam); and a great-granddaughter, Lainey Grace Baggette. A funeral service will be held at 3 p.m. Monday at Summerton Baptist Church with the Rev. Scarlette Hester officiating assisted by the Rev. Bob Ashba. Burial will follow in Summerton Evergreen Cemetery. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service on Monday in the fellowship hall of the church and at other times at the residence. Memorials may be made to Summerton Evergreen Cemetery, c/o of Ellen Ardis, P.O. Box 366, Summerton, S.C. 29148 or to a charity of one’s choice. Stephens Funeral Home & Crematory, 304 N. Church St., Manning, is in charge of arrangements, (803) 435-2179. www.stephensfuneralhome.org
CARLA J. HARRIS Carla June Harris, 73, divorcee of the late C.S.M. Willie Harris, died Monday, May 11, 2015, at Sumter Health and Rehabilitation Center. Born in Birmingham, Ala-
bama, she was a daughter of the late Elijah and Ruby Davis Morgan. Carla was the youngest of four loving sisters who preceded her in death: Gladys Lewis, Pearlie Harriston, Edna Woods and Carrie Carrington. She was a member of Pilgrim Home Baptist Church in Birmingham. Carla was a loving and devoted homemaker. Survivors include two sons, Stephen A. Harris (Valerie) of Cayce and Willie Harris, Jr. (Tess) of Fort Walton Beach, Florida; and grandchildren, Tiffany Harris, Brent Harris and Ramone Harris. A private memorial service will be held in Birmingham, Alabama. Elmore-Cannon-Stephens Funeral Home and Crematorium of Sumter is in charge of the arrangements. www.ecsfuneralhome.com
MARTHA J. CURETON Martha Jane (Leneau) Cureton was the youngest of seven children born in Sumter to the late Martha Beatrice (Dwyer) Leneau and Carl Leneau on March 14, 1932. Martha Jane Leneau Cureton departed this life on Wednesday, May 13, 2015, in Charlotte, North Carolina. Martha attended the Sumter County Public Schools and graduated from Lincoln High School in 1951. On October 2, 1951, Martha united in holy matrimony with her childhood sweetheart, the late Jimmie Roosevelt Cureton, and was a faithful wife and caregiver until he departed this life on November 6, 2004. God blessed their holy union with two extraordinary sons; Steve G. and the late Reginald T. Martha was a faithful member of New Bethel Missionary Baptist Church where she served with Missionary Circle No. 2 and studied with Church School Class No. 2. Her memories will always be cherished by her beloved son Steven G. and daughter-inlaw Tresia B. Cureton; three grandchildren, Steven G., Jessica N. and Deryck J. Cureton; five great-grandchildren, Shakri G., Ella G., Santana, Stephen Cureton and Rodrecus (RJ) Martin, all of Charlotte; four sisters, Lena Rice of Brooklyn, New York, Edna Newton of Baltimore, Maryland, Jimmie Lee Osborne of Newnan, Georgia, and Gladys Miott of Hampton, Virginia; one brother Joshua (Eula Mae) Neal of Sumter; four sisters-in-law, Dorothy Neal of Hempstead, New York, Clara M. Chambers, Nevetta C. Ferguson and Sara L. Walker of Sumter; an adopted son, the Rev. Curtis Lee (Pearl) Vann of Tallahassee, Florida; a foster son, Marlon Allen of Washington, D.C.; special friends, Lamon O’Neal and George Scott, and Alford and Agnes Spencer of Sumter; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends. Martha was preceded in death by “special loves of her life” — her husband Jimmie, her son Reginald and her great-grandson Shamar. Public viewing will be held from 2 to 7 p.m. today at Job’s Mortuary. Mrs. Cureton will be placed in the church at 1 p.m. Monday for viewing until the hour of service. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Monday at New Bethel Missionary Baptist Church, 3249 U.S. 15 South, with the Rev. Willie Wright officiating. Interment will follow in Evergreen Memorial Park. Job’s Mortuary, Inc., 312 S. Main St., 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.
CLARENCE G. SIMS Clarence Grady “Shorty” Sims, 85, went to be with his wife of 50 years, Betty Wilson Sims, Friday, May 15, 2015, at Tuomey Regional Medical Center. Born in Winnsboro, he was a son of the late John M. and Nannie Sims. He was a member of First Pentecostal Holiness Church and attended Eastside Baptist Church. He was a member of the Sumter Mason Lodge No. 364. He worked for A&P Grocery Store for 28 years and retired from Kentucky Fried Chicken. Survivors include a daughter, Melissa Sims Brunson (Eddie) of Sumter; two grandchildren, Jason E. Brunson and Lauren A. Brunson, both of Sumter; a great-granddaughter, Kaylee Brunson; a sister, Betty Wilson of Florida; and a brother, John Sims of Winnsboro. A graveside service will be held at 3 p.m. today in the Royal Pines Cemetery in Winnsboro. Memorials may be made to Eastside Baptist Church, 701 Boulevard Road, Sumter, S.C. 29153. Elmore-Cannon-Stephens Funeral Home and Crematorium of Sumter is in charge of the arrangements.
PAUL L. HYATT Paul Laverne “Honey Bee” Hyatt, 72, husband of Mary Sue Scurry Hyatt, died Saturday, May 16, 2015, at Providence Hospital in Columbia. Born in Sumter, he was a son of the late James Warner and Pauline Nunnery Hyatt. He was a member of Wise Drive Church of the Nazarene. Mr. Hyatt worked at B.L. Montague for 32 years and for six years at Cutler-Hammer before retiring. Survivors include his wife of 45 years; a daughter, Paula Sue Hyatt Cummings (Ched) of Columbia; two sons, James Michael Hyatt (Kim) of Sumter and Brian Patrick Hyatt of Columbia; five grandchildren, Hannah, Leann and Abby Cummings, all of Columbia, Micahaela Hyatt of Sumter and Gage Hyatt of Florence; a sister, Dorothy Mixon of Sumter; and a number of nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be held at 3 p.m. Tuesday at Wise Drive Church of the Nazarene with the Rev. Sammy Geddings and the Rev. John Matthews officiating. Burial will be in the Evergreen Memorial Park Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Cory Clemmons, Jason Ardis, Chip Infinger, Jason Hyatt, Keith Hyatt and Slade Mixon. The family will receive
SUNDAY, MAY 17, 2015 friends from 2 to 3 p.m. Tuesday at Wise Drive Church of the Nazarene and other times at the home. Memorials may be made to Wise Drive Church of the Nazarene, 302 N. Wise Drive, Sumter, S.C. 29150. Elmore-Cannon-Stephens Funeral Home and Crematorium of Sumter is in charge of the arrangements.
MARIE T. CROLLEY Marie Timmons Crolley, 76, wife of Larry Craig Crolley, died on Friday, May 15, 2015, at her home. Born on February 10, 1939, in the Friendfield community, she was a daughter of the late Dorsey and Lebinan Timmons. She was actively involved with and loved her church family of Alice Drive Baptist Church. She was a retired school teacher from Darlington County School District. She is survived by her husband of 50 years. Preceding her death she lost a daughter, Rhonda Marie Crolley. Survivors include daughters, Belinda Crolley McCrea of Kingstree and Tammy Crolley (Harvey) Achziger of Sumter; four grandchildren, Joe Ashley McClary (Ashleigh) of Columbia, Leigh McCrea Johnson (Justin) of Lake City, Lauren Marie McCrea (Elder Hucks) of Kingstree and McLean Marie Achziger of Sumter; one great-grandchild, Ella Grace Johnson of Lake City. She was preceded in death by her siblings: Rufus Timmons (Mary Von), Ruth Hayes (Elston), Irene Linn (Harold), Roland Timmons (Evelyn), Nette Rourk (Frank), C. H. Timmons (Vera), Herbert Timmons (Eunice), I. D. Timmons (Darsile), Johnny Timmons (Frances), Jimmy Timmons (Betty Jo) and Margie Price (Gayle). A special thank you to Brenda Lewis of Friendfield, Joella Rigby of Sumter and Kim Griffin of Tri-County Hospice. The family will receive friends at the home and from 4 to 6 p.m. today at Elmore-Cannon-Stephens Funeral Home. The graveside service will be held at 4p.m. Monday at Hebron Baptist Church in Scranton. Memorials may be made to Alice Drive Baptist Church, 1305 Loring Mill Road, Sumter, S.C. 29150 or Tri-County Hospice in Sumter. Elmore-Cannon-Stephens Funeral Home and Crematorium of Sumter is in charge of the arrangements.
HERMAN E. ARDIS MANNING — Herman Ed-
JAMES PEARSON James Pearson, 83, died Saturday, May 16, 2015, at Clarendon Memorial Hospital in Manning. Born August 20, 1931, in Davis Station, he was a son of the late Levi and Viola Clark Pearson Sr. The family is receiving friends at his residence, 1853 LH Pearson Road, Manning. These services are entrusted to Samuels Funeral Home LLC of Manning.
RANDOLPH FULLWOOD Randolph Fullwood, 64, died Friday, May 15, 2015, at his residence. Born in Sumter County, he was a son of Flora Bell Scott Fulwood and the late Lewis Fulwood. The family will receive friends at the Fullwood residence, 221 Brent St. Palmer Memorial Chapel is in charge of funeral arrangements.
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ward Ardis, 85, husband of 44 years to Barbara Anne Dantzler Ardis, died Saturday, May 16, 2015, at National Healthcare of Sumter. Born September 8, 1929, in Manning, he was a son of the late Herbert Laird and the late Nomie Dennis Ardis. He was a retired building contractor and an Elder Emeritus and member of McDowell Presbyterian Church. He is survived by his wife in Manning; a son, Damon Ardis (Zelda) of Goose Creek; three daughters, Judy Thompson (Buddy) of Mount Pleasant, Barbara Metsker (Ron) of Sumter and Mona Dickson of Ridgeland; two step-children, Virginia Bailey of Memphis, Tennessee, and Thomas Riley of Ridgeville; three sisters, Vivian Epps (Cutter) of Manning, Jean Malone (John) of Florence and Maryann Horton (Mike) of Columbia; six grandchildren; numerous greatgrandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by a daughter, Teresa Ardis, and two brothers, Wilbur Ardis and Clyde Ardis. A funeral service will be held at 3 p.m. Tuesday in the chapel of Stephens Funeral Home with Chaplain Michael Romano and the Rev. John Matthews officiating. Burial will follow in Manning Cemetery. Honorary pallbearers will be Elders of McDowell Presbyterian Church. Visitation will be at 2 p.m., one hour prior to the service. Memorials may be made to a charity of one’s choice. Stephens Funeral Home & Crematory, 304 N. Church St., Manning, is in charge of arrangements, (803) 435-2179. www.stephensfuneralhome.org
Cobern Epting
ELIJAH MCELVEEN JR. Elijah “Poor Boy” McElveen, Jr., 82, husband of Jo Ann Bradley McElveen, died early Saturday morning, May 16, 2015, at his residence. Born December 22, 1932, in Olanta, he was a son of the late Elijah and Artmore Nero McElveen Sr. The family are receiving friends at the home, 4789 Narrow Paved Road, Lynchburg. These services will be announced later by Samuels Funeral Home LLC of Manning.
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