U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014
Barbara Kay Jeter Simpson
Barbara Kay Jeter Simpson, 62, wife of Charlie Thomas Simpson, died Friday, April 9, 2004, at her home in the Home Branch Community of Manning.
Born August 8, 1941, in Crew, Va., she was a daughter of the late Lawson and Cleo Yeatts Jeter. She was of the Baptist faith.
Surviving besides her husband of Manning are three daughters, Wendy Raley of Ocala, Fla., Vickie Russell of Orlando, Fla., and Debra Green of Manning; four stepdaughters, Wanda Brown, Pamela Cox, Tammy Grimsley and Jan Crawford of Sumter; a sister, Connie Young of Farmville, Va.; 10 grandchildren; eight step-grandchildren; 11 great grandchildren.
Funeral services were held on Tuesday, April 13, 2004, in the chapel of Stephens Funeral Home in Manning, with the Rev. John Hall officiating. Burial followed in Clarendon Memorial Gardens.
Stephens Funeral Home and Crematory of Manning was in charge of the arrangements.
Winnie N. Polite
Mrs. Winnie Nelson Polite entered eternal rest on Thursday, April 1, 2004, at Tuomey Regional Medical Center.
Mrs. Winnie Nelson Polite was a daughter of the late Mr. George Nelson and Mrs. Dora Nelson. In her youth, she attended the public schools of Clarendon County and was a member of Mt. Nebo Missionary Baptist Church. Twice married, Mrs. Polite was first married to the late Mr. Charlie Polite and secondly to Mr. James Bradford.
She leaves to cherish her loving memory, her children; three sons, Mr. William (Marie) Polite, and Mr. Clarence Bradford, both of Sumter, and Mr. Robert Bradford of Plant City, Fla.; four daughters, Mrs. Theola (John) Wilson, Mrs. Annie Mae Wells, Mrs. Helen (Ervin) Prince, all of Sumter, and Mrs. Amy Wilder of Long Beach, 
N.Y.; one adopted daughter, Mrs. Inez Taylor of Manning; 53 grandchildren; and 100 great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were held on Wednesday, April 7, 2004, at Mt. Nebo Baptist Church, Manning, with the Rev. Dennis Brock, pastor, and assisted by the Rev. M.G. Walters. Burial followed in the church cemetery.
Community Funeral Home of Sumter was in charge of the arrangements.
Mattie B. Murphy
Mrs. Mattie Blanding Murphy died Saturday, April 3, 2004, at the Hopewell Healthcare Center in Sumter.
She was the widow of Mr. John Murphy and the daughter of the late Mr. Willie Blanding and Mrs. Marie Blanding. Mrs. Murphy was born in Clarendon County on Jan. 20, 1925.
She attended the public schools in Clarendon County. After moving to New York, she joined Holy House of Prayer in Brooklyn, N.Y., where she served on the usher board. She later moved back to South Carolina and became a faithful member of Green Hill Baptist Church until her health failed.
Survivors include one sister, Louise Dargan of Sumter; one niece, Shirley M. Davis of Sumter; three nephews, William (Elouise) Dargan of Connecticut, James Dargan of Brooklyn, N.Y., and Ambrose Davis of Brooklyn, N.Y.
She was preceded in death by two brothers and one sister.
Funeral services were held on Friday, April 9, 2004, at Green Hill Baptist Church in Alcolu with the Rev. James Hudley, assisted by the Rev. W.J. Frierson. Burial followed in the church cemetery.
Community Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Raekwon Guest Moody
Raekwon Guest Moody, 4, died Wednesday, April 7, 2004.
Born in New York City on May 27, 1999, he was a son of Lalesha Guest of Sumter and ShaRon Moody.
He was a student at Alice Drive Elementary School.
Survivors, besides his parents, include grandparents, Johnnie (Lesha) Lynch of Manning, Cheryl Moody and Charles Callender Jr.; great-grandparents Marie Oyster Guest of Manning, Edna Mae Lynch, Gloria Moody and Henry Couser; and one brother, Damian Guest of Sumter.
Funeral services were held Tuesday, April 13, 2004, at Taw Caw Missionary Baptist Church in Summerton, with the Reverend Dr. William T. Johnson officiating.
Burial was in the church cemetery.
Summerton Funeral Services was in charge of the arrangements.
Lucille W. McKnight
Mrs. Lucille Woods McKnight, the daughter of the late Mr. Willie Woods and Mrs. Viola Smith Woods, was born Jan. 1, 1913, in Clarendon County. She departed this life on Wednesday morning, April 7, 2004, at Tuomey Regional Medical Center.
Mrs. McKnight was married to the late Mr. Madison “Doc” McKnight and to their union four children were born. Early in her life, she joined Green Hill Baptist Church, where she was a member of the missionary society.
Survivors include three daughters, Lucinda Benjamin of Manhattan, N.Y., Mary Kennedy of Baltimore and Mamie M. Hilton of Manning; 13 grandchildren; 27 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by a son, Madison McKnight Jr.; two grandchildren, Melvin and Derrick; four brothers; and two sisters.
Funeral services were held on Saturday, April 10, 2004, at Green Hill Baptist Church with the Rev. James Hudley, pastor, assisted by the Rev. Dennis Jeffcoat, the Rev. W.J. Frierson, the Rev. Esterlene Bethune and the Rev. E. Sweat. Burial followed in the Green Hill Church cemetery.
Community Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.
Percy J. Martins
Percy Joseph Martins, 77, husband of Edith Elizabeth Cowins Martins, died Monday, April 5, 2004, at Tuomey Regional Medical Center in Sumter.
Born Sept. 4, 1926, in Georgetown, British Guiana, he was a son of the late Cyril and Clara Cabral Martins. He was retired assistant principal of Berkshire Farm Center in Canaan, N.Y. He was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II, and a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Summerton.
Surviving besides his wife of Manning, are a daughter, Jane Elizabeth Shaw of Warrenton, Va.; three sons, Stephen Richard “Skip” Martins of Hudson, N.Y., Thomas Scott Martins of Chatham, N.Y., and Daniel John Martins of Greenville; a sister, Joyce Somers of Santa Monica, Calif.; and five grandchildren.
Private services will be held at a later date.
Stephens Funeral Home and Crematory of Manning was in charge of the arrangements.
Alex Johnson
Alex Johnson, 85, husband of Mary Burgess Johnson for 54 years, died Monday, April 5, 2004, at Tuomey Regional Medical Center.
Born Dec. 23, 1918, in Clarendon County, he was a son of the late Charlie Johnson and Emma Brand Johnson.
He was educated in the public schools of Clarendon County. At an early age, he accepted Christ as his Lord and Savior. While living in Clarendon County, he attended St. John A.M.E. and St. Mark Baptist Churches. He later joined Jehovah Missionary Baptist Church. In 1944, he joined the United States Navy. After years of service to his country, he received an honorable discharge. He later became employed by B.L. Montague in Sumter, from where he retired in 1985.
Survivors besides his wife include five children, Lydia J. (George) Mickens, Alexander Johnson, Wayne Johnson, Lillarweise Johnson (Joe) Seymore, all of Sumter, and Clarence (Linda) Johnson of Greensboro, N.C.; three brothers, Abraham Johnson of Fayetteville, N.C., Henry (Lottie) Johnson, Wesley Johnson, both of New York; two sisters, Henrietta Wilson of Washington, D.C., and Carrie (Maxwell) McFadden of Sumter; 13 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by a son, Felix Johnson, a granddaughter, Tenessa Johnson; three sisters, Lella Montgomery, Louizer McFadden, Susannah McFadden; and six brothers, Moses, Jasper, Harvey, William, R.M. and Harry.
Funeral services were held on Monday, April 12, 2004, at Jehovah Missionary Baptist Church, in Sumter, with the Rev. Dr. Marion H. Newton, officiating, assisted by Pastor Ricky Simmons, the Rev. Herbert Fogle, the Rev. Oliver Davis and Minister Irene Anthony.
Burial was in Florence National Cemetery in Florence.
Williams Funeral Home, Inc. was in charge of the arrangements.
Albert J. Gordon Sr.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Albert James Gordon Sr., 70, husband of Georgia Bell Gordon, died April 4, 2004, at George Washington Hospital, Washington, D.C.
Born May 3, 1933, in Turbeville, he was a son of the late Eddie Mossie Gordon Sr. and Mary McFadden Gordon. He received his formal education in the public schools of Clarendon County. At an early age, he joined Hickory Grove Baptist Church. Later, after moving to Washington, D.C., he joined Pleasant Grove Baptist Church, where he served as a deacon, member of the male chorus, courtesy chorus and the Pleasant Grove Gospel Ensemble. He was also a proud Mason with the Beta Lodge No. 2. He worked with Taylor Construction Co. and later with Washington Gas and Light.
Survivors besides his wife include two sons, Albert J. Gordon Jr. and Jacob J. Gordon, both of Washington, D.C.; three daughters, Brenda Gordon, Barbara Ann Gordon and Michelle Gordon, all of Washington, D.C.; three brothers, Eddie (Margaret) Gordon Jr. of Lake City, Ervin (Nora) Gordon of Lake City and Alexander Gordon of Johnsonville; three sisters, Evangelist Dr. Dorothy Campbell of Bronx, N.Y., Carrie Hinnant of Sumter and Sarah (Leroy) Smith of Turbeville; and 14 grandchildren.
Funeral services were held on Saturday, April 10, 2004, at Hickory Grove Freewill Baptist Church, Turbeville, with Elder Zander Davis, pastor, officiating, assisted by Bishop Dr. Odell Fulton and Presiding Elder Dr. Linwood Cooper. Burial was in Old McFadden Cemetery, Turbeville.
Samuels Funeral Home LLC of Manning was in charge of arrangements.
Melvin A. Duke
Melvin A. Duke, 77, husband of Sadie Roberson Duke, died Tuesday, April 6, 2004, at McLeod Regional Medical Center in Florence.
Born May 3, 1926, in Gable, he was a son of the late James A. and Theresa Harrington Duke. He was a retired merchant and a member of Midway Presbyterian Church.
Surviving besides his wife of New Zion are a daughter, Shirlene (Whit) Blanton of Florence; five sons, Steve Duke of Hartsville, Richard Duke of Summerton, Terrell Duke of New Zion, Glen Don (Dennie) Duke of Kingstree, and Charles Lyn Duke of Florence; a sister, Lib Johnson of Kingstree; and a brother, Wayne Duke of Seattle; 13 grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
Funeral services were held on Thursday, April 8, 2004, at Midway Presbyterian Church. The Rev. Dr. Rodney Foster, the Rev. Waylan Owens and the Rev. Morris Smith officiated. Burial followed in the church cemetery.
Memorials may be made to Midway Presbyterian Church, 12183 Black River Road, New Zion, S.C. 29111.
Stephens Funeral Home and Crematory of Manning was in charge of the arrangements.
Len Hawthorne
Len Hawthorne, age 26, husband of 2-1/2 years to Jerin Artrip Hawthorne, died Tuesday, April 13, 2004, due to an accident.
Mr. Hawthorne was the son of Janet Bjerken Hawthorne and James and Emma Hawthorne. He was a heavy equipment operator for the family-owned business of V.B. Hawthorne and Son Inc. of Sumter. He received an associate degree from Horry Technical College. He was in the process of building a new home for himself and his wife. He was an avid fisherman, game hunter, and founded The Twelve Bridges Road Hunting Club. He was a very loving, kind and helpful person that lived his life with no regrets. He was a member of Graham Baptist Church.
Surviving in addition to his wife and parents are one brother, Sam Hawthorne of Sumter; one sister, BriAnne Gail Hawthorne of Myrtle Beach; paternal grandmother, Winnie Hawthorne of Sumter; maternal grandparents, Marian Bjerken of Sumter and Lennart and Bobbie Bjerken of Cabot, Ark.
He was preceded in death by his grandfather, Bert Hawthorne.
A funeral service was held on Friday, April 16, 2004, at Graham Baptist Church with the Rev. John Patrick and the Rev. Daniel Lee officiating.
Memorials may be sent to Graham Baptist Church, “New Building Fund,” 4140 U.S. 521 S., Sumter, S.C. 29153.
Bullock Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.
