U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014
Gena Melton
FLORENCE — Gena James Melton, 83, died Tuesday, October 26, 2004, at her residence after an extended illness.
Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m. Friday, October 29, 2004, in Central United Methodist Church, directed by Waters-Powell Funeral Home. Burial will follow in Mount Hope Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home.
She was born in Darlington County, the daughter of the late Henderson Wylie and Bessie Holt James. She was a graduate of St. John’s High School in Darlington. Mrs. Melton was a secretary at the Florence Air Base during World War II. She later was a secretary in the Home Demonstration office of Clemson University Cooperative Extension Service.
She was a 60-year member of Central United Methodist Church, where she was a member of the Joy Anderson Circle and the United Fellowship Sunday School Class.
She is survived by her husband of 62 years, Carey Bardin Melton of the home. Although Mrs. Melton had no children of her own, she leaves a legacy of love for many cousins, all of whom she helped raise and nurture, including The Rev. Ted (Pegilie) Walter of Columbia, Mary Lou Munn of Sumter, Connie Walter of Falls Church, VA, Kathryn Jones (Carl) Siemen of Lexington, and Kevin (Phillip) Lassen of Florence.
Memorials may be made to Hospice of the Pee Dee, 555 E. Cheves Street, Florence, SC 29506.
Letha Nesmith
SALTERS — Services with burial for Letha Mae McCray Nesmith, 65, are noon Saturday at Jerusalem United Methodist Church. Dimery & Rogers Funeral Home, Kingstree, is in charge. Born in Williamsburg Co. to Wallace and Ellen Bell McCray, she died October 22, 2004. Surviving: children, Willie, Sonny, Roosevelt, Oliver, James, Helen, Bridgette, Tamika; brothers; sisters; grandchildren; great-grands; others.
Juanita Raines
BLYTHEWOOD — Funeral service for Juanita P. Raines, 79, will be held 3 o’clock Friday, October 29, 2004, at Mt. Pleasant United Methodist Church with The Reverend Jerry Nelson officiating. Interment will follow in the church cemetery. Serving as pallbearers are: Donald Jones, Stuart Jones, Ronald Price, Alexis Price, Jr., Billy Raines, Jimmy Wishert, Charles Miller and Richard Bouknight. The family will receive friends from 6 until 8 o’clock this Thursday evening in Shives Funeral Home. Memorials may be made the charity of one’s choice.
Mrs. Raines, widow of Fred W. Raines, died Tuesday, October 26, 2004. Born in Blythewood, SC on December 23, 1924 she was a daughter of the late Arthur and Edna Fulmer Price.
Surviving include her son, Fred E. “Eddie” Raines and wife Donna, of Blythewood, daughters; Carolyn Hall of Blythewood, Linda J. Raines and husband, Jerry Cumings of St. Petersburg, FL, granddaughters, Angie Miller and husband, Mark of Elgin, SC and Jenny Raines of Blythewood, sisters; Iva Cunningham, Margaret Jones and Mildred Wishert all of Blythewood. Mrs. Raines was preceded in death by her sisters Blanche Summers of Newberry, Clara Addis and a brother, Alexis B. Price both of Blythewood.
Aubrey Thomas
WEST COLUMBIA — Funeral service for Mrs. Aubrey Nevils Thomas, 79, of West Columbia, will be held 1 o’clock Friday, October 29, 2004 at Shives Funeral Home, Colonial Chapel. Interment will follow in Southland Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends from 6 until 8 Thursday evening at the funeral home.
Mrs. Thomas died Tuesday, October 26, 2004. Born in Charlotte, NC, she was a daughter of the late Lawson J. and Leola Erwin Nevils. She attended college in Collegedale, TN.
Survivors are her daughter, Mrs. Millie (Dick) Hazewinkel; son, Thomas N. Thomas; four grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; sister, Mrs. Dorothy N. McLane.
Mary Walters
GREENVILLE — Mrs. Mary Frances Ashmore Walters went to be with the Lord on Tuesday, October 26th, 2004. Born on September 23, 1924, she was the daughter of Fred Moser Ashmore and Elsie Mae Green Ashmore. She was a graduate of Greenville High School and attended Furman University.
Mary Frances was a devoted member of the Overbrook Baptist Church where she cared for hundreds of infants in the Sunday morning nursery. She also served her “second church,” Greenville Associated Reformed Presbyterian, as the church secretary for many years.
She was the adored and faithful wife of J.D. Walters, Sr., beloved mother of Anne (Hitt), Jimmy, Fred, John and Betsy (“Chip”), and the precious “Ma-Ma” to nine grandchildren and two great-grandsons. She is survived also by her dearest friend and cousin Ann Jones Poore.
Visitation will be held Saturday, October 30, 2004 at 9:30 a.m. at Overbrook Baptist Church, followed by funeral services at 11:00 a.m. Interment will follow in Springwood Cemetery, Greenville.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Overbrook Baptist Church Building or Missions Fund, 1705 E. North Street, Greenville, SC 29607.
The Mackey Mortuary, Century Drive
R. Laverne Ward
LONGS — Services for Robert Laverne Ward, 70, are 2 p.m. Friday (visitation noon-2 p.m.) at Hardwick Funeral Home, Loris; burial: Pleasant Plain Cemetery. Born in Little River to Robert and Florence Ward, he died Oct. 26, 2004. Surviving: former wife, Jessie Ratliff; children, Robbie and William Ward, Wanda Haithcock, Linda Blair, Carol Stewart, Cynthia Bowling; brother; 5 sisters; 11 grands; 9 great-grandchildren.
Robert Whoy
ROCK HILL — A graveside service for Robert S. Whoy, 75, widower of Emma Larcombe Whoy, will be 2 p.m. Friday in Catawba Baptist Church Cemetery. Visitation is 3-4:30 p.m. Thursday at Greene Funeral Home, Downtown. Born in Atlantic City, N.J., to Lawrence and Eleanora Doughty Whoy, he died Oct. 26, 2004. Surviving: sisters, Josephn Merril, Jeanie Whoy; grandchildren; great-grandchildren.
Mildred Forte’
HARTSVILLE — Services with burial for Ms. Mildred Paulette “Tuddy” Forte’ are 2 p.m. Saturday at Kay Branch Missionary Baptist Church, directed by Hines Funeral Home. Born in Darlington Co. to Thomas and Lillie Forte’, she was employed at Sonoco Products Co. Surviving: daughter, Nyisha Wingate; siblings, Billy, Gregory, Timothy, Zachary, Willie Forte’, Thomas Marine, Katherine Hunter; grandchildren; others.
Nell Fletcher
MCCOLL — Graveside service for Nell Fletcher, 90, is 1:30 p.m. Saturday in Beaverdam Cemetery, directed by Rogers Funeral Home. The family is at 218 N. Main St. Born in McColl to John and Mamie Eachern Fletcher, she died Oct. 28, 2004. She worked in the Mecklenburg Co. and N.C. school systems for 41 years and was a member of Main St. UMC. Surviving: siblings, John Fletcher, Dot Buchanan; nieces; nephews.
Louise King
CHARLOTTE — Services for Louise Washington King, 90, widow of Charlie King, are 11 a.m. Saturday at Pleasant Hill Baptist Church; burial: York Memorial Park. King’s Funeral Home is in charge. Born in Richland Co., S.C., to Hampton and Maggie Washington she died Oct. 26, 2004. Surviving are siblings, Elliott, Booker Washington , Margaret Smith; nephew/caregiver, Robert Washington ; cousin, Henry Mack.
Willie Harris Sr.
ELGIN — Services for Mr. Willie Harris, Sr., of 320 Deer Run Rd, will be held 3:00 p.m. Saturday at James Chapel AME Church, Ridgeway, with interment to follow in the church cemetery. Palmer Memorial Chapel, Columbia, is in charge.
Mr. Harris died Monday, October 25, 2004. Born in Ridgeway, he was the son of the late English, Sr. and Annie Murphy Harris.
Surviving are his wife, Linda P. Harris; sons, Willie, Jr., Derrick and Kenneth Harris; daughters, Patricia Harris and Barbara Harris; sisters, Beverly Gripper and Christine McDaniel; brothers, John, David and Jerome Harris; 18 grandchildren and one great-grand.
Horace Ruff
NEWBERRY — Services for Horace Earl Ruff will be held at 3 p.m. Saturday at F.B. Pratt & Son Funeral Home with burial in Werts Cemetery. Born in Newberry Co. to Oliver and Alberta Jeter Ruff, he died Oct. 30, 2004. Surviving are children, Sonya Ruff, Shyanita Tommoney, Earl Brooks; sisters, Geraldine Suber, Margaret Sherill, Thelma Flanagan; grandchildren; aunts; uncles; nieces; nephews; cousins.
Joseph Plaja
RIVERVIEW, Fla. — Services for Joseph Allen Plaja, 55, 10 a.m. Saturday at Stowers Funeral Home. He died Oct. 27, 2004. He was a USAF Viet Nam veteran, member of the Knights of Columbus, of the Christian faith, a loving husband and a wonderful father. Surviving: loving wife, Nelsa; children, John, Juby, Tray-c Plaja, Maria Olivera; parents, Fred & Harriet Plaja, siblings, Joseph Plaja, Karen Vicar; grandchild.
Dorothy Arrington
CAMDEN — Funeral services for Dorothy “Dot” Smith Arrington, 83, will be held on Saturday, October 30, 2004 at 11 a.m. at Lakeview Baptist Church with burial in Quaker Cemetery. Rev. Hugh McKinney and Pastor Joe Stines will officiate. The family will receive friends at the home. Memorials may be made to Lakeview Baptist Church Building Fund, 1520 Mill Street, Camden, SC 29020 or El Bethel Faith Community Church, 905 Longtown Road, Lugoff, SC 29078.
Mrs. Arrington died Thursday, October 28, 2004. Born in Camden, she was the daughter of the late William B. and Rosa Massebeau Smith. She was a retired registered nurse, former co-owner of the “City Curb Market,” a graduate of Camden School of Nursing and a member of Lakeview Baptist Church.
Surviving are her husband, Edward Earl Arrington Sr.; son, Eddie Arrington and his wife, Debbie, of Camden; grandchildren, Chip Arrington and his wife, Regina, and Elizabeth Arrington; 4 great-grandchildren, Haylee Arrington, Hope King, Heather King and Garrett Arrington; brothers, Billy Smith of Charleston and Teddy Smith of Pigeon Forge; sister, Sybil Eaddy of Camden.
Ophelia Joyner
VARNVILLE — Services with burial for Ophelia R. Joyner, 85, widow of Leroy Joyner, 1 p.m. Saturday at New Hope Baptist Church. Washington ’s Funeral Home, Hampton is in charge. Born in Sumter Co. to Samuel and Betty DuPree Ramsey, she died Oct. 26, 2004. Surviving: children, Lennard Glover, James Fields, Maurice Collins, Jennie Turner; grands, Jeanie, Jimmy Turner, Aaron Booker, Byron Collins.
Rachel Williams
COLUMBIA — Services for Mrs. Rachel Eloise Wharton Williams, 78, will be held 1:00 p.m. Saturday, October 30, 2004 at Emmanuel AME Church, 2130 Barhamville Rd, Columbia, SC. Palmer Memorial Chapel is in charge.
Mrs. Williams died Tuesday, October 26, 2004. Born in Due West, SC, she was the daughter of the late Janie Wharton Barmore and Saul Fisher. At an early age, she joined Mt. Lebanon AME Church. She was the owner and operator of a hair salon and convenience store in Due West.
Mrs. Williams was a graduate of Allen University and taught at Gadsden Elementary and Alcorn Middle Schools (Richland One), retiring in 1987. She was a member of Emmanuel AME Church for 50 years, serving with distinction as Women’s Missionary Society president, Steward Board member, and Stewardess Board vice-president. She represented the Emmanuel Senior Citizens’ Fellowship Group while serving as Senior Advisory Board member of the Richland County Parks and Recreation Commission. She was recently honored by her church and the Columbia Area Women’s Missionary Society (Columbia conference Branch) of the AME Church, for outstanding service.
Immediate survivors include daughters, Edith Spells Collins of Due West, SC, Rita Williams (Lindsey) Bates, Susan Williams Richardson, and Constance Williams Prioleau; grands, Major Carey Johnson of Maxwell Air Force Base, AL and Rachel Richardson; step-grandchildren Tiffany and Michael Bates; brothers Warner (Thomasina) Fisher of Hempstead, NY and Gregory Fisher of Tampa, FL; sisters, Carolyn Wharton (Franklin) Bonner of Miami, FL and Sandra Fisher (William) Stinson of Los Angeles, CA. She was predeceased by her husband, Edgar Burt Williams and brother, Glenn Fisher.
