U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014
Retha Beasley
ELGIN — Funeral services for Retha Kennedy Beasley, 90, will be held on Saturday, January 8, 2005, at 11:00 a.m. at Blaney Baptist Church with burial to follow in the church cemetery. Rev. Bill Mattox will officiate. The family will receive friends on Friday, January 7, 2005, from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at Kornegay Funeral Home Lugoff Elgin Chapel. Memorials may be made to Blaney Baptist Church, 1400 Blaney Road, Elgin, SC 29045.
Mrs. Beasley, widow of Norman Carl Beasley, died Wednesday, January 5, 2005. Born in Florence County, SC, she was the daughter of the late Alfred Lewis and Mary Ellen Bailey Kennedy. Mrs. Beasley was a member of Blaney Baptist Church. The family would like to thank the Georgetown Mercy Hospice for their kindness.
Surviving are daughters, Mrs. James T. (Doris) Suggs of Surfside Beach, and Mrs. Ira J. (Billie) Skinner of Boynton Beach, FL; sons, Norman Carl Beasley, Jr., of Hollywood, FL, and Harold K. Beasley of Amherst, OH; sisters, Talluah Parnell of Florence, Lynn Carter of Florence and Marion Oglsby of Aiken; brothers, Roland Kennedy of Florence, Al Kennedy of Myrtle Beach; 13 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by sisters, Suzie Gandy, Mae Kennedy, and Hazel Pirkle and brother, Chesley Kennedy.
Birtha Reed
COLUMBIA — Services for Mrs. Birtha Triplin Reed, of 712 Dixie Ave, will be held 12:00 noon Saturday at Ridgewood Baptist Church, with burial in Palmetto Cemetery. Palmer Memorial Chapel is in charge.
Mrs. Reed died Tuesday, January 4, 2005. Born in Newberry County, she was the daughter of the late Douglas and Mattie Griffin Triplin. She was a member of Ridgewood Baptist Church.
Surviving are children, Mattie Williams, Raymond and Robert L. (Ruth) Reed; grandchildren; great-grandchildren; great-great-grandchildren; nieces; nephews; and cousins.
Nora Berry
SUMTER — Nora Allie Matheny Berry, 87, widow of Ellis Thomas Berry, died Tuesday, January 4, 2005, in the Tuomey Regional Medical Center.
Born in Saluda, she was the daughter of the late Charles Benjamin Matheny and the late Lila Mae Holland Matheny.
Mrs. Berry was a member of Ashwood Baptist Church, where she served in many capacities. She was a member of Woodmen of the World.
Surviving are three sons, Charles “Dan” Berry and wife Wilma of Lake Murray, James W. Berry and wife Donna of Columbia and E. Travis Berry and wife Nancy of Lancaster; two daughters, Jeanette Widener of Camden and Lila Scaffe and husband James of Sumter; a brother, Jack Matheny of Johnston, SC; three sisters, Perrine Mathews of Rockmart, GA, Helen Holmes and Ruby Holmes of Johnston; 12 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; and her caretaker and special friend of 20 years, Georgia Martin.
She was preceded in death by four brothers and two sisters.
Funeral services will be held at 12:00 Noon Friday at the Ashwood Baptist Church with the Rev. Joel Talley and the Rev. Luke Harris officiating.
Burial will be in the Ashwood Baptist Church Cemetery.
Grandsons will serve as Pallbearers.
The family will receive friends from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday at the Elmore Hill McCreight Funeral Home and 1 hour prior to the service at the church.
Memorials may be made to the Ashwood Baptist Church Mission Fund, 1075 Lake Ashwood Rd. Sumter, SC 29153 or to a charity of one’s choice.
Elmore Hill McCreight Funeral Home and Crematory, 221 Broad Street, Sumter, is in charge of the arrangements.
Thelma Cooper
TARPON SPRINGS, Fla. — Thelma Belle “Gram” Banks Cooper, 80, of Tarpon Springs, FL, formerly of Albany, died Tuesday (¼/05). She was born in Rion, SC, to Simpson Douglas and Belle (Grant). She was a 1941 graduate and valedictorian of Green Briar High School, Fairfield County, SC, member of the First United Methodist Church of Albany, Retired Air Force Officers Association and Gold Star Wives.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Colonel William E. Cooper, USAF (MIA in Vietnam); her parents; brothers, S.D., Larry and Leslie; and sister, Margie Williamson. She is survived by sons, William, Jr. (Marjorie), Winter Park, FL, John (Debra), Bryan, TX, and Clayton (Jackie), Tarpon Springs; daughters, Carolyn Boswell, Tarpon Springs and Amy (Greg) Berkes, McDonough, GA; sister, Hazel Howell, Columbia, SC; grandchildren, Vann, William III and James Boswell, Jordan, Lindsay, John Tyler and Chris Cooper, Gregory and Elizabeth Berkes, and Sabrina and Jesse Gaynor; great-grandchildren, Dylan and Delyza Belle Cooper and Jocelyn Boswell; and her beloved cat, George.
Visitation will be Sunday (1/9/05) from 1:00 p.m. until service begins at 2 p.m. at Barron Funeral Home, Chester, S.C. Burial following in Evergreen Cemetery, Chester.
Richard Grant
PROSPERITY — Services for Richard “Red” Grant, 67, are 2:30 p.m. Sunday at Grace Baptist Church, burial in Whitmire Cemetery. Visitation is 6:30-8:30 tonight at Gray Funeral Home, Whitmire. Born in Whitmire to John and Elsie Moore Grant, he died Jan. 6, 2005. Surviving: wife, Linda Whitmire Grant; stepchildren, Travis Newsome, Linda Worthy; siblings, John Grant Jr., Dot MisKelly; stepgrand, Jamie Worthy.
Franklin Grubbs
BLACKVILLE — Franklin Ray (Frank) Grubbs, 52, died Thursday at Palmetto Richland Memorial Hospital, Columbia, SC.
Born in Charleston, SC, he was the son of the late Etheridge J. Grubbs and the late Nell Still Grubbs. He was the owner of Grubbs Trucking Company.
Funeral services will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday, January 9, 2005, at the Blackville First Baptist Church with the Rev. Thomas Terry officiating. Burial will follow in the Blackville Cemetery. Visitation will be from 6-8 p.m. Saturday evening at Mole Funeral Home of Barnwell, SC.
Survivors include: one son, Clark Grubbs of Palmetto, Ga.; one daughter, Christy Rutland of Norway, SC; stepmother, Lucille Grubbs of Fort Mead, Fla.; one brother, Etheridge J. (Jimmy) Grubbs of Gilbert, SC; stepbrother, Lloyd Hall of Fort Mead, Fla.; stepsisters, Sharon Bowers of Fort Mead, Fla., Deborah Wilkinson of Jacksonville, Fla.; grandchildren, Matthew Grubbs of Palmetto, Ga., Emily Anne Rutland, Myles Rutland and Wallis Rutland of Norway, SC.
James Jowers
BAMBERG — James Anion Jowers, of 37 Oak St., Bamberg, SC, widower of Virginia H. Jowers, died Jan. 6, 2005, at Bamberg County Nursing Center. Born Jan. 18, 1921, to the late Annie Laurie Hain and the late Lennie Jowers, he was a member of First Baptist Church of Bamberg. He was in the fire service and retired from Savannah River Site after 32 years. Personal activities included hunting, fishing, sports, and grandchildren. He was also a great supporter of high school sports.
Graveside services will be 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 8, 2005, in Bamberg County Memory Gardens with Kelly Shanks officiating. Pallbearers will be Coach Dick Weldon, Dr. Marion Dwight, Spann Brabham, Harvey McMillan, Gene Kirkland, Clint Smoak, Buck Bessinger, Matt Medlin, Doc Bishop, Betty Hightower, Lois Rickenbacker, Jack Early, Richard Ness, Caleb Hartzog, Terry Hutto, Rep. Thomas Rhoad, Perry Hutto, Buddy Sandifer, Robert Taylor, and Billy Ingnam.
Surviving are 1 son, James J. and Irene Jowers; 2 daughters, Ginger and Ronald Bunch, and Lennye and Randy Miller; 7 grandchildren, J.J. Jowers and Vanne Sandifer, Buzzy and Brad Bunch, and Bunny Herron, Brody and Max Miller; great-grandchildren, Muriel Jowers, Ethan Sandifer, Corey and Kali Herron, Blaze, Ray Ellen Bunch, Aden Bunch.
Family will receive friends and family following the services at the home of Jeff and Irene Jowers 585 Broxton Bridge Rd., Bamberg, SC 29003. Memorials may be made to First Baptist Church, 11823 Heritage Hwy., Bamberg, SC 29003.
John Laird Jr.
NORTH AUGUSTA — Services for John Henry Laird Jr., 24, are 2 p.m. Sunday (visitation 5-7 tonight) at Hatcher Funeral Home, Langley, burial in Warrenville Cemetery. Born in Augusta, Ga., to John Laird Sr. and Sara Kennebeck, he died Jan. 6, 2005. Surviving: parents; stepmother, Linda Laird; stepfather, Marvin Kennebeck; grandparents, Hazel Posey, Lewis Craig; siblings, Sarah, Cole Laird; two stepsisters.
Anne Boyle
SUMTER — Anne Louise McMeekin Boyle, 72, widow of Ladson Hunter Boyle, died Friday, January 7, 2005, in Columbia.
Born on September 18, 1932, in Columbia, she was the daughter of the late Silas Calhoun McMeekin and the late Mattie Mills Tidwell McMeekin.
Mrs. Boyle grew up in Rolla, Missouri, and graduated from Columbia High School Class of 1950, in Columbia, SC. She attended Converse College and graduated from the University of South Carolina in 1954 where she was a member of Delta Delta Delta and Beaux Arts.
She was a member of Trinity United Methodist Church where she served twice as President of the Women of the Church. She was a member of the Daughters Book Club, The Sumter Assembly, Les Trente, the Trian Club, Sunset Country Club, The Palmetto Club and Blowing Rock Country Club.
She was a former member of the Sumter Art Association, the Sumter Garden Club and the Junior Welfare League. She also served on the Friends of Brookgreen Gardens and the USC Alumni Council. She and her friend had an antique shop, The Marlborough House in Blowing Rock, NC, for five years.
Surviving are a son, Ladson Hunter Boyle, Jr. of Columbia; a daughter, Meekin Boyle Herlong of Columbia; a brother, Silas Calhoun McMeekin, Jr. of Columbia; two grandchildren, James Augustus Herlong, Jr. and Anne McMeekin Herlong, both of Columbia; nephews, Adville Barnes Boyle, III, Silas Calhoun McMeekin, III, Thomas Preston McMeekin; nieces, Virginia Boyle Kolb, Betsy Boyle Harper, Katherine Hunter Deaton, Mimi Deaton Lucas, Mills McMeekin James.
Funeral services will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday at First Presbyterian Church in Columbia (Lady & Marion Streets) with Dr. John R. deWitt officiating.
Burial will follow in the First Presbyterian Church Cemetery.
The family will receive friends at the Boyle home, in Sumter from 3 to 5 p.m. Saturday.
Pallbearers will be A. Barnes Boyle, III, S. Calhoun McMeekin, III, Thomas P. McMeekin, Everett E. Gasque, Charles R. McCreight, Richard Sachs, Charles McCallum and Paul Curlee.
Memorials may be made to Epworth Children’s Home P.O. Box 50466, Columbia, SC 29205, Columbia International University, 7435 Monticello Road, Columbia, SC 29203 or to New Directions International, P. O. Box 2347, Burlington, NC 27216.
Elmore Hill McCreight Funeral Home and Crematory, 221 Broad Street, Sumter is in charge of the arrangements.
Carrie Eidson
BEECH ISLAND — Services for Carrie P. Eidson, widow of Andrew Eidson, are 1 p.m. Monday at Hatcher Funeral Home, burial in Sunset Memorial Gardens. Visitation is 7-9 tonight at Hatcher Funeral Home, Langley. Born in Aiken to Albert and Annie Stenson Powell, she died January 7, 2005. Surviving: sister, Dorothy Campbell; children, William and Cheryl Eidson, Sherry Johnson; 12 grandchildren; 1 great-grandchild.
Clara Swygert
IRMO — Services for Clara Bell Swygert are noon today at Ladson Presbyterian Church with family visitation at 11 a.m. Burial will follow in Providence AME Church Cemetery, Chapin. Bostick-Tompkins Funeral Home, Columbia, is in charge. Born in Lancaster to Leander and Lula Stacks Davis, she died Jan. 3, 2005. Surviving are sons, Elliot, Donald, Robert, Carl Swygert; siblings, Pearline Baxter, John Davis.
Ethel Blanton
YORK — Services for Ethel Margaret Brimer Blanton, 83, 3 p.m. Sunday (visitation 2 p.m.) at Central Baptist Church, burial in Rose Hill Cemetery. Bratton Funeral Home is in charge. Born in York to Floyd Sr. and Jessie Brimer, she died Jan. 6, 2005. Surviving: son, Jerry Blanton; siblings, Vivian Blanton, Clota McAlister, Ruby White, Nellie Schools, Jessie Huffstetler, Floyd Jr., Leonard, Edward, Lewis Brimer.
