U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014
Ella H. Shuler
Ella Hilton Shuler, 92, widow of Priestly Shuler, died Monday, Aug. 11, 2003, at Clarendon Memorial Hospital in Manning.
Born May 9, 1911, in the Jordan section of Clarendon County, she was the daughter of the late Johnnie Hilton and Evelyn Dukes Hilton. She received her formal education in the parochial schools of Clarendon County. In her youth, she joined Union Cypress AME Church in Jordan. After moving to Manning, she joined Ebenezer Baptist Church and was a faithful member until her health failed.
Survivors include one son, Webb Hilton (Omega) of Sumter; one daughter, Thelma Hilton James of the home; one brother, Freddie Hilton of Manning; one sister, Ophelia Roberson of Winston Salem, N.C.; 10 grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren; two nieces she reared as her own, Gracie Haynesworth of Manning and Carolyn Haynesworth of Detroit, Mich.; a nephew, Johnny Hilton of 
New York, N.Y.
He was preceded in death by one son, Harry Hilton, three brothers, Pickney, Harry, and James Hilton; and one sister, Lila H. Starks.
Services were held at 4:30 p.m., Aug. 16, at Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church, Manning. The Rev. W.T. Johnson, the Rev. Omar Y. Hilton and the Rev. Leroy McElveen officiated the service, assisted by the Rev. George P. Windley, pastor.
Burial followed in Union Cypress AME Church Cemetery, Jordan.
Jeffrey Bethea Scott
Jeffrey Bethea Scott, 39, died Saturday, Aug. 16, 2003, at Tuomey Regional Medical Center in Sumter.
Born in Sumter, he was the son of James Bethea Scott and Mercelene Haley Scott.
He was a member of New Salem Baptist Church and was retired from the construction business.
Survivors, besides his parents, include two brothers, Kelvin Scott (Cynthia) of Rock Hill and Trevis Scott of Myrtle Beach; and a niece, Maura Bethea Scott.
Services were held at 2 p.m., Aug. 18, in the chapel of Elmore-Cannon-Stephens Funeral Home. The Rev. Brett R. DeYoung, Dr. Jeff Burns and the Rev. Lee Phillips officiated the service.
Burial followed in the Evergreen Memorial Park Cemetery.
Pallbearers included Tony Scott, Robert Scott, Steve Miller, Carl Jenkinson, Mike Miller, Dale Miller, Mitch Scott and Bennie Scott.
Memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church Vision 2000 Fund, 107 E. Liberty St., Sumter, SC 29150 or to a church of one’s choice.
Loyrea H. Ridgeway
Loyrea Haley Ridgeway, 80, widow of Charles Willie Ridgeway, died Saturday, Aug. 16, 2003, at her home in Manning.
Born in Manning, she was the daughter of the late Issac Covert and Naomi Ella Holladay Haley. She was a retired seamstress and was of the Baptist faith.
Survivors include a daughter, Ruby Dell Welch (George) of Cordova; two sons, W. R. “Ray” Ridgeway of Spartanburg and Arthur D. Ridgeway (Cheryl) of Manning; five grandchildren; one great-grandchild.
Services were held at 4 p.m., Aug. 18, in the chapel of Stephens Funeral Home. The Rev. Bennie Walker officiated the service, assisted by the Rev. C.S. Salter. Burial followed in Oak Grove Cemetery.
Pallbearers included Charles Haley, Glen Haley, Barney Brewer, Dr. Robert L “Bobby” Ridgeway III, Richard Boyles and Marvin Alsbrook.
Memorials may be made to Tuomey Hospice, 232 W. Calhoun St., Sumter, SC 29150.
Louise M. Nelson
BRONX, N.Y. – Minister Louise McCray Nelson, 65, widow of Leroy Nelson, died Sunday, Aug. 10, 2003, at 1595 E. 174th St., Apt. 6-D, Bronx, NY.
Born May 13, 1938, in the Potato Creek section of Clarendon County, she was the daughter of the late Louis Nelson and Judy Lemon McCray and stepdaughter of the late Mingo McCray Sr. She received her education in the public schools of Clarendon County. In her youth, she accepted Christ as her personal savior and joined Mt. Zion AME Church. After moving to New York, she joined Shiloh Pentecostal Holiness Church where she served as assistant pastor.
Survivors include three sons, Jerome Mitchell of Summerton, Levi Mitchell and Micheal Nelson of the Bronx, N.Y.; two daughters, Cynthia Hammett (Leroy) of Davis Station and Diane Nelson of Bronx, N.Y.; three sisters, Francine York of Brooklyn, N.Y., Ida Mae Hammett of Miami and Christine McCray of Summerton; and eight grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by one daughter and two brothers, W. C. and Mingo Jr.
Services were held at 2 p.m., Aug. 17, at Mt. Zion AME Church.
The Rev. Manuel Fogle officiated the service.
Burial followed in the churchyard cemetery.
Geneva B. Harrison
Geneva Belton Harrison, 74, wife of Clifton Harrison Sr., died Aug. 10, 2003, at 7241 Black River Road in New Zion.
Born Feb. 18, 1928, in the Silver community of Clarendon County, she was the daughter of the late Myers Belton and Eliza Rose Belton Dickson. She received her education in the public schools of Clarendon County in the St. Mark community. In her youth, she joined Harmony Presbyterian Church. She was a member of the missionary society and Chancellor choir. She was a retired employee of the Holiday Inn in Turbeville.
Survivors, besides her husband, include five sons, Clifton Harrison Jr. (Carrie) of Florence, Eddie Harrison (Robertha) of New Zion, William Harrison (Wilastine) of Manning, Terry Harrison of Sumter and David Harrison of the home; four daughters, Thelma Harrison, Mary Jane Ham (Joseph) and Mary Frances Harvin (James) of New Zion, and Mary H. Butler of Manning; two brothers, William Belton of Greeleyville and Paul Belton of New York City; one sister, Racheal Blackwell of Alcolu; 18 grandchildren; 26 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.
She was preceded in death by one son, Johnnie Harrison; three sisters, Ester, Ruth and Mary; and one brother, Wallace.
Services were held at 4 p.m., Aug. 15, at Howard Chapel AME Church on Old Manning Road in New Zion, with the Rev. Edward Roberts, pastor, Minister Wayne Blackwell officiated the service, assisted by the Rev. Jerome McCray and Minister Lagatha McFadden. Burial followed in the churchyard cemetery.
Azalee B. Buffalo
Azalee Blanding Buffalo, 53, wife of Chester Buffalo, died Aug. 11, 2003, at Tuomey Regional Hospital in Sumter.
Born April 13, 1950, in the Silver community of Clarendon County, she was the daughter of Clurttie Thames Blanding and the late Rev. Moses Blanding Sr. She graduated from the public schools of Clarendon County and received a certificate in paralegal studies form Kinyou-Campbell Business School in Boston.
Survivors besides her husband, Chester Buffalo of the home, and her mother, Clurttie T. Blanding of Manning, include one son, Kamau U. Buffalo of Macon, Ga.; one step-son, Derek W. Bennett (Bonita) of Cambridge, Mass.; two daughters, Darlene Ferguson and Ayana C. Buffalo, of Brockton, Mass.; six brothers, Moses Blanding Jr., Jasper Blanding (Berneatha), Joshua Blanding (Linda), and Elder Jeramiah Blanding (Sharlene) of Manning, Alonza Blanding (Barbara) of Sumter, and Freddy Blanding of Corrona, Calif.; six sisters, Evangelist Lucretia Pugh (Leroy), Evangelist Elizabeth Morant (the Rev. Jack), Barbara Morant (Johnny), Mildred Goodine, (Carlo), Henrietta Briggs (Timothy), Dinah Richburg (Gary) of Manning; one adopted son, John Adamic (Cheryl) of Boston, Mass.; 20 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Services were held at 2 p.m., Aug. 16, at the Hayes F. Samuels Sr. Memorial Chapel, 114 N. Church St. in Manning.
The Rev. Gussie Ceasar officiated, the Rev. Jack Morant presiding, assisting the Rev. Henry McCray, the Rev. Dr. Cokely Richburg, and the Rev. Earl Timmons.
Burial followed in the Manning Cemetery.
Blanche M. Reese
Blanche McKnight Reese, 82, wife of Willie Reese Sr., died Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2003, at her residence, 4145 Third St., Mayesville.
Born March 25, 1921, in Clarendon County, she was the daughter of James H. and Mary Bethune McKnight. She received her formal education in the public schools of Clarendon County and was a member of St. Luke AME Church. She was a retired cook from Cole’s Restaurant.
Survivors include three daughters, Sandra Holloman (Willie) of Mayesville, Fannie Washington (Hezekiah) of Albany, N.Y., and Viola Washington (Harold) of Atlanta; one brother, Oliver McKnight of Sumter; 21 grandchildren; 64 great-grandchildren; and 19 great-great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by four sons, Wesley Jones, Harry Gardner, Johnny Davis and Willie Reese Jr.; three great-grandchildren; two sisters; and one brother.
Services were held at 4 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 9, at the St. Luke AME Church. The Rev. Robert R. Hooper officiated the service.
Delbert J. Gibbons Sr.
Mr. Delbert J. Gibbons Sr., age 82, died, Thursday, Aug. 7, 2003, in a Manning hospital after an illness. Funeral services were at 11 a.m., Saturday, Aug. 9, at New Zion United Methodist Church. Burial followed in the churchyard cemetery.
Born in Clarendon County, he was the son of the late Jesse W. Gibbons and Anna Belle DuBose Gibbons. Mr. Gibbons was a retired farmer, a World War II United States Air Force veteran, a member of Black River American Legion Post No. 149, a mason and a member of New Zion United Methodist Church and Sunday school.
Survivors include his wife of 56 years, Elizabeth Kennedy Gibbons of Turbeville; a daughter, Amy Elizabeth Gibbons of Turbeville; a son, D. Julian (Barbara) Gibbons Jr. of Columbia; and two grandchildren, Andrew J. Gibbons of Clemson University and Elizabeth L. Gibbons of Columbia.
Memorials may be made to the New Zion United Methodist Church Building Fund.
Ethel Mae B. Garner
Ethel Mae Blackwell Garner, 62, wife of Eli Garner Jr., died Saturday, Aug. 2, 2003, at Clarendon Memorial Hospital in Manning.
Born Dec. 17, 1940, in Manning, she was the daughter of the late Roddie Blackwell and Ruth Bullock Blackwell. She received her formal education and graduated from Manning Training School. She was a member of the House of God Miracle Temple, where she served on the Mother’s Board. She was joined in holy matrimony to Eli Garner Jr. for 44 years and was blessed with five children.
Survivors, besides her husband, include one son, Eli Garner III of Bridgeport, Conn.; four daughters, Jereline (John) Spalding and Tonya Garner, of Bridgeport, Betty Garner of Manning; and Oliva Garner of Atlanta, Ga.; three brothers, McNeil and Birdie Fulton of Baltimore, Md., and Johnny (Elease) Fulton of Manning; one sister, Ruth (Gene) Nelson of New York; seven grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by two grandchildren, Bryant Williams and Oliva McFadden.
Services were held at 1 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 9, at House of God Miracle Temple, Davis Station. Pastor Ocelia Blue, officiated the service, assisted by Evangelist Anna Lawson, Minister Carolyn Bennett, Pastor Thomas Nelson and missionaries.
Burial followed in the House of God Miracle Temple Cemetery in Davis Station.
Pallbearers included friends of the family.
Floral bearers included friends of the family.
Joseph Davis Jr.
Deacon Joseph Davis Jr., 59, husband of Loretta F. Davis, died Monday, Aug. 18, 2003, at 1575 Goward Road, Alcolu.
Born Aug. 7, 1944, in Jacksonville Fla., he was the son of the late Joseph Davis Sr. and Georgia Dunwoody Davis.
He received his formal education in the Jacksonville school system, graduating from Gilbert High School. He continued his education at St. Johns University in New York City. Joseph received several certificates and awards while pursuing his studies.
At an early age, Joseph accepted Jesus Christ as his personal savior and joined the local church in Jacksonville.
In 1963, Joseph moved to New York City with his sister, Madeline Garner-Edmonds. In the mid- ‘60s Joseph joined Ford Motor Co. as an assembly worker. Joseph played an integral part in breaking the color line at Ford, joining the Ford management team in 1974.
Joseph continued his Christian works in New York City, joining Mount Calvary Baptist Church in 1968. Joseph was an active member of the church, serving as a member of the missionary club, singing on the Clancey Johnson memorial choir and working tirelessly with the young people of Mount Calvary Church. He was ordained deacon in the mid- ‘70s.
Joseph was a past master of New Canaan Lodge No. 83 of The Most Worshipful Enoch Grand Lodge, New York State.
Survivors include his loving wife, Loretta; his sister, Madeline Edmonds; his daughter, Jacqueline Davis; three sons, Anthony Davis, Cypriani Davis, Farintino Gordon; eight grandchildren; niece, Ronnie Jaundon; sister-in-law, Thomasena White; two godsons; a goddaughter; five sisters and six brothers.
Services were held at Mt. Nebo Missionary Baptist Church, Plowden Mill Road, Alcolu. The Rev. Dennis Brock, pastor, officiated the service, assisted by the Rev. Jonathan Anderson.
Burial followed in the church cemetery.
