U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014
Benjamin Joseph Staton
Benjamin “Ben Joe” Staton, 63, of West Columbia, died April 5, 2006.
He was born on Sept. 7, 1942, the only child of the late Benjamin Jessie Staton and Elizabeth Amy Graham Staton, and was reared in Foreston community of Clarendon County.
He had been a resident of Richland and Lexington Counties since 1998. Mr. Staton was a graduate of the University of 
North Carolina where he earned a bachelor’s degree and was a long-time entrepreneur and salesman.
Among many things, he will be remembered as a man of humble standing, who loved the Lord with all his heart.
Survivors are his wife, Vivian L. Johnson of West Columbia; a daughter, Wendy Dawn Staton of Jackson, Mississippi; a son, Benjamin Joseph Staton Jr. of Florence; and a grandson, Christopher Joseph Staton of Florence
A celebration of life service was held on Sunday, April 9, 2006, at the Woodridge Memorial Park and Funeral Home Mausoleum Chapel, with Pastor Alex Stevenson officiating.
Memoria1 contributions may be made to the American Heart Association.
Woodbridge Funeral Home of Lexington was in charge of the arrangements.
Ella Frances S. Evans
Ella Frances Stewart Evans, 83, widow of J. Willard Evans, died Tuesday, April 11, 2006, at her home in New Zion.
Born Jan. 21, 1923, in Williamsburg County, she was a daughter of the late Louis Hamer Stewart and Ella Frances Jernigan Stewart. A 1941 graduate of Kingstree High School, she was a retired seamstress and former nurses’ aide at Clarendon Memorial Hospital and homebound care. She was a member of New Zion United Methodist Church, where she was a former Sunday school teacher, a member of the ladies’ Bible class and active in the UMW.
Surviving are a son, Randy W. (Pat) Evans of New Zion; two sisters, Inez Bradshaw of Charleston and Eva Verret of Crowley, La.; a granddaughter, Kim Evans McKenzie; a great-grandson, Dixon McKenzie; and a number of nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by five brothers, Abram, Walter, Otto, Madison and Clarence Stewart; and two sisters, Vermell Baker and Donna Stewart Frye.
Funeral services were held on Friday, April 14, 2006, in the chapel of Stephens Funeral Home in Manning. The Rev. Charlie Brookshire officiated.
Burial followed in New Zion United Methodist Church Cemetery.
Pallbearers were Marshall McDonald, Bobby Stewart, Grady Stewart, Elbert Stewart, M.H. Baker and John Hardy.
Memorials may be made to New Zion United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 31, New Zion, S.C. 29111.
Stephens Funeral Home and Crematory of Manning was in charge of arrangements.
Mary P. Fleming
Mary P. Fleming, 63, died Tuesday, April 11, 2006, at her home in Turbeville.
Born Aug. 7, 1943, in Turbeville, she was a daughter of the late Arthur Player and Helen McFadden Player.
Her education was obtained in the public schools of Clarendon County, and she provided domestic services for families in the Turbeville community.
Survivors include a son, Harold Fleming Jr. of Miami, Fla.; four brothers, Luther Player of Wilmington, N.C., James Player and Sammy Player, both of Manning, and Pinckney Player of Turbeville; six sisters, Elizabeth (Carl) Jackson of Philadelphia, Pa., Mary Pressley and Jane (Duke) Caldwell, both of Wilmington, N.C., Helena Wilson and Ann Prince, both of Olanta, and Lillie (Nathaniel) Ham of New Zion; and six grandchildren.
Funeral services were held on Tuesday, April 18, 2006, at Hickory Grove Baptist Church in Turbeville, with Bishop Luciouse Wheeler, the Rev. Zander Davis and Evangelist Rhonda Keels officiating.
Fleming and DeLaine Funeral Home was in charge of services.
D. Hartwill Duke
David Hartwill Duke, 88, husband of Mary Irene Freeman Duke, died Tuesday, April 12, 2005, in Clarendon Memorial Hospital.
Born Dec. 6, 1916, in Manning, he was a son of the late Willie Fowler and Leola Burns Duke. He was a retired produce manager and a member of Manning First Baptist Church.
Surviving besides his wife of Manning are three sons, David Autry (Betty) Duke of Sumter, Paul Hartwill (Mary Ann) Duke and Michael Bruce (Jodi) Duke, all of the Home Branch community of Manning; 13 grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by two daughters, Ann Duke Davis and Jane Duke Scott; and two grandsons, Randy Davis and Michael Cody Duke.
Funeral services were held on Friday, April 15, 2005, in the chapel of Stephens Funeral Home in Manning with the Rev. Danny Bridges officiating.
Burial followed in Midway Presbyterian Church Cemetery in New Zion.
Memorials may be made to Midway Presbyterian Church Cemetery Fund, 12183 Black River Road, New Zion, S.C. 29111 or to Tuomey Hospice, 232 W. Calhoun St., Sumter, S.C. 29150.
Stephens Funeral Home and Crematory of Manning was in charge of arrangements.
Henry Lesesne Floyd
Henry Lesesne Floyd, 67, died Monday, April 21, 2008, in Clarendon Memorial Hospital.
Born July 27, 1940, in the Wilson Community of Clarendon County, he was a son of the late Paul Eugene Floyd Sr. and the late Letitia Margaret Wilson Floyd. He was an assembly worker for the Sunbeam Corporation, a member of Manning First Baptist Church, and was an avid Gamecock fan.
Surviving are a brother, Paul Eugene (Julie Ann) Floyd Jr. of Manning; and a number of nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by a brother, Laurens Wilson Floyd; and a sister, Bettie Sue Floyd Kennedy.
Graveside services were held on Wednesday, April 23, 2008 in the Manning Cemetery with the Rev. Danny Bridges officiating, assisted by the Rev. Jerry Cottone.
Memorials may be made to Clarendon County Disabilities and Special Needs, P.O. Drawer 40, Manning, S.C. 29102.
Stephens Funeral Home and Crematory of Manning was in charge of the arrangements.
Ruby Dalton Lowder Chandler
Ruby Dalton Lowder Chandler, 84, died peacefully April, 27, 2008 at Agape Senior Skilled Facility in West Columbia.
Born Oct. 9, 1923 in Davis Station, she was a daughter of the late Joseph Newton Lowder and Martha Elizabeth Mathis Lowder.
Surviving are three sons, William Worth Nichols, Jr. of Clayton, Ga., Harry Cecil Hodge of Columbia, Jack Laverne (Melissa) Chandler Jr. of Columbia; four daughters, Linda Louise (Tom) Ritchie of Clayton, Ga., Alice Marie (Marion) Cato of Borden, Deborah Lynn Hodge and husband Jack Matthews of Manning, Pamela Denise Chandler of Columbia; 22 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.
She was predeceased by two brothers, S.P. Holladay and William (Billy) Holladay and three sisters, Katherine Heaton, Irene Skinner and Marian Mendiola.
Funeral services were held on Wednesday, April 30, 2008, in the chapel of the Elmore Hill McCreight Funeral Home with Mr. Les Odom officiating.
Burial followed in the Sumter Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to a charity of one’s choice.
Elmore Hill McCreight Funeral Home and Crematory of Sumter was in charge of the arrangements.
Johnnie Lee Briggs
WILMINGTON, N.C. – Johnnie Lee Briggs, 57, died Thursday, April 17, 2008, at Hospice Care Center, Wilmington.
Born Nov. 11, 1950, in Baltimore, Md., he was a son of Oscar Briggs Sr. and the late Juanita Butler Briggs and stepson of Carrie Lemon Briggs. He received his formal education in the public schools of Clarendon County. In his youth, he attended Rock Hill Missionary Baptist Church. He later joined Gregory United Congregational Church of Christ, Wilmington. He was a member of the gospel choir, men’s choir, mass choir and the Christian education department.
He was preceded in death by four brothers and two sisters.
Survivors include his father and stepmother, Oscar and Carrie Briggs of Manning; three sisters, Maxine (John) Caraway, Evangelist Renell (the Rev. Marvin) Conyers and Mary Lawson, all of Manning; four brothers, Walter (Susie) Briggs and Marcus Briggs, both of Wilmington, Thomas (Ann) Briggs of Manning and Wilbert Lee Carter of Hollywood, Fla.; two stepbrothers, James Lemon and Lester (Deloris) Lemon, both of Manning; three stepsisters, Sadie (Richard) Bradley and Laura Daney, both of Baltimore, and Sarah (Leroy) Conyers of Manning; and a special friend, Mary M. Williams of Wilmington.
Funeral services were held on Friday, April 25, 2008, at Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church, West Huggins Street, Manning, with the Rev. Jonathan Anderson, pastor, presiding, the Rev. Leroy Dukes, eulogist, assisting Minister Shelia McRae.
Burial was in the churchyard cemetery.
Samuels Funeral Home LLC of Manning was in charge of the arrangements.
Gertrude Stephens Floyd
Gertrude Stephens Floyd, 93, widow of Carlie Archie Floyd, died Sunday, April 20, 2008, at Carolinas Hospital System in Florence.
Born December 19, 1914, in Sardis, she was a daughter of the late Harvey Middleton and Catherine Suzanne Floyd Stephens. She was a member of Camp Branch Pentecostal Holiness Church.
Surviving are two sons, L. C. (Irma) Floyd of West Columbia, and Charlton A. “Stoney” (Mary Alice) Floyd Sr. of Columbia; two daughters, Sally (Lonnie) Graham of Olanta, and Lorraine (Gerald) Wallace; a daughter-in-law, Eva Jean “Ellen” Floyd of Ladson; 11 grandchildren; 19 great grandchildren; and five great, great grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by a son, Billy C. Floyd.
Graveside services were held on Wednesday, April 23, 2008 in Camp Branch Pentecostal Holiness Church Cemetery near Lake City, with the Rev. Bob Matthews and the Rev. James Gould officiating.
Memorials may be made to Hannah Residential Manor, 3750 Sheminally Road, Pamplico, S.C. 29583.
Stephens Funeral Home and Crematory of Manning was in charge of the arrangements.
Helen Viola Hodge Brewer
Helen Viola Hodge Brewer, 79, widow of William L. Brewer, Jr., died Tuesday, April 22, 2008, in Tuomey Hospital in Sumter.
Born October 10, 1928, in Manning, she was a daughter of the late Wade Hampton and Annie Dell Bryant Hodge. She was retired from Campbell’s Soup, and was a member of Cross Roads Bible Fellowship Church.
Surviving are three sons, William L. (Debra) Brewer III, Leon “Lee” (Sheila) Brewer and and Danny (Johnette) Brewer, all of Manning; a sister, Rosa (D.D.) Miles of Manning; three brothers, Raymond Hodge of Sumter, Matt Hodge of Montgomery, Ala., and Hamp (Bobbie) Hodge of Sumter; eight grandchildren; and one great granddaughter.
She was preceded in death by two brothers, Edmund Hodge and Gerald Hodge.
Funeral services were held on Friday, April 25, 2008, at Cross Roads Bible Fellowship Church, with the Rev. John Hall and the Rev. Richard Hudson officiating.
Burial followed in Home Branch Baptist Church Cemetery.
Pallbearers were Marc Brewer, Daniel Brewer, Ryan Neal, Tommy Evans, Doug Miles and Ronald Miles.
Memorials may be made to Cross Roads Bible Fellowship Church, P. O. Box 449, Manning, S.C. 29102.
Stephens Funeral Home and Crematory of Manning was in charge of the arrangements.
