U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014
Ruth Johnson
Ruth Johnson, 95, the widow of the late Taff Bennett and the late Jackie Johnson, died April 30, 2008, at the Medical University of 
South Carolina in Charleston.
Born June 2, 1912, in Clarendon County, she was a daughter of the late Semour and Frances Nelson Johnson. She received her formal education in the public schools of Clarendon County. In her youth, she became a member of Santee AME Church.
Those left to grow from her legacy of love are three daughters, Gussie Mae Gill of Summerton, Henrietta Brandon of New Jersey and Willie Mae Bonds of Raeford, N.C.; four sons, Willie J. Bennett and Carnell Bennett, both of Summerton, Michael Johnson of New York and Henry D. Johnson of Newark, N.J.; a son-in-law, Ernest Gill of Summerton; two daughters-in-law, Suzanne Johnson of Newark and Mary Johnson of Miami, Fla.; two sisters-in-law, Quennie Bennett of Pennsylvania and Sarah Brailsford of Summerton; 14 grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; a goddaughter, Bertha Lee Marton of Philadelphia, Pa.; a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
Funeral services were held on Saturday, May 3, 2008, at Santee AME Church in the North Santee community with the Rev. Silas Spann, pastor, officiating.
Burial followed in the church cemetery.
Summerton Funeral Service was in charge of the arrangements.
Wallace Brunson Jr.
Wallace Brunson Jr., affectionately known as “Son,” departed this earthly life on May 1, 2007, at Clarendon Memorial Hospital in Manning.
Born Aug. 13, 1926, in Clarendon County, he was a son of the late Wallace and Viola Chapman Brunson. Wallace was educated in the public schools of Clarendon County. He was employed by Georgia Pacific and also by Spring Hill Elementary School until his health failed. He later joined New Bethel Holiness Church in Davis Crossroads. Wallace was joined in holy matrimony to Susie Mae Johnson Brunson. This union was blessed with six children.
He was predeceased by two sons, Noah Brunson and Jimmie Lee Brunson; a sister, Mary Lee Davis; and a brother, Edward “Coot” Brunson.
Those left to grow from his love and cherish his memory are his loving wife, Susie Mae Johnson Brunson of the home; four daughters, Frankie (William) Williams and Stella (Felix) Dzumah, both of Laurel, Md., Daisy (Levan) Dingle and Mary Robinson, both of Summerton; a sister, Hestell (John) Dingle of Summerton; two daughters-in-law, Jacqueline Brunson and Joycestine Brunson; three sons-in-law, Eddie Lee Henry, Thomas Robinson and Odell Antar; 18 grandchildren, Eddie, Sharon (Phillip), Stanley, Areatha, Levan (Steffie), LaTasha (Cedric), Latroy (Melisa), Raymane (Angela), Leslie, Draymane, Lavar, Oral, Mark, Jennifer, Walter, Chance, Candance and Layla; 11 great-grandchildren, Jade, Javairia, Taylor, Phillip, David Jr., Briana, Dae’zhon, Cedric Jr., Abigail, Jaedan and Aniyah; a special niece, Virginia (Joseph) Briggs; a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
Funeral services were held on Saturday, May 5, 2007, at St. Matthews AME Church, Summerton, officiated by the Rev. M. Fogle and the Rev. R. Bennett.
Burial followed in the New Bethel Holiness Church Cemetery, Davis Crossroads.
Summerton Funeral Service was in charge of the arrangements.
Ernest Pearson
ORANGEBURG – Ernest Pearson, 63, died June 1, 2007, at The Regional Medical Center, Orangeburg.
Born Sept. 3, 1943, in the Freetown section of Clarendon County, he was the son of the late Jake Pearson and Catherine Starks Pearson. He received his education in the public schools of Clarendon County. In his youth, he accepted Christ as his Savior and joined White Oak AME Church and later joined Laurel Hill AME Church. He was a chauffeur by profession.
Survivors include three sons, Nicholas Pearson of New York, N.Y., Damon Pearson of Baltimore, Md., and Eric Edwards of New Jersey; three daughters, Donetta White and Loretta Pearson-Goode, both of New York, and Shanti La-Sha Jamison of Santee; three brothers, General Lee (Christine) Pearson of Teaneck, N.J., Arthur (Ann) Pearson of Bergenfield, N.J., and Ben Louis; three sisters, Ethel Mae Minter of Manning, Ruth (Ball) Meeks of Tallahassee, Fla., and Barbara McFarland of Teaneck; caregiver and friend, Geneva Martin of Elloree; and 12 grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by two brothers, Bill and James Pearson.
Funeral services were held on Saturday, June 9, 2007, at Laurel Hill AME Church, in the Davis Station community of Manning, with the Rev. R.L. Brown, pastor, officiating, assisted by Elder Sampson Pearson and Evangelist Shanti Jamison. Burial will be in Carolina Johnson Cemetery.
Samuels Funeral Home LLC of Manning was in charge of arrangements.
Ernest Spann
Ernest Spann, 72, husband of Queen Williams Spann, died Tuesday, June 5, 2007, at Tuomey Regional Medical Center.
Born in Sumter County, he was the seventh of 10 children born to the late Timothy Spann Sr. and Maggie Williams Spann. Mr. Spann was a graduate of Lincoln High School in the Class of 1954. He earned a bachelor of science degree in physical education and a master’s degree in secondary counseling from S.C. State University, Orangeburg. Mr. Spann taught and coached at Scott’s Branch High School for more than 40 years. He coached several championship teams in football, baseball and basketball. He was a great athlete and received numerous awards for teaching, counseling and coaching. At an early age, he became a member of St Mark United Methodist Church in Mayesville.
Surviving are his wife, Queen Williams Spann of the home; two brothers, Eugene (Mary) Spann Sr. and Timothy (Hester) Spann Jr. of Sumter; four sisters, Ruby (Doris) Cain of Washington, D.C., Jeanette S Butler, Maggie S. Williams and Wilhelmena (Arnold) Houston of Sumter; brothers-in-law, James (Azalie) Williams of East Orange, N.J., Roosevelt (Berneatha) Williams and Thomas (Annette) Williams of Sumter; sisters-in-law, Susan Emma Spann of Columbia, Beatrice Spann of New Haven, Conn., Edith Wiggins of Tennille, Ga., Dorothy Smalls of Sumter, Rosalie (the Rev. Wilkins) Williams of Cheraw, Ruth (James) King of Clinton, Md., and Irene Graves of Union, N.J.
Funeral services were held on Saturday, June 9, 2007, at Scott’s Branch Middle School in Summerton with the Rev. W.W. Williams, presiding, assisted by Pastor Nate Brock, the Rev. Bernard Richburg, the Rev. Bobby Shaw and the Rev. Roosevelt Williams, eulogist.
Interment followed in Mayesville Community Cemetery.
Honorary pallbearers and flower bearers will be members of the Lincoln High School Class of 1954 and the Scott’s Branch Middle and High School coaches.
Memorials may be made to the Scott’s Branch Athletic Department, c/o The Spann Family, 1121 Spann St., Sumter, S.C. 29153.
Palmer Memorial Chapel Inc. of Sumter was in charge of funeral arrangements.
Mary Briggs
Mary Briggs, 79, departed this earthly life on Friday, June 8, 2007, at Carolinas Hospital System in Florence.
Born Oct. 10, 1927, in Clarendon County, she was a daughter of the late Irvin Bethune and Rebecca Brunson Isaac. Affectionately known as “Mama,” she was joined in holy matrimony to the late Boston Lawrence Briggs Sr. Mrs. Briggs moved to Baltimore, Md., and after living there for 55 years she relocated to Summerton.
She was predeceased by two sisters, Susan Powell and Mittie Ragin; a brother, Willie Bethune; and a daughter, Irlene Briggs.
Those left to grow from her legacy of love are five sons, Boston (Tina) Briggs Sr., Lamont Briggs, Dennis (Denise) Briggs and Rory Briggs, all of Baltimore, and Anthony Briggs of Summerton; a daughter, Gloria (Robert) Willies of Baltimore; a brother, Mackey (Wilma) Isaac Jr. of Summerton; two sisters, Alice Marshall of Sumter and Blanch Isaac of Mobile, Ala.; three sisters-in-law, Litha Cannie of Summerton, Jessie Bethune of Baltimore and Susan Briggs of Pinewood; an aunt, Lillie Bealon; three daughters-in-law, Pamela Briggs, Karleen Briggs and Janet Briggs, all of Baltimore; two grandchildren she reared as her own, Lauren Veney and Raphael “Tank” Briggs; 32 other grandchildren; 55 great-grandchildren; 14 great-great-grandchildren; two special friends, Peggy Nelson and Marnita Clayborne; a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
Funeral services for Mrs. Briggs were held on Friday, June 15, 2007, at Greater St. Phillips RMUE Church, officiated by the Rev. Warren Hatcher and the Rev. Amos Hatcher.
Burial followed in the church cemetery.
Summerton Funeral Service was in charge of the arrangements.
William C. Hawkins
ORANGEBURG – Mr. William Chansler “Dub” Hawkins, 82, formerly of Summerton, died Saturday, June 9, 2007 at the Veterans Hospital in Columbia.
He was born in Darlington County, S.C., a son of the late Harley Hawkins and Eliza Pauline Cassidy. He was a retired plumber. Mr. Hawkins was a member of Lake Marion Baptist Church and a Marine veteran of World War II.
He was the widower of Bessie T. Hawkins.
He is survived by daughters Deborah (Noel) Brown of St. Paul, N.C.; Donna (Sam) Gray of Raleigh; step-daughter Meleda (Joe) Stephens of Summerton; step-sons Mark Belk and Greg (Star) Belk, all of Columbia; brothers M.L. “Buddy Hawkins of Orangeburg; Heyward C. Hawkins of Las Vegas; sisters Sadie Kelley of Hartsville, Eulyses Griggs of Columbia; and Gwendolyn (Beasley) Enzor of Murrells Inletl fiur grandchildren; seven step-grandchildren; one step-great-grandchild and a number of nieces and nephews.
A memorial service was held on Saturday, June 23, 2007 at Lake Marion Baptist Church.
Memorials may be made to Lake Marion Baptist Church Building Fund, 1182 Scott Lake Road, Summerton, S.C. 29148.
Dukes-Harley Funeral Home of Orangeburg was in charge of the arrangements.
Sarah Canty
SPRINGFIELD GARDEN, N.Y. – Sarah Canty entered eternal rest on Tuesday, July 3, 2007, at Northshore University Hospital.
Born June 23, 1918 in Clarendon County, she was a daughter of the late Robert Johnson Sr. and Sarah James Johnson. She received her education in the public schools of Clarendon County and attended Antioch AME Church in Rimini with her family.
On Dec. 27, 1940, Sarah was united in holy matrimony to Hamilton Canty of Pinewood and to this union two children were born. She moved to New York and became a faithful member of Metropolitan Community United Methodist Church, where she was a member for 58 years. There, she was a member of the Altar Guild and the Food Pantry Ministry. She was employed with the New York City Board of Education and retired in 1983.
In 1999, she moved to Queens to live near her daughter and joined St. Albans Presbyterian Church and inspired the church to provide uniforms for the children who served as acolytes. She volunteered her time to the children of Public School 15 in Queens and became a grandmother to many. Her community activities continued as a member of the Lantre Senior Citizen Center and the Robert Couche Senior Center, where she enjoyed creating ceramics. She also participated in the Montauk Senior Citizen Bible study every week.
She leaves to cherish her memories: her daughter, Barbara Canty-Ballard; seven grandchildren, Kelvin Canty, Valerie Canty, Cheryl Canty-Lance, Antoine Lamont Bracey, Marc Bellard, Lauren Bellard and Jonathan Bellard; eight great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; and one daughter-in-law, Carolyn Yvonne Canty.
She was preceded in death by her son, Herbert Canty; and six siblings, Simon, Emma, Maude, Robert, Rebecca and Louise.
Funeral services were held on Monday, July 9, 2007, at Antioch AME Church with the Rev. Georgeann Pringle, pastor, and the Rev. Mellissa Green, eulogist.
Burial followed in the church cemetery.
Community Funeral Home of Sumter was in charge of arrangements.
W. Keith Stephen
William Keith Stephen, 55, died Sunday, July 1, 2007, at Clarendon Memorial Hospital.
Born Aug. 14, 1951, in Sumter, he was a son of the late Oliver W. and Frances Ardis Stephen. He was a concrete finisher, a U.S. Army veteran, and was of the Baptist faith.
Surviving are two sons, Eric Stephen and Kodi Stephen of Manning; two sisters, Pandora Stephen of Bishopville and Mary Frances Mathis of Alcolu; four grandchildren, Dylan Trimnal of Sumter, Kaine Stephen of Gloucester, Va., Dakota Nicole Stephen and Ric Stephen of Manning.
He was preceded in death by a brother, Whitey Stephen.
A memorial service was held on Thursday, July 5, 2007, in the chapel of Stephens Funeral Home, Manning, with the Rev. Charles Shorter officiating.
Stephens Funeral Home and Crematory of Manning was in charge of arrangements.
Gene Autry Morris
Gene Autry Morris, age 76, died Tuesday, July 10, 2007, at his residence.
Born in New Zion, he was a son of the late Andrew Lewis Morris and Janie Garland Knowlton Morris. Mr. Morris was a retired farmer and was of the Baptist faith.
He was preceded in death by three sisters, Lucille Bennington, Idaree Gibson and Essie Baker; and six brothers, Luther Morris, Purty Morris, Albert Morris, Theodore Morris, Arthur Morris and E.C. Morris.
He is survived by two brothers, Hendley O’Donnell Morris of New Zion and L.B. Morris of Conway; and two special friends, Elwood McElveen and M.H. Baker.
Funeral services were held on Thursday, July 12, 2007, in the Chapel of Floyd Funeral Home.
Burial followed in the New Zion United Methodist Church.
Memorials may be made to the Turbeville Free Will Baptist Children’s Home.
Floyd Funeral Home of Olanta was in charge of the arrangements.
Lonnie H. Cason
Lonnie Harold Cason, 82, husband of Bobbie Jean Welch Cason, died Tuesday, July 31, 2007, at his home.
Born in Atkinson, Ga., he was a son of the late Lonnie Marion Cason and Nettie Mae Corbitt Cason. Mr. Cason was a retired chief warrant officer of the U.S. Air Force with 25 years of service. Lonnie was a Korean War and World War II veteran. He was a retired salesman from Goodwin Volkswagon with 14 years of service. He worked as a finance and insurance salesman with Boyle Toyota for 10 years and with Ron Kelley’s Auto Sales.
Surviving are his wife of Sumter; three daughters, Rose Michelle Harris, Lynn Bolser and Tammie Kirby, all of Sumter; three sons, Lonnie Cason Jr., Ron (Mary) Cason, all of Sumter, and Glenn Allen (Sandy) Coker of Turbeville; a sister, Bernice Lee of Georgia; four grandchildren, Brett Coker and Rick Coker, both of Turbeville, Phillip Langston Harris of Sumter, and Stephanie (Gus) Brettelle, of Columbia; one great-grandchild, Dylan Brettelle; numerous nieces, nephews and loving friends.
Mr. Cason was preceded in death by a brother, Robert Cason.
Funeral services were held on Thursday, Aug. 2, 2007, in the Chapel of the Elmore Hill McCreight Funeral Home.
Burial followed in the Florence National Cemetery with full military honors.
Pallbearers were Ron Kelley, Robert Jones, Brett Coker, Rick Coker, Phillip Langston Harris and Mitch Harris.
Memorials may be made to the American Heart Association, 520 Gervais St., Suite 300, Columbia, S.C. 29201.
Elmore Hill McCreight Funeral Home and Crematory of Sumter was in charge of the arrangements.
