U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014
Elzine B. Layton
BISHOPVILLE – Elzine Beasley Layton, 93, widow of Hilton Guy Layton, died Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2007, at Kershaw County Medical Center.
Born in Lee County, she was a daughter of the late Pelzer William Beasley and the late Ada Grantham Beasley. She was a member of Ashwood Baptist Church, the Ladies Sunday School Class, the WMU, and taught the Junior Girls Class and the Beginners Class. She was formerly employed at Campbell Soup Co.
Survivors include two sons, Bill (Shirley) Layton of Sumter and Ronny Layton of Manning; a daughter, Ann L. (George) Watts of Greenville; five grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by a grandson, Mark Layton; and a brother, Joe W. Beasley.
Funeral services were held on Friday, Feb. 9, 2007, at Ashwood Baptist Church with the Rev. Gary O. Boykin Jr. and the Rev. Luke Harris officiating.
Burial was in the church cemetery.
Memorials may be made to Ashwood Baptist Church, 1075 Lake Ashwood Road, Sumter, S.C. 29153 or to a charity of one’s choice.
Hancock-Elmore-Hill Funeral Home of Bishopville was in charge of arrangements.
Susan Emma Lawson
Susan Emma Lawson, wife of the late Edward Lawson, died Friday, Feb. 2, 2007, at Tuomey Regional Medical Center.
Born in Clarendon County on May 8, 1942, she was the oldest of 11 children born to Elder Mary A. Oliver and the late Emmanuel Oliver. Mrs. Lawson was educated in the public schools of Clarendon County. She was a lifelong member of Liberty Hill AME Church and later also fellowshipped with Canaan Missionary Baptist Church in Sumter.
In addition to her father and husband, she was preceded in death by two brothers, John and Julius Oliver.
Surviving are her mother, Elder Mary A. Oliver of Sumter; six children, Edward (Lula) Lawson, Mary (the Rev. Harry) Clark, Stanley (Tangela) Lawson and Patricia Lawson (Eric Frierson), all of Sumter, Rodney (Rochelle) Lawson of Columbia, Md., and Rhonda Lawson of Columbia; 11 grandchildren; one great-grandson; six sisters, Margaret (Bobby) Battle of Upper Marlboro, Md., Suester (John) Titus, Marie Oliver, Mardes and Wendell Witherspoon, and Ruthie (Bobby Hollie), all of Sumter; three brothers, David (Carolyn) Oliver of Sumter, Johnnie Oliver of Suitland, Md., and Darrell Oliver of Centerville, Va.; a special friend, Alvin Davis, and Derrick Ford, who was like a son, of Sumter.
Funeral services were held on Thursday, Feb. 8, 2007, at Liberty Hill AME Church with the pastor, the Rev. Melvin Capers, officiating.
Interment followed in Liberty Hill Church Cemetery in Summerton.
Palmer Memorial Chapel was in charge of funeral arrangements.
Edith E. Johnson
Edith E. Johnson, 85, daughter of the late Doughtery and Alethia Moody English, departed this life on Sunday, Feb. 4, 2007.
She was born and educated in the public schools of Clarendon County. She was united in matrimony to the late Deacon Edmond Johnson. Mrs. Johnson accepted Christ as her Savior at an early age and joined Salem Missionary Baptist Church, where she served faithfully under the pastorship of the late Rev. Dr. T.O. Everett. At Salem, she served as chairman of the deaconess board, member of the missionary ministry, mother’s club, and pastor’s aide. She was a longtime member of the Sumter Missionary and Educational Association. She later joined Corinth Missionary Baptist Church under the pastorship of the Rev. Barbara P. Lash. At Corinth, she served as the church’s deaconess and a member of the missionary ministry.
She was preceded in death by her husband; one daughter, Betsy Johnson; and two brothers, Herman English and James English.
She leaves to cherish her precious memories her loving children, Iburia Scott (Carlous) Johnson of Pittsburgh, Pa., James L. (Debra) Johnson, George E. (Sherry) Johnson, Loretta J. (Raymond) Rogers, Mildred R. (Michael) Slater, Curtis V. Johnson, Kevin L. (Sheila) Johnson, all of Sumter, and Cynthia J. (Alonza) Snipes of Stafford, Va.; 16 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; six great-great-grandchildren; one brother, Willie White of Manning; one sister-in-law, Dora M. English; and a host of loving nieces, nephews, cousins and special friends.
Services were held on Friday, Feb. 9, 2007, at First Missionary Baptist Church where the Rev. W.S. Randolph is pastor, with the Rev. Barbara P. Lash officiating.
Burial followed in the Greenhill Cemetery.
Sumter Funeral Service Inc. was in charge of the arrangements.
Mary Jane T. Ward
SUMTER – Mary Jane Tatera Ward, age 75, widow of Willie Moode Ward, died Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2007, at Tuomey Regional Medical Center.
Mrs. Ward was born March 10, 1931, in Elyria, 
OH, the daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Johnny Tatera. She was a housewife who loved to do crossword puzzles. She was a loving mother and grandmother and loved her pets. She was of the Catholic faith.
Survivors include a son, Walter Earl (Karen) Ward of Sumter; a daughter, Ellen Ward (Ted) Laverdiere of Sumter; and six grandchildren, Casey Rene’ Ward Hodge, Shea Alexandra Ward, Katelyn Nicole McLachlan, Ashley Daniel Poole, Bethany Jordan Laverdiere, and Daniel Connor.
She was preceded in death by her husband and her parents.
Funeral services were held on Friday, Jan. 26, 2007, at the Bullock Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Roy Bowman officiating.
Burial followed at the Manning Cemetery.
Honorary pallbearers was Dr. David Whaley.
Memorials may be made to the Sumter S.P.C.A., 1140 S. Guignard Dr., Sumter, S.C. 29150.
Bullock Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.
Lucille M. Coley
Lucille M. Coley, 91, widow of Willie Coley Sr., died Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2006, at Lake Marion Nursing Facility, Summerton.
Born Dec. 10, 1914, in the Live Oak Community of Clarendon County, she was a daughter of the late James Miller and Ella Thames Miller.
She attended the public schools of Clarendon County. She accepted Christ at an early age and joined Rock Hill Baptist Church. She was a faithful member until her health failed. She was employed as a domestic until her retirement.
Survivors include a daughter, Rebecca Regan of the home; three grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren; and 19 great-great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by a son, Isaac Coley; a sister, Liza Miller Dingle; and four brothers, Leon, Harvey, Everett and Elgan Miller.
Funeral services were held on Sunday, Nov. 19, 2006, at Rock Hill Missionary Baptist Church in Manning, with the Rev. Dr. Leon Winn, pastor, officiating, assisted by the Revs. John Johnson, E.L. Sanders and David Pugh.
Burial was in the churchyard cemetery.
Samuels Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Frank Andrews
Francis Bartow “Frank” Andrews, age 76, husband of the late Allene Bryson Andrews, died Monday, Nov. 13, 2006.
Mr. Andrews was born in Sumter, the son of the late John Alexander Andrew Sr. and Frances Issabelle Jackson Andrews. Mr. Andrews was the great-grandson of the late Capt. Robert W. Andrews. He served in the U.S. Air Force, where he received the National Defense Service Medal. He was a member of the American Legion and the Disabled Veterans. He loved the outdoors and his dog, Rusty, and was a creative freehand artist. He was of the Baptist faith.
Survivors are six brothers, Timothy H. Andrews of Alcolu, Howard W. (Trevor) Andrews of Salt Springs, Fla., Robert E. (Betty) Andrews of Alcolu, Charles H. Andrews of Goose Creek, Ben J. (Carolyn) Andrews of Thibodaux, La., and Oregon Texas (Betty) Andrews of Hanahan; three sisters, Doris A. Morris, Mary A. (Benny) Kolb and Annie Laurie A. (Lavern) Newman, all of Sumter; and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his wife; parents; one brother, John Alexander Andrews Jr.; and one sister, Emma A. Medemar.
Funeral services were held on Sunday, Nov. 19, 2006, at the Bullock Funeral Home Chapel.
Burial was private at Florence National Cemetery.
Pallbearers were his nephews.
Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society, 128 Stonemark Lane, Columbia, S.C. 29210.
Bullock Funeral Home of Sumter was in charge of the arrangements.
Loretta Taylor
Loretta Orene Boyd Taylor, 86, wife of Emmett Lewis Taylor, died Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2006, at a local nursing facility.
Born in Charleston, W.Va., she was a daughter of the late Bill Boyd and the late Mattie Boyd. She was a member of Fellowship Baptist Church in Grovetown, Ga.
Survivors besides her husband include two daughters, Elaine Elmore of Summerton and Wanda (Jerry) Powell of Mellissa, Texas; four grandchildren, Amy (Matthew) Heath, Tim (March) Powell of Gainesville, Fla., Wayne (Susan) Elmore of Sumter and Bryan (Amanda) Elmore of Melborne, Fla.; and six great-grandchildren, Lauren Elizabeth, Madison, Braden, Jack, Travis, and Seth.
Graveside services were held on Sunday, Nov. 12, 2006, in the St. Paul Cemetery in Summerton with the Rev. Rob Pierce officiating.
Memorials may be made to the Cypress Foundation, P.O. Box 550, Manning, S.C. 29102.
Elmore-Cannon-Stephens Funeral Home and Crematorium of Sumter was in charge of the arrangements.
LaShonna M. Nelson
LaShonna Monique Nelson, 27, died Nov. 5, 2006, at Tuomey Regional Medical Center.
Born July 7, 1979, in Manning, she was a daughter of Barry Nelson and the late Atlean Nelson Williams and stepdaughter of Prince Williams. She received her education in the public schools of Clarendon County and graduated from Manning High School. She attended Central Carolina, Sumter. She accepted Christ as her Savior and joined Manning Church of Christ.
Survivors besides her father, Barry Nelson (companion, Helen Ehrhardt) and stepfather, Prince Williams, include two sons, Roderick Thomas Jr. and James Jaqwen Jenkins III, both of the home; one stepbrother, Barry James Nelson of New City, N.Y.; and one sister, Syneathia (Larry) Nelson of Sumter.
Funeral services were held on Saturday, Nov. 11, 2006, at Manning Church of Christ, with the Rev. Halbert Tucker, pastor, officiating.
Burial was in the church cemetery.
Samuels Funeral Home LLC of Manning was in charge of arrangements.
O’Neal E. Miles
O’Neal E. Miles, age 75, died Thursday, Nov. 9, 2006, at Tuomey Regional Medical Center, after an illness.
Born in Florence County, he was a son of the late Ansel William Miles and Evelyn Julia Ridgle Miles. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army, serving during the Korean Conflict, and retired from Campbell Soup Co. For the last 12 years, he was the security guard at the Factory Outlet Dress Shop.
He was preceded in death by two sisters, Velma Godwin and Virginia Prosser; two brothers, William Kennedy “Buster” Miles and Wilbur Miles; and two brothers-in-law, Herman Godwin and Henry Prosser.
He is survived by his wife of the home, Christine Elizabeth Shirer Miles; a daughter, Joyce Elizabeth Truitt of Tampa, Fla.; two sons, O’Neal Edward Miles Jr. and David Wayne Miles, both of Sumter; a stepdaughter, Barbara Ann Baker of Sumter; a stepson, James Edward Harris of Louisburg, N.C.; and two sisters, Marie (Al) Smith of Sumter and Bonnie Faye (Richard) Welch of Turbeville.
Funeral services were held on Sunday, Nov. 12, 2006, in the Chapel of Floyd Funeral Home.
Burial was in the Hicks Hill Cemetery in Scranton.
Floyd Funeral Home of Olanta was in charge of the arrangements.
