U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014
Alford Buffington
ROCK HILL - Mr. Alford Leon "Slim" Buffington, 75, of 1080 Chandler Drive died Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2000, at home.
The funeral will be 2 p.m. Saturday at Sisk Memorial Baptist Church in Fort Mill, with the Revs. Jerry Devinney and Jim Herron officiating. Burial will be at Grandview Memorial Park in Rock Hill.
A native of Calhoun Falls, Mr. Buffington was a son of the late Daisy Gibson and Early Buffington. He was an Army veteran of World War II and an Air Force veteran of the Korean War. He worked as a doffer for Springs Industries and retired from Randolph Yarn. He was a member of Sisk Memorial Baptist Church.
Surviving are his wife, Ruth Lambert Buffington; two stepsons, Ed Casey of Fort Mill and Kenny Casey of Rock Hill; his stepdaughter, Sandra Thrift Price of Wilson, N.C.; four sisters, Ruby Mae Gary, Mary Bowman and Carrie B. Gary, all of Calhoun Falls, and Annie Alexander of Abbeville; 10 grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren.
The family will receive friends from 7 to 9 tonight at Wolfe Funeral Home in Fort Mill and at other times at home.
Memorials may be made to Hospice Community Care, 325 S. Oakland Ave., Rock Hill, SC 29730.
Ossie Black
ROCK HILL - Mrs. Ossie Mae Permenter Black, 67, of 364 Sidney St. died Thursday, Jan. 27, 2000, at Piedmont Medical Center.
The funeral will be 11 a.m. Saturday at West End Baptist Church, with the Rev. Mike Lowery officiating. Burial will be at Grandview Memorial Park.
A native of Monroe, N.C., Mrs. Black was a daughter of the late Will Lee Permenter and Frances Ola Starnes Permenter. She was the widow of David Lumus Black. She was retired from Pharr Yarns in Clover and was a member of West End Baptist Church.
Surviving are two sons, David Lee Black of the home and Dennis W. Black of Rock Hill; her brother, James R. Permenter of Easley; two sisters, Frances McCaston of Dallas, N.C., and Betty Loflin of Charlotte; and her grandchild.
The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 tonight at Greene Funeral Home and at other times at the home of her son, Dennis W. Black, 1831 Springsteen Road, Rock Hill.
Memorials may be made to West End Baptist Church building fund, 1727 McConnells Highway, Rock Hill, SC 29732.
Kathryn Blanton
SHELBY, N.C. - Mrs. Kathryn Leigh Blanton, 80, of 5402 Spring Lane died Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2000, at Cleveland Regional Medical Center.
The funeral will be 2 p.m. Friday at Landmark Baptist Church, with the Revs. Allen Davis and Jeff Hayes officiating. Burial will be at Patterson Springs Baptist Church.
A native of Shelby, Mrs. Blanton was a daughter of the late David Leigh and Clara Lemmons Leigh. She was a member of Landmark Baptist Church. where she was active in the choir.
Surviving are her husband, Virgil Green Blanton; two sons, Wayne Blanton and Robert Blanton, both of Shelby; two sisters, Edna McIntyre of Cherryville and Pauline Henson of Rock Hill; three grandchildren; her step great-grandchild; and two great-grandchildren.
Cecil M. Burton Funeral Home is in charge.
Mamie Connell
ROCK HILL - Mrs. Mamie Privette Connell, 91, of 127 Murrah Drive died Thursday, Jan. 27, 2000, at Magnolia Manor.
The funeral will be 2 p.m. Saturday at Greene Funeral Home, with the Revs. Merv Horst and Walter Clark officiating. Burial will be at Grandview Memorial Park.
A native of Winnsboro, Mrs. Connell was a daughter of the late Samuel Leard Boulware and Carolina Paschal Boulware. She was the widow of Roy B. Privette and Earl Connell. A homemaker, she was a charter member of Faith Assembly of God.
Surviving are two sons, Gerald F. Privette and Ralph D. Privette, both of Rock Hill; three daughters, Edna M. Robinson, Kay Pike and Nina Poole, all of Rock Hill; 10 grandchildren; and 17 great-grandchildren.
The family will receive friends from 1 to 2 p.m. Saturday at Greene Funeral Home and at other times at the home of her daughter, Edna M. Robinson, 762 S. Spruce St., Rock Hill.
Memorials may be made to Hospice Community Care, 325 S. Oakland Ave., Rock Hill, SC 29730 or Woodvale Baptist Church, 1538 Springsteen Road, Rock Hill, SC 29730.
Bessie Cox
RICHBURG - Mrs. Bessie Mae Stephens Cox, 89, of Richburg died Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2000, at Springs Hospital in Lancaster.
The funeral will be 11 a.m. today at Heritage Funeral Home Chapel, 4431 Old Monroe Road, Matthews, N.C. Burial will follow at Guilford Memorial Park in Greensboro, N.C.
A native of Columbus County, N.C., Mrs. Cox was a daughter of the late James and Mary Stephens.
Surviving are her sons, James Furr of Richburg and Leroy Furr and William Furr, both of Boger City, N.C.; her stepson, Danny Lee Furr of Lexington, N.C.; her stepdaughter, Barbara Jean Furr of Lexington, N.C.; her brother, Johnny Stephens; and three grandchildren.
The family will receive friends from 10 to 11 a.m. today at the funeral home.
Estelle Costner
ROCK HILL - Mrs. Estelle P. Costner, 94, of 1653 Norris Drive died Thursday, Jan. 27, 2000, at Piedmont Medical Center.
The funeral will be 11 a.m. Saturday at Cauthen Funeral Home, with Mr. Clinton Goff officiating. Burial will be at Forest Hill Cemetery.
A native of Kershaw County, Mrs. Costner was a daughter of the late Milton DeCalb Peake and Mary Elizabeth Branham Peake. She was the widow of Porter A. Costner. She was a retired seamstress and one of the original owners of Triple E Sewing Shop. She was a member of the Church of the New Testament.
Surviving are her son, Ornan Costner of Rock Hill; six daughters, Lucy C. Cox, Marge Smith, Joyce Brown and Phyllis Mendenhall, all of Rock Hill, Elsie King of Gastonia, N.C., and Mittie Fudge of Edgemoor; 21 grandchildren; and 25 great-grandchildren.
The family will receive friends from 7 to 9 tonight at the home of Franklin and Joyce Brown, 1743 W. Lakewood Drive, Rock Hill.
Memorials may be made to the American Heart Association, P.O. Box 6604, Columbia, SC 29260.
Sally Davis
ROCK HILL - Mrs. Sally Mae Davis, 62, of 628 Izard St. died Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2000, at White Oak Manor.
The funeral will be 3 p.m. Saturday at By Faith Pentecostal Church, with the Rev. Jacob Chisholm III officiating and the Revs. Persell Ross Jr. and Herbert C. Crump assisting. Burial will be at Green Hill Cemetery.
A native of Union County, N.C., Mrs. Davis was a daughter of Jahue Tillman of Hartsville, Conn., and the late Janie B. Lowery. She was retired from Klear Knit as a seamstress. She attended the Union County schools and was an original member of the Davis Singers of Rock Hill.
Surviving in addition to her father are her husband, Raymond Davis of Lancaster County; her son, Timothy Davis of Lancaster; her daughter, Kim Davis Lowery of the home; two brothers, Joseph Tillman and Jahue Tillman Jr., both of New Haven, Conn.; two sisters, Joyner Tillman of Waterbury, Conn., and Barbara Tillman of 
California; five grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
The body will be placed in the church at 2 p.m. Saturday.
Parker Funeral Home is in charge.
Helen Dennis
ALBEMARLE, N.C. - Mrs. Helen Marie Burris Dennis, 68, of 1505 Lee Lynn Drive died Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2000, at Stanly Memorial Hospital.
The funeral will be 4 p.m. today at Mountain View Baptist Church, with the Revs. Darrell Huneycutt, Steve Tucker and David E. Howard officiating. Burial will be at Stanly Gardens of Memory.
A native of Stanly County, N.C., Mrs. Dennis was a daughter of the late Oscar Burris and Flora Bell Furr Burris. She was the widow of James Julius "Hoss" Dennis. Mrs. Dennis was a greeter at Wal-Mart. She was a member of Mountain View Baptist Church, Three Rivers Quilt Guild and Cub Scout Volunteer Pack No. 50.
Surviving are her son, Jerry James Dennis of Albemarle; six daughters, Linda Hilton of Rock Hill, Lois Roland and Judy Fraley, both of New London, N.C., Veronica Ingram of Norwood, N.C., Doris Davis of Round Rock, Texas, and Tammy Dennis of Albemarle; two brothers, Lewis Burris of New London and Ted Burris of Concord, N.C.; 18 grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.
Memorials may be made to Hospice of Stanly County, 960 N. First St., Albemarle, NC 28001 or Children's Miracle Network, 1618 Scott Ave., Charlotte, NC 28203.
Oscar Fortner
ROCK HILL - Mr. Oscar H. Fortner, 66, of 807 S. Cherry Road died Monday, Jan. 24, 2000, at Piedmont Medical Center.
A graveside service will be 11 a.m. today at Grandview Memorial Park, with the Revs. Steve Hogg and Dr. Sollie Hicks officiating.
A native of Anderson, Mr. Fortner was a son of the late Fate F. Fortner and Omie Barnwell Fortner. He was a member of First Baptist Church and former owner of Brown Shoes in Rock Hill. He also was a greeter at Wal-Mart in Rock Hill. Mr. Fortner was an Army veteran of the Korean conflict.
He was a member of Corinthian Lodge No. 416 in Newport, Past Master of Rock Hill Masonic Lodge No. 385, Past Matron of Starlite Chapter Order of Eastern Star No. 243, honorary member of Catawba Lodge No. 56 in Fort Mill, Hejaz Shrine Temple and York County Crescent Shrine Club.
Surviving are his wife, Joanne Moser Fortner; two sons, Robert Fortner of Raleigh, N.C., and Glenn Fortner of Anderson; four daughters, Frances Moss of Sharon, Nancy Reid of Rock Hill, Starlet Neely of Greenwood and Pamela Stack of Timberlake, N.C.; four brothers, Fate Fortner of St. Petersburg, Fla., Harold Fortner of Raleigh, N.C., Wayne Fortner of Brunswick, Ga., and Steve Fortner of Atlanta; his sister, Joan Evans of Beaufort; 10 grandchildren; and his great-grandchild.
Memorials may be made to Hejaz Shrine Club, P.O. Box 667, Mauldin, SC 29662.
Greene Funeral Home is in charge.
Alan Gross
ROCK HILL - Dr. Alan J. Gross, 65, of 300 Berkeley Road, formerly of Mount Pleasant, died Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2000.
The funeral will be noon today at Cauthen Funeral Home, with Rabbi Jessica Spitalnic officiating. Burial will be at Forest Hills Cemetery.
A native of Bronx, N.Y., Dr. Gross was a son of the late Jacob Gross and Sara "Sadie" Gross Gross. He was a full professor in the Department of Biometry at the Medical University of South Carolina for 22 years and retired as professor emeritus in June 1998. He was an ASA Fellow and received awards for Contributor Health Services Research. He received his undergraduate and graduate degrees from UCLA. He earned his doctorate at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Surviving are his wife, Nancy Gross; two sons, Andrew Gross of Morris Plains, N.J., and Michael Gross of Orlando, Fla.; and his granddaughter.
Memorials may be made to the American Heart Association, PO Box 6604, Columbia, SC, 29260.
Vera Hinson
CHESTER - Mrs. Vera Connell "Dot" Hinson, 69, of 121 Wilson St., died Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2000, at Piedmont Medical Center in Rock Hill.
The funeral will be 2 p.m. today at Chester Memorial Gardens, with the Rev. Clay Waldrip officiating. Internment will follow.
A native of Kershaw, Mrs. Hinson was a daughter of the late Gertrude and Shell Connell. A graduate of Kershaw High School, she was a homemaker and a member of the First Baptist Church. She was the widow of John J. Hinson.
Surviving are her son, Dale Hinson of Chester; two daughters, Gail Reeves of Chester and Teresa Ruark of Columbus, Ohio; her brother, Johnny Connell of Kershaw; two sisters, Edna Shull of Columbia and Fleeta Nunnally of Beroall, N.C; 10 grandchildren; and her great-grandchild.
Memorials can be made to the First Baptist Church, P.O. Box 518, Chester, SC 29706.
Barron Funeral Home is in charge.
Eli Hopkins
CHESTER - Mr. Eli Hopkins, 82, of 2191 Goings Road died Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2000, at home.
The funeral will be 3:30 p.m. Saturday at St. Paul Baptist Church in Halseville, with the Rev. John Heath officiating and the Rev. Robert Brown assisting. Burial will be at the church cemetery.
A native of Chester County, Mr. Hopkins was a son of Amos Hopkins and Minnie Hopkins. He was the widower of Asalene Wilkes Hopkins. He was a member of St. Paul Baptist Church, where he served as a deacon. He was retired from John C. Brown Cedar Co.
Surviving are two sons, Charley Mack Hopkins and Johnny Lee Hopkins, both of Chester; four daughters, Lula Bell Worthy and Lucille H. Watson, both of Rock Hill, Bessie Mae Hopkins of Bronx, N.Y., and Lorene Hopkins of Germany; his granddaughter whom he raised, Margie Lee Whitlock; 14 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and four great-great-grandchildren.
The family will receive friends at home and at the home of Charles and Lucille Watson, 640 Harrison St., Rock Hill.
The body may be viewed from 1 to 9 p.m. today and from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at King's Funeral Home, 135 Cemetery St., Chester.
Sarah Martin
ROCK HILL - Mrs. Sarah Rosebud Hardin Martin, 74, of 1915 Ebenezer Road died Sunday, Jan. 23, 2000, at Piedmont Medical Center.
The funeral was Wednesday at West End Baptist Church, with the Revs. James Lowery and Mike Lowery officiating. Burial was at Laurelwood Cemetery.
A native of Smyrna, Mrs. Martin was a daughter of the late Furman D. Hardin and Fannie Bell Spencer Hardin. She was raised by her father and Amanda Westmoreland Hardin. She was the widow of the late William L. "Shorty" Martin.
Mrs. Martin was a member of West End Baptist Church. She served on the Rock Hill Housing Advisory Council, was a member of the Rock Hill Senior Citizen Band and worked in the York County Fair Exhibition Hall for years. She was a retired weaver in the textile industry. She was preceded in death by her daughter, Linda M. Owens.
Surviving are six sons, William Lester Martin Jr. of Hickory Grove, Richard L. Martin of Greenwood, Kenneth A. Martin of Lesslie and D. Wayne Martin, Norris S. Martin and Bruce W. Martin, all of Rock Hill; two daughters, Hazel M. Adams and Helen M. Helms, both of Rock Hill; 30 grandchildren; and 27 great-grandchildren.
Memorials may be made to West End Baptist Church building fund, 1727 McConnells Highway, Rock Hill, SC 29732, or Hospice Community Care, 325 S. Oakland Ave., Rock Hill, SC 29730.
Greene Funeral home is in charge.
