U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014
Betty Christopher
AIKEN — Mrs. Betty Jo “B. Jay” Christopher, 54, of 1000 Water Oak Dr., widow of Ronald W. Christopher, died Saturday, April 16, 2005 at her residence. A memorial service will be held Tuesday at 4:00 PM at Millbrook Baptist Church with The Rev. Dr. Eddie Leopard officiating.
A native of Goldsboro, NC, Mrs. Christopher was a daughter of Sara Rose Strength and the late Thomas Lathel Rose. She had lived in Aiken since 1967 and was an administrative assistant for High Level Nuclear Waste Regulatory Services at WSMS, a division of The Washington Group. She was a member of Millbrook Baptist Church.
Survivors include two daughters and sons-in-law, Jennifer Christopher Clark and her husband, Richard, Jessica Christopher Cunning and her husband Brian, all of Aiken; her mother and step-father, Sara Rose and Robert Strength of Tallassee, AL; a sister, Peggy Rose Price and her husband, Harman of Gilbert; two grandchildren, Emily Rose Webb and Deanna Paige Webb; a nephew, Jacob N. Smith III and a niece, Sherry Smith Wright.
Honorary pallbearers will be Brian Cunning, Richard Clark, Sid Melcher, James Webb, Jacob N. Smith III and Paul Wright.
Memorial contributions may be directed to the Savannah River Cancer Foundation, P.O. box 3694, Aiken, SC 29802. The family will receive friends at the residence following the memorial service.
Laurine Smothers
CASSATT — Graveside services for Laurine Robinson Smothers, 73, of Cassatt, will be held at 2:00 PM Tuesday, April 19, 2005 in Forest Lawn Memorial Park. Reverend Everett Reconnu and Reverend Condy Richardson will officiate. The family will receive friends from 7-9 PM Monday, April 18, 2005 at Kornegay Funeral Home, Camden Chapel. Memorials may be made to Kershaw County Home Health & Hospice, 2001 W. DeKalb Street, Camden, SC 29020 or the American Cancer Society, 128 Stonemark Lane, Columbia, SC 29210.
Mrs. Smothers, widow of the late J.D. Smothers, died Sunday, April 17, 2005. Born in Cassatt, she was the daughter of the late Clyde and Docia McClain Robinson. She was retired from Skyline Manufacturing Company and a member of Hermitage Baptist Church.
Surviving are sons, James Donald Smothers of Cassatt, Edward David Smothers of Lugoff; daughter, Shirley Smothers Branham (Gary) of Rembert; 9 grandchildren; 9 great grandchildren; 3 sisters, Alisha Ellis of Camden, Helen Owens of Cassatt, Sarah Holden of Miami, FL. She was pre-deceased by a son, John Henry Smothers; sister, Doris, and brothers, Willard, Ken and Clifford.
Walter Schrader Jr.
ROCK HILL — Mr. Walter Herman Schrader Jr., 92, of 733 Colonial Drive, died Sunday, 4-17-05, at his home.
Memorial services will be held 11 AM Tues. 4-19-05 at St. John’s United Methodist Church with Dr. Tim McClendon officiating. Burial will be private in The Scattering Garden of St. John’s United Methodist Church.
Mr. Schrader was a native of Colorado Springs, CO and a son of the late Walter Herman Schrader, Sr. and the late Elizabeth Poley Schrader. He was a member of St. John’s United Methodist Church. He was a 1935 graduate of Colorado State University where he received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Horticulture. He was the first male student to enroll at Winthrop College and was the first male to receive a degree from Winthrop when he obtained his Masters in Biology in 1969. He was a retired Biologist with the S.C. Wildlife Department. Prior to his work at the Wildlife Department he worked with the Federal Soil Conservation Service. Mr. Schrader was a member of St. John’s United Methodist Church Men and worked with the Church Missions Overseas. He belonged to the Thursday Morning Prayer Group and in 1999 he became the first recipient of the Keeper of the Culture Award from Rock Hill’s Historical Society. The trails at Brattonsville were named the Walter Schrader Trails. He was a member of the Kiwanis Club, Eagle Club, Elk’s Lodge and a member of the Elks Chorus and was active as a baritone soloist in Rock Hill for years. He was active in planting wild flowers in Rock Hill and was an avid gardener who was well known for his rose garden. Mr. Schrader was also a member of the State Employees Association and was the first wildlife conservationist for the state. He was a Life Member of the Sierra Club who awarded him a Distinguished Service Award for a life-time of service for environmental causes and for uncounted years and unnumbered deeds. He was a member of the Clean and Green group and of numerous organizations in the City of Rock Hill. He also actively worked with the Boy Scouts of America and other youth organizations.
He is survived by his wife, Alphia Greene Comer Schrader, of the home; his daughter, Elizabeth “Beth” Johns, of Rock Hill; his brother, Frank Schrader, of Olympia, WA; 8 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. In addition to his parents, Mr. Schrader was preceded in death by his daughter, Joan Pundt.
The family will receive friends at the church immediately following the service.
In lieu of flowers the family requests that memorials be made to St. John’s United Methodist Church Building Fund, 321 S. Oakland Drive, Rock Hill, SC 2973 or to Hospice Care of South Carolina, 1236 Ebenezer Road, Rock Hill, SC 29732.
Geraldine West
COLUMBIA — Visitation for Geraldine H. West, 83, of National Health Care-Columbia will be Tuesday from 6:30 to 8:30 pm at Barr-Price Funeral Home Lexington Chapel. Burial will be Thursday in Meadowlawn Cemetery, New Port Richey, FL. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to York Place, 234 Kings Mtn. St., York, SC 29745.
Ms. West was born in Holland a daughter of the late John Nicholas Hendrick and Bernidina TenHoeve VanSanten. She was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints and was a retired cleaning supervisor for Holiday Inn Express.
Surviving are a son and daughter-in-law, James H. and Judy Onos of Lexington; brother, George VanSanten of Lady Lakes Est., FL; sister, Ann Tiger of New Port Richey, FL; 5 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren.
She was predeceased by brothers, Theodore, John, Henry VanSanten.
Eric Canzater
COLUMBIA — Services for Eric “Bobo” Lamont Canzater, 12, a fifth grade student at Sandel Elementary, are 3 p.m. Tuesday at Shady Grove A.M.E. Church, Blythewood, with burial in Shady Grove Cemetery. Viewing: 1-9 tonight at Russell-McCutchen Funeral Home, Columbia Chapel. Born in Columbia to Eric Green and Marcia L. Canzater, he died April 14, 2005. Surviving: parents; 3 sisters; 5 adopted siblings.
Ben Byrd
ABBEVILLE — A graveside service for Benjamin Franklin Byrd Sr., 87, widower of Evelyn Byrd, will be held at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday in Forest Lawn Memory Gardens. Chandler-Jackson Funeral Home is in charge. Born in Georgia to Benjamin and Evelyn Hill Byrd, he died April 15, 2005. Surviving are children, Benjamin Jr., Robert, John, Elizabeth Byrd; sister, Eloise Doster; six grandchildren; five great-grandchildren.
Helen Lane
CHERAW — Helen Jewel Lane, 70, died Sunday, April 17, 2005. Born in Howellsville, NC she was a daughter of the late Liston and Mae Belle Williams Hatchell. Mrs. Lane was a member of Cheraw Church of God. She had worked in textiles, was a beautician and took care of children. She enjoyed baking cakes, traveling, fishing and reading.
Surviving are her husband George Lane of Cheraw, SC, Sons, Bobby Lane, Steve (Cheryl) Lane, Keith (Sherry) Lane all of Cheraw, SC, Richard (Denise) Lane of Columbia, SC, Cecil (Sharon) Lane of Sunset Beach, NC, Brothers, Gerald Hatchell of Manteo, NC, Johnny Hatchell of Latta, SC, Sisters, Gracie Jackson, Barbara Chipmon and Susie Lee all of Latta, SC, and Dorothy Hatchell of Manteo, NC, 14 Grandchildren and 10 Great Grandchildren.
Mrs. Lane was preceded in death by, her parents, a son, Glenn Lane, and two brothers, Larry and Charles Hatchell.
The family will receive friends 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM Monday, April 18, 2005 at Kiser Funeral Home, Cheraw, SC.
A funeral service will be held 4:00 PM, Tuesday, April 19, 2005 at Cheraw Church of God. Burial will be in Chatham Hill Memorial Gardens.
Memorials to: Hospice of Chesterfield County, PO Box 293, Chesterfield, SC 29709.
Richardine Early
GIFFORD — Services with burial for Richardine Early, 78, will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Goodwill Baptist Church, Estill. Wake services are 6-8 tonight at Riley’s Funeral Home, Hampton Chapel. She died April 14, 2005. Surviving are five children; five brothers; 22 grandchildren; 39 great-grandchildren; 17 great-great-grandchildren.
Marion Wheeler
CAMDEN — Funeral services for Marion Noble Wheeler, of Camden, widow of Elmer Perley Wheeler, will be held at 4:00 PM Tuesday, April 19, 2005 at Grace Episcopal Church with burial to follow in Quaker Cemetery. Reverend Douglas Holmes will officiate. The family will receive friends from 6:30 - 8:00 PM Monday, April 18, 2005 at Kornegay Funeral Home, Camden Chapel. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Missouri Botanical Garden Tribute Fund, PO Box 299, St. Louis, MO 63166 or Grace Episcopal Church 1315 Lyttleton Street, Camden, SC 29020.
Marion died Saturday, April 16, 2005 in Columbia, SC. Born on February 20, 1916, in Concord, NH, she was the daughter of the late Austin and Mable Noble. She served as secretary to New Hampshire State Senator Styles Bridges during the early years of her marriage. After moving to St. Louis, MO, she was a homemaker and enjoyed gardening and judging flower shows. She instilled a love of learning in her children as evidenced by all of them pursuing teaching as a career. She was a member of Grace Episcopal Church in Kirkwood, MO and served as Girl Scout and Cub Scout leaders. She was a very successful real estate broker with John R. Greene and Axline & Payne Realtors. In 1976, she and her husband retired to Camden, SC where she was a member of King Haigler Garden Club and Grace Episcopal Church. Marion loved music and laughter among family and friends.
Surviving are her children, Alan C. Wheeler of Kirkwood, MO; Jean W. (Townley) Redfearn of Camden and James D. Wheeler of Camden; 3 grandchildren, Erin W. (Will) Boyle of Glendale, MO; Tyke (Shanna) Redfearn of Lugoff, SC and Abbey R. (Ryan) Haddock of Lugoff, SC; 2 great-grandchildren, Caitlyn Boyle and Riordan Haddock; and close family friend, Christy F. James of Richmond Heights, MO.
Earline Young
VARNVILLE — Services for Earline F. Young, 76, widow of Embra Young Sr., will be held at 1 p.m. Tuesday at Huspah Baptist Church, Hampton, with burial in Jerusalem Cemetery, Cummings. Viewing is 1-8 tonight at Young Funeral Home, Yemassee, with wake services 7-8 tonight. She died April 15, 2005.
Margaret McInnis (Peggy) Martin
HILTON HEAD ISLAND — Margaret McInnis (Peggy) Martin, wife of Gene Martin, 63, died Sunday, April 17, 2005 at her home following a valiant battle with cancer. She was born January 2, 1942: the daughter of the late John Duncan McInnis and Alice Campbell McInnis.
She grew up in the Carolina Community and Dillon and moved to Beaufort County in 1969. She was involved in numerous civic and charitable organizations over the years, as well as being a loving wife, mother, grandmother and friend.
She is survived by her husband, Gene Martin; son, William L. Bethea III (Jennifer); daughter, Margaret Bethea Waite (Randy) and children, Janice Allen (Spence), David Martin (Chris), Bill Martin (Reba), Jennifer Mitchell (David); one brother, John D. McInnis Jr. (Jean); nine grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be from 6 til 8, Monday, April 18, 2005 at Sauls Funeral Home, Bluffton, SC. Interment will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the charity of one’s choice.
Sauls Funeral Home of Bluffton, SC is assisting the family with their arrangements.
James Ralph Anderson
MANNING — Mr. James Ralph Anderson, 84, husband of the late Cecil V. Ardis Anderson, died Sunday, April 17, 2005, in a Columbia hospital after an illness.
Mr. Anderson was born in Florence, a son of the late James Calvin and Mamie Coward Anderson. He was a farmer and of the Pentecostal faith. Ralph’s deep love of the land and his traditional Southern values are the strength that have helped his family to prosper and grow strong. He was widely known for growing the best tasting tomatoes.
Survivors include: two daughters, Betty Jean Avin of Sumter and Ellen (Jack) McFaddin of Manning; two sons, James W. (Mary Beth) Anderson of Manning and Bobby R. (Dale) Anderson of Sumter; two brothers, Allen Anderson of Charleston and Samuel Anderson of Williston; one sister, Elma Backus of Charleston; seven grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren; two special friends, Christina Pack and Rock Holliday are remembered. He was predeceased by two sisters, Vennie Thibodeau of Hendersonville, N.C., and Ruby Cole of N. Charleston, S.C.
Graveside funeral service will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday, April 20, 2005, in Oak Grove Cemetery, Bloomville Hwy., Manning, S.C.
Memorials may be made to Oak Grove Cemetery Fund, c/o Louise Thompson, 8178 Mose Dingle Road, Manning, SC 29102.
The family will have visitation from 5-8 p.m. Tuesday at the home at 6580 Bloomville Hwy., Manning, S.C.
Brockington Funeral Home, Lake City, is in charge.
