U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014
Frank Avins Sr.
SUMTER — Frank Lewis Avins, Sr., 82, husband of Elizabeth Ardis Avins, died Monday, May 2, 2005.
Born in Sumter County, he was a son of the late Willie Avins and the late Jannie Barwick Avins.
Mr. Avins was a member of Bethel Baptist Church and had retired from Santee Print Works. He also taught Machine Shop Classes at Sumter Area Technical College, was a former Manager of Colonial Packaging Company and most recently was employed by Waste Management. He was a U.S. Navy World War II veteran.
Surviving are his wife of Sumter; two sons, Daniel “Roy” L. Avins and wife Mae, Frank L. “Coot” Avins, Jr. and wife Sylvia of Sumter; a daughter, Shirley A. Geddings and husband Ron of Union, Kentucky; a son-in-law, Allen Rogers of Sumter; 10 grandchildren, Daniel Wayne “Chip” Avins, Gary Leroy Avins, Laurie Annette Dubose of Lake City, Frank Willard “Spanky” Avins, Michael Allen Rogers, Jr., Angela Marie Freeman of Sumter, and Donald Leon Geddings of Cartersville, Ga., Tammy Patricia Coker of Olanta, Amy Elizabeth Morris of Okinawa, Japan, and Melissa Renae Geddings of Union, Ky.; 4 step-grandchildren, Benjamin Wright, Franklin Wright, Kelly Wright of Lake City, and Jammie Powell of Marion; 15 great-grandchildren; and 4 stepgreat-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by a daughter, Toni Avins Rogers and a granddaughter, Christy Avins.
Funeral services will be held at 4 p.m. Friday at Bethel Baptist Church with Rev. Keith Burgess and Rev. G.W. Harrell officiating.
Burial will be in Evergreen Memorial Park Cemetery.
Pallbearers will be Daniel Wayne “Chip” Avins, Donald Leon Geddings, Frank Willard “Spanky” Avins, Gary Leroy Avins, Michael Allen Rogers, Jr. and John Henderson Freeman.
The family will receive friends from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday at the Elmore Hill McCreight Funeral Home and other times at the home, 4155 Bethel Church Road.
Memorials may be made to the Bethel Baptist Church Building Fund, 2401 Bethel Church Road, Sumter, SC 29154 or to the American Heart Association, 520 Gervais St., Suite 300, Columbia, SC 29204.
Elmore Hill McCreight Funeral Home and Crematory, 221 Broad Street, Sumter, is in charge of the arrangements.
Mack Crocker
WARE SHOALS — Mack Wesley Crocker, 92, formerly of Ware Shoals, husband of Agnes Jordan Crocker died Monday, May 2, 2005, in Providence Hospital in Columbia.
Born in Lowndesville, S.C., he was a son of the late Daniel and Synthia Ramsey Crocker. Mr. Crocker was a member of Ware Shoals First Baptist Church, the Barracca Sunday School Class and the Ware Shoals Quarter Century Club, and had retired from Riegel Textile Corporation.
Surviving are his wife of 71 years; one daughter, Mildred Bagnal and husband Jim of Cayce, S.C.; sister, Belle Crocker Taylor of Greenville, S.C.; two grandchildren, Mrs. John (Jonolyn) Ferreri of Beaufort, S.C., and Mrs. Tim (Cindy) Eskew of Dacula, Ga.; three great-grandchildren, Jack and Jamie Ferreri of Beaufort and Erin Eskew of Dacula, Georgia. He was predeceased by brothers, Blake, Hamp and Cleo Crocker and sisters, Louvinia Crocker Pilgrim and Fannie Crocker Higginbotham.
Funeral services will be 2 p.m. Wednesday at Ware Shoals First Baptist Church with Rev. Leon Jones and Rev. Dan Compton officiating. Burial will follow in Greenwood Memorial Gardens.
The family received friends from 6-8 p.m. Tuesday at Parker-White Funeral Home. The body will be placed in the church at 1 p.m. Wednesday. Memorials may be made to Ware Shoals First Baptist Church, PO Box 449, Ware Shoals, SC 29692.
Benjamin and Madeleine Richardson
SUMTER — Graveside services for Benjamin Perry Richardson and Madeleine Thompson Richardson will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday May 7, 2005, at the Episcopal Church of the Holy Cross Cemetery at Stateburg with Rev. Dick Archer officiating.
Born February 19, 1915, in Sumter County, he was a son of the late Richard C. Richardson and Martha W. Perry Richardson. Mr. Richardson died February 4, 2005.
Born January 2, 1917, in Hines, California, she was a daughter of the late John Alfred Thompson and Bertha I. Mentzer. Mrs. Richardson died November 25, 1997.
Surviving are two sons, Benjamin Perry Richardson, Jr. of Charlotte, N.C., and John Alfred Richardson of Portland, Oregon; and a daughter, Carolyn Richardson Hagen, of Magalia, California. In addition, Mr. Richardson is survived by a brother, Deas Richardson of Spartanburg, S.C.; two sisters, Mary Northcutt of Mt. Pleasant, S.C. and Norvelle Gozdziewski of Lynchburg, S.C.
Memorials may be made to Holy Cross Historic Preservation Trust, in care of Mrs. Amelia B. Harper, 2161 Gion Street, Sumter, SC 29150-5904.
Elmore Hill McCreight Funeral Home and Crematory, 221 Broad Street, Sumter, is in charge of the arrangements.
Dorothy Thelning
MT. PLEASANT — Dorothy Booth Thelning, 84, of Mt. Pleasant, S.C., widow of Jeffrey Carl Axel Thelning, entered into eternal rest Wednesday, May 5, 2005, at The Franke Home. Dorothy’s relatives and friends are invited to attend her Graveside service Friday, May 6, 2005, in Mount Pleasant Memorial Gardens at one o’clock. Friends may call at J. Henry Stuhr, Inc., Mount Pleasant Chapel Thursday evening from 6 until 8 o’clock.
Mrs. Thelning was born March 24, 1921, in Columbia, S.C., the daughter of the late Jesse W. Booth and Veo Whittle Booth. She had retired as a Medical Technologist from the Medical University of South Carolina and was a member of Citadel Square Baptist Church. Mrs. Thelning was an avid artist and enjoyed needlework and enameling.
Surviving are her daughter and son-in-law, Elizabeth and Charles Sigman of Mt. Pleasant and a granddaughter, Kristin E. B. Sigman of Mt. Pleasant, S.C.
Flowers will be accepted or memorials may be sent to The American Cancer Society, 5900 Core Road, Suite 504, Charleston, SC 29406 or the American Diabetes Association, 2711 Middleburg Drive, Suite 205, Columbia, SC 29204.
Bessie Scott
SUMTER — Bessie Joyce Sampson Scott died April 29, 2005, in Tuomey Healthcare Systems. Born in Sumter on July 6, 1922, she was the fourth of five children born to the late William Benjamin Sampson and Vermelle Moore Sampson.
Mrs. Scott was a graduate of Lincoln High School. She attended Spelman College and earned a Bachelor’s Degree in secondary education from the Hampton Institute. In 1968, she was awarded a Master’s Degree in teaching from Boston College. While in Boston she was designated a master teacher. On July 18, 1944, she was united in marriage to Benjamin Franklin Scott, Jr. She and her husband were active in the movement to end de facto segregation in Boston. She developed the curriculum and taught in that city’s first Freedom School. After relocating to Chicago, she became the editorial assistant and researcher at Johnson Publication Company and Docent at the Art Institute of Chicago. She and her husband were members of the Skyloft Players, a black theatrical group in Chicago. Her civic and church involvements were numerous and included Chicago Child Care Society, the Woman’s Board of the Chicago American Cancer Society, and the City Associates of the Art Institute of Chicago. In 1979, she relocated to the Sumter community and, in the last five years of her career, taught at Hillcrest High School.
In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by two brothers: William Christopher Sampson, Sr. and Donald James Sampson, Sr.
Survivors include her son, Christopher Jehu Scott of Sumter, her daughter, Barbara Joyce Scott Burton-Edwards and son-in-law, Mozette DuJuan Edwards, Sr. of Sumter, S.C.; her two sisters, Dorothy Vermelle Sampson and Irene Sampson Williams of Sumter; her brother-in-law, Drefus Williams of Sumter; her sister-in-law, LaBarbara Powell Sampson of Greenville, S.C.; three granddaughters, Lara Lynn Scott of St. Louis, Mo., Paige Alana Scott Reed and her husband, Christopher Shaw Reed of Brookline, Mass., and Stacey Lynnise Burton Horn and her husband Kavin Horn of Deland, Fla.; two grandsons, Silas Benjamin Reed and Jasper Reed of Brookline, Mass., and two great-granddaughters, Dasia Nicole Watts-Horn and Kaia Jaelyn Horn of Deland, Fla.
Services will be held Saturday, May 7, 2005, at 10 a.m. at Good Sheperd Episcopal Church, Sumter, with Father Mark Riggs officiating, assisted by Rev. Willie Wright. Burial will follow in Walker Cemetery.
The funeral procession will leave at 9 a.m. from the residence of her daughter and son-in-law, Mozette and Barbara Burton-Edwards 3275 Oasis Court, Sumter.
The family will also receive friends at the 3275 Oasis Court address, located off of Abel Lane in Sumter.
Palmer Memorial Chapel, Inc. is in charge of arrangements.
George Waters Jr.
ELGIN — Funeral services for 1st Sgt. George Maro Waters Jr., 65, will be held Friday, May 6, 2005, at 2 p.m. at Kornegay Funeral Home, Camden Chapel. Burial will follow in Forest Lawn Memorial Park with military and Masonic rites. Chaplain K.J. Lewis will officiate. The family will receive friends Thursday, May 5, 2005, from 6-7:30 p.m. at Kornegay Funeral Home, Camden Chapel. Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society, 128 Stonemark Lane, Columbia, SC 29210.
1st Sgt. Waters died Tuesday, May 3, 2005. Born in Columbia, he was the son of the late George M. Sr. and Virginia Guy Waters. He had retired from the U.S. Army after 26 years of service, having served in Vietnam. He retired from the City of Camden Police Department after 15 years of service . 1st Sgt. Waters was a member of Kershaw Lodge #29, a York Rite Mason and a member of Jamil Temple.
Mr. Waters is survived by his wife, Ann O. Waters. The City of Camden Police Honor Guard will serve as active pallbearers.
Jackson Baird
BISHOPVILLE — Funeral services for Jackson Baird, age 59, who died May 3, will be held Friday at 4 p.m. from the Community Bible Church. Burial will be in the Church Cemetery, directed by Norton Funeral Home. Visitation will be Thursday 6-8 at the funeral home. Jackson was born in Clarendon County, a son of the late Brady Floyd and Teany Bochette Baird. He was a retired auto mechanic. Surviving: sons: Johnny Baird, Orangeburg, Billy Baird, Sumter, daughter: Wynette (Darren) Bryant, Sumter, brothers: Bobby (Emmie Sue) Baird, Camden, Jimmy (Loretta) Baird, Bishopville, sisters: Janice (Bennie) Davis, Joyce (Donnie) Watkins, Bishopville, Gayle (Mike) Davis, Camden, 5 grandchildren; preceded in death by an infant son and infant granddaughter.
Memorials may be sent to the Community Bible Church Building Fund at 5711 Red Hill Road, Camden, SC 29020.
John Bonner Jr.
CAMDEN — Funeral services for John Wyatt Bonner, Jr., 87, will be held on Saturday, May 7, 2005, at 11:00 a.m. at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church with burial to follow in High View Cemetery, Gray, Georgia, at 5:00 p.m. Rev. Francis Travis will officiate. Memorials may be made to Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church, 1709 N. Lyttleton Street, Camden, SC 29020.
Mr. Bonner died Wednesday, May 4, 2005. Born in Gray, Georgia, he was the son of the late John Wyatt, Sr., and Wilhelmina Beusse Bonner. Mr. Bonner had retired as head of special collections at the University of Georgia Library. He was past president of the Kershaw County Historical Society, past board member of Historic Camden, where the library is named in his honor. Mr. Bonner was instrumental in restoring and renovating Cool Springs Plantation. He was also past board member of the Camden Archives and a member of Springdale Hall. Mr. Bonner was also a member of the S.C. Historical Society. He was a member of Our Lady of Help Catholic Church and a World War II U.S. Army veteran where he was stationed in Iceland. Mr. Bonner attended Middle Georgia College and was a graduate of South Georgia College which is now Georgia Southern, in 1939. He obtained a degree in Library Science from Emory University. He received his Master’s Degree in Library Science from the University of Michigan. Mr. Bonner continued his education at the Congressional Library, Maryland Hall of Records for advanced courses. He was past president of the Athens Historical Society. Mr. Bonner was also a published author of Bibliography of Georgia Authors and numerous historic publications. He was a charter member of the Calloway Historical Foundation and an honorary member of Georgia Historical Society.
Surviving are sisters, Henrietta Baughcum of Nashville, TN, and Mariellyn Lunceford of Ovieda, FL; numerous nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by sisters, Wilhelmina Evans and Margaret Charles.
Minnie Baker
WINNSBORO — Funeral services for Minnie Lee Marthers Baker, 88, will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, May 6, 2005, at the Winnsboro Church of God, conducted by The Reverend Wesley Baker, Bishop Darrell Croft, Bishop Martin Baker, and Bishop D.L. Sellers. Burial will follow in Oaklawn Cemetery. Visitation will be held at Pope Funeral Home on Thursday, May 5, from 6 to 8 p.m. Memorials may be made to the Winnsboro Church of God or to a charity of one’s choice.
Mrs. Baker, widow of the late Leroy Baker, died on Tuesday, May 3, 2005. Born in Fairfield County, June 21, 1916, she was the daughter of the late Jack and Maggie Marthers Howell and reared by the late John Wesley and Minnie Dove Marthers. She was a long time member of the Winnsboro Church of God where she taught Sunday School for 27 years.
She is survived by four sons, Charles Lindsay Baker of Abbeville, Lt. Col. Franklin D. Baker of Washington , D.C., Harold Douglas Baker of Goose Creek, and The Reverend Wesley L. Baker of Winnsboro; and five daughters, Carolyn Jacobs of Winnsboro, Louise Rambo of Laurens, Mary Croft of Lexington, Juanita Powell of Florence, and Rachel Hogue of Ballground, Georgia; 16 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.
Pope Funeral Home is assisting the Baker family.
George N. Hardin III
BLACKSBURG — George N. Hardin, III, 57, 199 Hardin Trail, Blacksburg, died May 3, 2005, in Dorn V.A. Medical Center, Columbia, S.C. A native of Gaffney, he was the son of the late Dale Hardin and Annie Lee Hardin Dover. He lived for many years in Lugoff, S.C. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army, serving in Vietnam. He was a carpenter by trade and attended Cherokee Falls Missionary Fellowship Church.
Surviving are 1 sister, Dale H. Martin, Blacksburg; and 1 brother, Ronnie Hardin, Blacksburg; 3 nieces; 3 great-nieces and 4 great-nephews.
The family will receive friends Thursday evening from 6-8 p.m. at White Columns-Blacksburg. At other times, they will be at the Martin home, 202 Plonk Street, Cherokee Falls Community, Blacksburg. A Celebration of Life service will be held Friday, May 6, 2005, at 11 a.m. graveside in Canaan United Methodist Church Cemetery, Smyrna, S.C., with Revs. Gregg Martin and Lucky Earls officiating.
White Columns of Blacksburg is serving the Hardin family.
