U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014
James Wright
ABBEVILLE — A graveside service for James P. “Jim” Wright, 90, widower of Frances Herlong Wright, will be held at 11 a.m. today in Forest Lawn Memory Gardens. Chandler-Jackson Funeral Home is in charge. Born in Seneca to James and Cornelia Pickett Wright, he died May 22, 2005. Surviving: children, James Wright, Martha DeWitt; sister, Lucile Wright; six grandchildren; four great-grandchildren.
Ray Ford
ELGIN — Funeral service for Ray Lamar Ford, 28, of Elgin, will be held 3 o’clock Thursday, May 26, 2005, at Shives Funeral Home, Colonial Chapel, with the Reverend Albert Gibson officiating. Interment will follow in Killian Baptist Church Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6 until 8 o’clock Wednesday evening at the funeral home.
Mr. Ford died Saturday, May 21, 2005. Born in Germany, he was a son of Warren L. Ford and Sharon Lynn Rabon. He was a certified welder employed by AFAB Welding. Mr. Ford attended Lugoff-Elgin High School as well as Midlands Technical College. Mr. Ford formerly attended Fox Hill Baptist Church as well as Woodfield Park Baptist Church.
Survivors include his mother, Sharon Lynn Jones of Gaston; father, Warren L. Ford and wife Julia of Elgin; sons, Chad Lamar Ford and Justin Lee Ford; brothers, Richard Kelly, Jr. of Elgin, Larry Kelly of Charlotte, NC; grandfather, Ray. W. Ford; uncles, Randy, Benny and Larry Rabon; aunts, Ann Barwick and Tammy Corley. Mr. Ford was preceded in death by a brother, Tripp Jones; grandparents, Paul and Margie LeGrand Rabon, and Annie Mae Provo Humphries.
Dorothy J. Varn
DENMARK — Services for Dorothy J. Varn, 75, widow of Joe Varn, will be 11 a.m. Wednesday (visitation 7-9 tonight) at Mercer Funeral Home, with burial in Denmark Cemetery. Born in Barnwell to Thomas and Kellah Collins Johnston, she died May 22, 2005. Surviving: children, Shirley Garrett, Tony Varn; brother, Jasper Johnston; sisters, Mary Hutson, Betty Gibson; four grandchildren; six great-grandchildren.
Vermelle Reynolds
BLYTHEWOOD — Funeral service for Mrs. Vermelle Snelgrove “Nonie” Reynolds, 93, of Blythewood, will be held 11 o’clock Thursday morning, May 26, 2005, at Covenant Community Fellowship, 1111 Mason Road, Columbia, SC, with The Reverend Amos Hann and Mrs. Reynolds’ son, The Reverend Gene D. Reynolds, officiating. Interment will follow in Ebenezer Holiness Baptist Church Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6 until 8 o’clock Wednesday evening at Shives Funeral Home. Serving as pallbearers will be Keith Stover, Lin Reynolds, Chuck Urbanek, Steven Fore, Daniel Fore and Charles Neese.
Mrs. Reynolds died Friday, May 20, 2005. Born in Gilbert, SC, she was a daughter of the late Cary Alonzo and Bessie Keisler Snelgrove. She served as Treasurer of Women’s Missionary Society in the Church of the Nazarene and was a charter member of Covenant Community Fellowship. Mrs. Reynolds was a Sunday School teacher for 40 years in primary classes. She had retired from Columbia Christian School.
Survivors include her husband of 72 years, A.L. “Peanut” Reynolds of Blythewood; a son, The Reverend Gene D. Reynolds (Kitty) of Sheffield, AL; daughters, Frances R. Jeffcoat (Furman) of Cayce, Jo R. Stover (Harold) of Blythewood and Pat Flake (Gerald) of Cayce; five grandchildren, Keith Stover (Marie) of Pittsburgh, PA, Gina Haskins (Shelly) of Huntsville, AL, Kimberly Young of Dickson, TN, Maria Urbanek (Chuck) of West Columbia and Lin Reynolds (Tanya) of Florence, AL; seven great-grandchildren, Brittany, Emily, Tristan, Reagan, Alec, Braylin and Bryce; brother, William (Jack) Snelgrove of Gilbert; sisters, Curlee Fraley of Sumter, Laura Ridge of Ware Shoals and Iris Smith of Gilbert. Mrs. Reynolds was preceded in death by brothers, Clarence and Wes Snelgrove; and a sister, Grace Kelly.
The family would like to express special thanks to Fairfield Healthcare of Ridgeway and Hospice Care of Tri-County of Newberry.
Robert King
CHESTERFIELD — Mr. Robert Floyd King, age 80, died Saturday, May 21, 2005. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, May 25, 2005, at Shiloh United Methodist Church with burial in the church cemetery. Visitation will be held Tuesday, May 24, 2005, 6:00-8:00 p.m. at Miller-Rivers-Caulder Funeral Home.
Mr. King was born in Chesterfield, SC, a son of the late Arthur Ellison and Lula Mae Polson King. He was the retired founder of Floyd King & Sons, Inc., in Matthews, N.C., and a U.S. Navy veteran of WWII. Mr. King was a lifelong member of Shiloh United Methodist Church and the Men’s Bible Class. He was preceded in death by 3 brothers, Carvin King, L. Gilbert King and Thurman King.
Survivors: wife of 59 years, Lera Ballard King of the home; children, Lula K. Barrs of Indian Trail, NC, Virginia K. (Danny) Russell of Matthews, NC, Terry F. (Karen) King of Indian Trail, NC, Jerry R. (Jeanie) King of Chesterfield, SC, and Donna K. (Lynn) Gooden of Patrick, SC; grandchildren, Angie (Tim) Burch, Teresa (Chris) Blanton, Rodney and Ryan Russell, Matt and Kameron King, Chance, Ben and Kelley King and Dustin and Casey Gooden; also 9 great-grandchildren; 3 brothers, Jack King and Ted King of Chesterfield, SC, and J.W. King of Florence, SC; 3 sisters, Margaret Yates of Gastonia, NC, Juanita Gulledge of Ruby, SC, and Sara Hooper of Lake Port, CA; 1 half brother, William “Bill” King of Clearwater, SC; 1 half sister, Ester Mae Smith of Anderson, IN.
Memorials may be made to Shiloh United Methodist Church, c/o Susan King, 423 Hwy. 102, Chesterfield, SC 29709.
Miller-Rivers-Caulder Funeral Home of Chesterfield is serving the King family.
Anne Melton
COLUMBIA — Anne Louise Gunter Melton, 95, of 1445 Whittaker Dr., Columbia, South Carolina, formerly of Charlotte, North Carolina, died on Friday, May 20, 2005. Born in Blaney, SC, she was the youngest daughter of the late Alfred Elzey and Carrie Onley Gunter. Mr. Gunter served with the Gunter and Kershaw regiments during the Civil War. He died in Columbia in 1914.
The family will receive friends on Tuesday, May 24, 2005, at 11:00 a.m. at Dunbar Funeral Home, Devine Street, Columbia, SC. Funeral service will follow at 11:30 a.m. with Reverend L. Barry Gray officiating. A memorial service will be held in Charlotte on Tuesday, May 24, 2005, at 3:00 p.m. at Myers Park Baptist Church Columbarium, with Dr. H. Stephen Shoemaker officiating.
Mrs. Melton was predeceased by her husband of 73 years, William Hixon Melton and son William Louis Melton. She was also predeceased by her sisters, Eva Gunter Mooneyham, Stella Gunter Brown, and brothers, Toland Gunter, Olyn Gunter and David Gunter.
Mrs. Melton attended Olympia Schools in Columbia, SC. She was a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother and homemaker for her family. She was active in the Shandon Baptist Church in Columbia, SC, which she first joined in 1933 and in the Myers Park Baptist Church in Charlotte, NC. She was member of Myers Park Country Club in Charlotte, NC and was an avid golfer.
Mrs. Melton is survived by her sons, Richard W. Melton and wife Joyce, of Columbia, SC, Robert D. Melton and wife Anne, of Atlanta, GA; and daughter-in-law Kay Melton, of Hickory, NC. Eight grandchildren survive: R. Wayne Melton, Jr., Steven W. Melton, Wendy G. Huray, Stuart R. Melton, Karen Anne Melton Miller, Dean K. Melton, Robert D. Melton, II, William L. Melton, II. Thirteen great grandchildren survive: Richard Melton III, Robin Melton, Hannah Miller, Lily Miller, Will Miller, Alex Melton, Parker Melton, Kaitlyn Melton, Darren Melton, Kevin Melton, Rebecca Melton, Samantha Huray and Jackson Huray.
The family wishes to express a special appreciation to her caregivers and companions since the passing of her husband: Emma Davis, Abby Smith and Sally Jones. The family will be at 4210 Sequoia Road.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the William L. Melton Scholarship Fund, Lenoir Rhyne College, PO Box 7467, Hickory, NC, Shandon Baptist Church Building Fund in Columbia, SC or Myers Park Baptist Church in Charlotte, NC.
Dunbar Funeral Home, Columbia, SC is serving the Melton Family.
Ted Ray Hart
COLUMBIA — Memorial services for Mr. Ted Ray Hart, 69, of Columbia, will be held 5 p.m. Wednesday, May 25, 2005, at Greenlawn Funeral Home Chapel with interment to follow at a later date in Arlington National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the National Kidney Foundation and/or the Diabetes Foundation. The family has entrusted Greenlawn Funeral Home with the arrangements.
Mr. Hart passed away Sunday, May 22, 2005. Born in Paris, Texas , he was the son of the late Ted Hart and Lola Bell Smith Hart. Mr. Hart retired from the U.S. Air Force after 20 years of dedicated service in which he served in the Vietnam War.
Surviving are his loving and devoted wife of 28 years, Mrs. Patricia Ann Hart; a sister, Jeannie Alexander and a brother, Danny Clyde Alexander, both of Chicago, Ill; his mother-in-law, Daralene N. Hildreth and a host of nieces, nephews and other loving relatives and friends who will all miss him dearly.
Eliza Davis
CLINTON — Eliza White Martin Davis, 77, of the Presbyterian Home, Clinton, S.C., formerly of Camden, S.C., died Monday, May 23, 2005. Born on May 3, 1928 in Abbeville, S.C., she was a daughter of John White and Eliza Daniel White. She attended Duke University and graduated from Agnes Scott College.
She is survived by her former husband, Merton L. Davis of Camden; children, Eliza McKenzie of Winston-Salem, N.C., Sarah (Sally) Davis of Camden, Dr. Albert R. Davis of Chicago, Ill., and Miriam (Mimi) Holt of Burlington, N.C.; eight grandsons and one granddaughter.
A memorial service will be held at Bethesda Presbyterian Church in Camden Wednesday, May 25 at 4 p.m. The body will be cremated, and a family celebration of her life will follow at a later date. The family requests that memorials be made to Bethesda Presbyterian Church, 502 DeKalb St., Camden, SC 29020 or to Hospice of Laurens County, PO Box 178, Clinton, SC 29325.
Eliza will be remembered for her intellect, wit and beauty. May she find peace at the feet of her Lord.
Elise McLeod
LUGOFF — Funeral services for Elise Brown McLeod, 80, of Lugoff, will be held Wednesday, May 25, 2005, at 3:00 p.m. at Faith Church of the Nazarene with burial to follow in St. Paul Cemetery on Hwy. #12. Rev. Bob Midgette and Rev. George Cashwell will officiate. The family will receive friends from 7:00-9:00 p.m. Tuesday, May 24, 2005, at Kornegay Funeral Home, Lugoff-Elgin Chapel. Memorials may be made to Faith Church of the Nazarene, P.O. Box 453, Lugoff, SC 29078 or Hospice of Kershaw County, 2001 W. DeKalb St., Camden, SC 29020.
Mrs. McLeod died Monday, May 23, 2005. Born in Blaney, she was the daughter of the late Leslie Paul Brown and Lillian Watts Brown Bradley. She was a member of Faith Church of the Nazarene.
Surviving are her husband, Ralph Curtis McLeod; daughter, Cathi McLeod McClary and her husband, Tommy, of Kingstree; sons, Paul F. McLeod and his wife, Marty, of Elgin, Donald Gene McLeod and his wife, Anna, of Cayce, Ralph C. “Butch” McLeod, Jr., and his wife, Diane, of Camden; 11 grandchildren, 3 great-grandchildren; sisters, Ophelia Long of Camden, Madge Hammond of Columbia; brother, Maxie Brown of Jenkinsville. She was predeceased by 4 brothers, Curtis, Lester, Thomas and Leslie Brown, and a half brother, Rudolph Travis Bradley.
Anne Malloy Whitman
WEST COLUMBIA — Memorial Services for Anne Malloy Whitman, 89, of West Columbia, SC, will be held Wednesday, 1:00 p.m. at West Columbia First Church of the Nazarene. The family will receive friends at the church following the service.
Mrs. Whitman died on the morning of May 22, 2005, in her sleep. Born in Chesterfield County, she was the daughter of the late James Calvin Malloy and the late Louisa Tyner Malloy. She was predeceased by her first husband, Roger Glenn Partin, and second husband, Edwin C. Whitman, 6 sisters and 2 brothers. Surviving are son, Roger F. Partin and daughter-in-law, Cindy, and granddaughter, Christina Partin, all of Columbia; sister, Jane Gunter of Durham, NC; 3 stepchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was loved by all and will be greatly missed. Memorials may be made to West Columbia First Church of the Nazarene, 350 Watling Road, West Columbia, SC, or the charity of your choice.
Lovick Pierce Miller
WHITMIRE — A graveside service for Lovick Pierce Miller, 83, is 3 p.m. Friday in Whitmire Cemetery, visitation 7-9 tonight at Gray Funeral Home. Born in Elberton, Ga., to Lovick II and Frances B. Miller, he died May 25, 2005. Surviving: children, Pixie, Gino, Steve, Pete Miller, Elizabeth Simpson; siblings, Berley Miller, Ann Alewine, Carolina Fulmer; grandchildren, Jack, Dylon Miller, Angie Garner; great-grandchild, Ian.
Lucy Emerson
ATLANTA — Lucy Kiser Emerson, mother of five, grandmother of 10, died peacefully Sunday at the age of 79. She was sleeping next to her husband of 56 years, William A. Emerson Jr.
She faced metastatic breast cancer for three years. Unafraid of death, Lucy was deeply concerned only about those left behind, who were dependent on her remarkable organizing skills. Between chemotherapy treatments she worked steadily to leave instructions concerning insurance payments, tax bills and visits from the heating and air conditioning repairman.
She was short in stature and powerful in spirit, and inspired extravagant admiration from those whose lives she touched.
Lucy Peel Kiser was born in Baltimore, Md., where her parents, William and Ellen Kiser, were completing their studies at Johns Hopkins Medical School. She was the Kisers’ oldest child and the first grandchild of John Huston Finley, who doted on her. Finley, former editor-in-chief of the New York Times, could frequently be found in his office at the paper, neglecting his duties while writing and illustrating poems to little Lucy Peel.
A fifth generation Atlantan, she was a member of the first graduating class of The Lovett School, attending secondary school at Friends Seminary in Manhattan. She graduated with honors from Vassar College.
In 1948 she met and fell for Bill Emerson, a veteran of World War II and a recent Harvard graduate. She agreed to marry only after he had found a job, a mix of the romantic tempered by the practical that was a hallmark of her style.
Their loving partnership dominated the rest of their lives together. All else was secondary. Both delighted in children and together raised five. The family moved from Atlanta to Larchmont, N.Y. in 1961, then back south in 1975, first to Columbia, S.C., then to Atlanta.
Outside of the world of family, Lucy maintained a parallel world of private interests centered on scholarship, theology and music.
She was a lightning fast reader, and consumed books quickly, usually one at a sitting. She loved C.S. Lewis and Gunnar Myrdal, but relied on Agatha Christie for steady entertainment. She read ancient Greek and Latin comfortably, and learned modern Greek so that she could handle logistics during a trip through the Greek islands with her husband and good friends.
The daughter of a musical father, she played the piano from childhood onward, sang with a close-harmony a cappella group, performed in the South Carolina Concert Choir under Arpad Daraz and enlivened Christmases and parties with carols and hymns.
Her instinct to help others was hidden in plain sight. In New York she weekly drove a group she referred to as “my blind ladies” to a community center called The Lighthouse, where she would also read to those who couldn’t read braille. While undergoing cancer treatment she continued to deliver meals to senior citizens.
True to her name, she was an illuminating presence for all who knew her.
Her children and husband miss her as the earth might miss the sun. Her light gave us life, her gravity set our course. She shines in another firmament now.
She is survived by her husband of 56 years, William A. Emerson Jr.; by her daughters and sons-in-law, Laura Emerson Alexander and Syd Alexander of Chapel Hill, N.C.; Lucy Emerson Sullivan and Chris Sullivan of Newtown, Conn.; Ellen Emerson Yaghjian and David Yaghjian, of Columbia, S.C.; and by her sons and daughters-in-law, Bo Emerson and Maureen Downey of Decatur, and John and Jane Emerson of Columbia.
A memorial service will be held today, Thursday, at 3 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church, 1328 Peachtree St., Atlanta. The family will receive visitors one hour before the service in the church fellowship hall. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the American Cancer Society or the Community Ministry at First Presbyterian Church. H.M. Patterson and Son, Spring Hill (404) 876-1022.
