U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014
Dorothy Smith Jones
COLUMBIA — Services for Mrs. Dorothy Smith Jones, 82, will be held 2 p.m. Sunday (viewing at 1 p.m.) at Central Baptist Church with burial in Lincoln Cemetery. Leevy’s Funeral Home, Taylor Street Chapel, is in charge. Surviving are her brother, Roland Smith; sister-in-law, Mary A. Smith; eight grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren.
Paul Harmon
LEESVILLE — Paul E. Harmon, 77, died Thursday, June 8, 2006. Funeral services will be held 4 p.m. Sunday, June 11, at Milton Shealy Funeral Home Chapel with interment in Ridge Crest Memorial Park with Rev. Joel Sexton and Rev. Ray Massey officiating. Pallbearers will be S.J., Harmon and Carol Price, Arvin Derrick, Garlyn Shealy, Marion, Scott and Josh Frye.
Mr. Harmon was born in Leesville to the late Paul and Leila Shealy Harmon. He was a member of Highland Avenue Pentecostal Holiness Church. He was a member of Men’s Fellowship, Adult Sunday School Class and honorary member of Circle Fire Department. He was a brickmason and had retired from U.S.C. maintenance.
Surviving are his wife, Juanita Shealy Harmon; son and daughter-in-law, Dale Harmon and wife, Margaret, of Leesville; daughter and son-in-law, Beverly Simmon and husband, Randy, of Leesville; sister, Marzie Harmon of Leesville; grandchildren, Marty and Jason Longshore and Breelyn Harmon; stepgrandsons, Chip and Chris Simmon.
Family will receive friends from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, June 10, at Milton Shealy Funeral Home, other times at the home of his daughter, Beverly Simmon of Leesville. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Highland Avenue Pentecostal Holiness Church, 309 Youman Street, Batesburg-Leesville, SC 29006 or Circle Fire Department, Traffic Circle, Leesville, SC 29070. Milton Shealy Funeral Home (803) 532-6100 is in charge of all arrangements.
Diane Lee Forker
COLUMBIA — A memorial service for Diane L. Forker, 82, of Columbia, will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday, June 11, 2006, at the Chapel of Greenlawn Funeral Home, 845 Leesburg Road, Columbia, SC 29209. Interment will follow in Greenlawn Serenity Gardens. The family will receive friends Saturday evening, June 10, 2006, from 7 p.m. until 9 p.m. at the funeral home.
Exhorter Forker died at her residence Thursday, June 8, 2006. Exhorter Forker (a.k.a. Ok Nyo Lee) was born January 19, 1924, in Pyong Yang North Korea and was the eldest of 16 children. She was married in 1943 to the late Young Hwan Kim who was killed during the Korean War in 1952. She became a widow with three children when she was 27 years old. Her second son, who was born after the death of her late husband, died from starvation in 1954.
She was a teacher at An Yang Orphanage in South Korea for six years. She was founder of the Chong Suk School in Suk-Soo village, South Korea in 1962. She was remarried to the late Colonel William L. Forker (Ret.), who was her son’s adoptive father, in 1964. She worked as a secretary at the Department of Motor Vehicle in Olympia, Washington . She was the first President of the Korean Association in Bremerton, Washington , for four years. She moved to South Carolina to live with her son and his family in 1997.
She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Anthony and Usun, Columbia, SC, and her daughter and son-in-law, Susan and Greg, Fayvetteville, GA. Also surviving are her eight grandchildren: Billie and granddaughter-in-law, Suna, Tacoma, WA, Anthony Jr. and granddaughter-in-law, Evelin, Columbia, SC, Estelle and grandson-in-law, George II, Leesville, LA, Hannah and Grace, Columbia, SC, Dee Dee, Christine, and Jacqueline, Fayvetteville, GA. She is also survived by 10 great-grandchildren: Jacob, Matthew, Christian, Dalila, George III, Brandon, Savina, Anya, Gabby and Nathaniel.
The family would like to thank Dr. Craig F. Maylath, Senior Primary Care and Hospice Staff at Palmetto Medical Center for all they did for Exhorter Forker during her illness.
Hannah Lynn Franklin
LEXINGTON — A graveside service for Hannah Lynn Franklin, will be held at 3 p.m. Saturday, June 10, 2006, in Red Bank Baptist Church Cemetery.
Hannah was the infant daughter of Amy Lynn Pridgen and T.J. Franklin of Lexington. She is also survived by a sister, Hailey Lynn Franklin; maternal grandmother, Renee Rhea Pridgen of Columbia; maternal grandfather, Ernie Lee Pridgen of Omaha, NB; paternal grandmother, Robin Fields of New Ellington; paternal great-grandparents, Tony Franklin and Harry and Annette Owens; maternal great-grandparents, Sally Pridgen Roland and Lloyd Roland of Lexington and Eleanor Sills Rhea of Cheraw.
Caughman-Harman Funeral Home, Lexington Chapel, is in charge.
Lt. Col. Eugene Dugosh
COLUMBIA — Funeral service for Lt. Col. Eugene G. Dugosh, U.S. Army (Ret.), 79, will be held 10 o’clock Saturday, June 10, 2006, at St. Peter’s Catholic Church with the Rev. Monsignor Leigh A. Lehocky and the Rev. James A. Goudelock officiating. Interment will follow in St. Patrick’s Catholic Cemetery with full military honors. Memorials may be made to St. Peter’s Catholic Church Building Fund, 1529 Assembly St., Columbia, SC 29201.
Born in Prophetstown, Ill., Lt. Col. Dugosh was the son of the late Edward and Johanna Stachoviak Dugosh. He proudly served his country in the U.S. Army for 25 years. Lt. Col. Dugosh served in Korea and Vietnam. He was awarded the Bronze Star, the Legion of Merit, two (2) Joint Service Commendation Medals, and the Army Commendation Medal. Since he retired from the U.S. Army, he had made Columbia home for him and his family. Lt. Col. Dugosh was also a longtime member of St. Peter’s Catholic Church and the Columbia Sertoma Club.
Survivors include his wife of 58 years, Thelma D. Dugosh; daughter, Linda D. Patterson and fiance, Lt. Commander Bill Travis, of Atlanta, GA; sons, George E. Dugosh and wife, Leslie, of Atlanta, GA, and James M. Dugosh of Columbia; grandson, Connor Dugosh; brothers, Leo Dugosh and wife, Tenie, of IL, and Francis Dugosh and wife, Liz, of Illinois.
Victor Farrow
BOLIVIA, N.C. — Services for Victor Gerald Farrow, 56, widower of Rachael O. Farrow, are 2 p.m. Sunday (visitation 5-7 tonight) at Norton Funeral Home, Hartsville, SC. Burial: Antioch Cemetery. Born in Conway to Victor McRae and Sally Sarvis Farrow, he died June 8, 2006. Surviving: daughters, Melissa Howle, Victoria, Diane Farrow; brother, Larry Farrow; seven grandchildren.
Ellen Cross
NORTH CHARLESTON — Entered into eternal rest the evening of Thursday, June 8, 2006, Ellen Maude Rourk Cross, widow of Thomas J. Cross, Sr. Residence, North Charleston, South Carolina. Relatives and friends are invited to attend her Mass of Christian Burial, at St. John’s Catholic Church, Monday, June 12, 2006, at one o’clock. The Prayers of Final Commendation and Farewell will be held in Carolina Memorial Park. Friends may call at J. Henry Stuhr, Inc., North Area Chapel, Sunday afternoon, June 11, 2006, from four until six o’clock. The Rosary will be recited at five-thirty o’clock.
Born March 14, 1926, in Cross, SC, Mrs. Cross was the daughter of James A. Rourk, Sr. and Elese Elliot Rourk. She was a homemaker and a member of St. John’s Catholic Church.
Surviving Mrs. Cross are two sons, Lt. Colonel Charles E. “Chuck” Cross, U.S. Army (Ret.) of Columbia, SC, and Thomas J. “Joe” Cross, Jr. of Summerville; two daughters, Kathleen C. Williams of Hanahan and Elizabeth C. “Betsy” Gillette of N. Charleston; a brother, James A. Rourk, Jr. of James Island; two nephews; son-in-law, Edward “Eddie” Gillette; daughters-in-law, Ruth Cross and Becky Cross; seven grandchildren: Angela Cross, Patrick Cross, Katherine Williams, Matthew Williams, Meg Gillette, Stephanie Cross, Paige Cross and a great-grandchild, Logan Williams.
Flowers will be accepted or memorials may be made to St. John’s Catholic Church “Building Fund,” 3921 St. John’s Avenue, N. Charleston, SC 29405.
Luther Brunson
SUMTER — Luther B. Brunson, 93, husband of Mercedes Hays Brunson, died Thursday, June 8, 2006, in Tuomey Regional Medical Center.
Born in Sandy Springs, South Carolina, he was a son of the late Robert B. Brunson and the late Florence Jones Brunson.
Mr. Brunson was a charter member of Northside Memorial Baptist Church and one of the few charter members surviving. He was a member of the Claremont Masonic Lodge #64, Iris Chapter #149 Order of Eastern Star, and American Legion Post #15. He was a World War II Navy veteran and retired from Williams Furniture Company with 44 years of service.
He was twice married, first to the late Juanita “Billie” Powell Brunson then later to Mercedes Hays Brunson.
Surviving are his wife of Sumter; four sons, Thomas Luther Brunson and wife, Nancy, of Forsyth, Ga., Jerry Brunson, Larry Brunson and wife, Mary Beth, and Eddie Brunson and wife, Melissa, all of Sumter; three sisters, Violet Barwick and Mary Delk, both of Sumter, and Mildred Moore of Columbia; a stepson, Roger Gantt and wife, Shirley, of Sumter; 10 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by three brothers, Eddie Brunson, Bobby Brunson and William Brunson; two sisters, Hilda Davis and Roberta Garrington.
Funeral services will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday at Northside Memorial Baptist Church with Rev. Jimmy Holley officiating.
Burial will be in Evergreen Memorial Park Cemetery.
Nephews will serve as pallbearers.
The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday at Elmore Hill McCreight Funeral Home and other times at the home of his son, Larry Brunson, 130 Quarter Mile Road.
Memorials may be made to Northside Memorial Baptist Church Building Fund, 1004 N. Main Street, Sumter, SC 29153.
Elmore Hill McCreight Funeral Home and Crematory, 221 Broad St., Sumter, is in charge of the arrangements.
Ina Benson
COLUMBIA — A memorial service for Ina Jarvis Benson, 65, widow of J.D. Benson, will be held at 11 a.m. today at Pine Bluff Baptist Church. Mrs. Benson passed away June 7, 2006. Born October 25, 1940, in Columbia, she was a daughter of the late Jack and Addie Mae Jarvis. Surviving are her brothers, John and Ralph; sister, Mary; daughters, Dianne, Patricia and Sandy; seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Betty E. Rodgers
WARD — Services for Betty Eargle Rodgers, 72, will be conducted at 2 p.m. Saturday at Amick Grove Pentecostal Holiness Church. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. Visitation will be from 6-8 p.m. Friday at Barr-Price Funeral Home Historic B-L Chapel. Memorials may be made to Amick Grove Pentecostal Holiness Church, 2090 Batesburg Hwy. Batesburg-Leesville, SC 29006.
Mrs. Rodgers died Wednesday June 7, 2006. Born in Saluda County, she was a daughter of the late Otis Elmer and Annie Derrick Eargle. She was a member of Amick Grove Pentecostal Holiness Church where she was a member of the Women’s Auxiliary and a Sunday School teacher.
Surviving are her husband, Vernon Rodgers; a son, Robert (Tonya) Rodgers of Ward; daughter, Lenette (Clint) Thompson of Greenwood; sisters, Jean Ruff of Batesburg-Leesville and Mildred Haile of Newberry; grandchildren, Travis Smith and Anna Joyce Rodgers.
She was predeceased by brothers, Guy and Jim Eargle, sisters, Carolyn Bouknight and Lula Mae Wicker, and a grandchild, Jessica Lynn Smith.
Paul Albert Miller
LEXINGTON — Paul Albert Miller, 85, died June 7, 2006. Visitation will be 7-9 p.m. Friday, June 9, 2006, at Caughman-Harman Funeral Home, Lexington Chapel, 503 N. Lake Drive, Lexington. A funeral mass will be held at Corpus Christi Catholic Church, 2350 Augusta Hwy, Lexington, on Saturday, June 10, 2006, at 11 a.m. followed immediately by burial in Woodridge Memorial Park, 138 Corley Mill Road, Lexington.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to the Nancy K. Perry Children’s Shelter, P.O. Box 344, Lexington, SC 29071.
Mr. Miller, of Toni, Wisconsin, was born July 29, 1920, and reared on a farm near Martensdale, Iowa, the oldest of five children of Philip and Grace DeHack Miller. Following graduation from Martensdale High School, he was recruited by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, moved to Washington , D.C., and began work in their Identification Division.
He served in the U.S. Army from 1943-1946 as a Lieutenant in the Military Police Corps and then returned to the FBI. He completed his degree in Accounting at Southeastern University in Washington , D.C., by taking classes at night and then was promoted to Special Agent.
His career specialty was training local law enforcement in a variety of investigative skills and was himself a Third Degree Black Belt in Judo. He also was the first Federal Officer on the scene when the only atomic bomb was dropped on U.S. soil - an Air Force bomber inadvertently dropped the unarmed bomb near Florence in the late 1950s. After numerous moves with his growing family, he retired from the Bureau after 30 years of service in 1971.
He then immediately began work as the first Deputy Director of the South Carolina Law Enforcement Academy where he was instrumental in the establishment and development of this new facility. After ten years, he retired for a second and final time.
Mr. Miller has been a member of numerous law enforcement organizations to include the Lexington County Sheriff’s Advisory Board. He was also a charter member of the Corpus Christi Holy Name Society.
He is survived by his wife, Georgia; sons, Dennis and Michael, all of Lexington, Philip of Scottsdale, AZ; seven grandchildren; six great grandchildren; sisters, Iona of Texas and Anna Mae of Arizona.
Conyers “Jim” White
SUMTER — Conyers “Jim” White, 85, died Monday, June 5, 2006, at his residence. Born September 9, 1920, in Sumter County, he was a son of the late Edward White and Mattie Porter White.
He was married to the late Ermanie Lawson White and to this union three children were born. On February 13, 1949, he married Sarah L. Sinkler White and was blessed with eight children.
Jim attended the public schools of Sumter County. He started his working life as a farmer, and later became a construction worker building houses, hospitals, roads and bridges. After working for a number of years he retired from the City of Sumter to spend his days with his devoted and loving wife.
Jim accepted Christ at an early age and was a member of Beulah A. M. E. Church. He later joined Orangehill R.M.U.E. Church, where he served faithfully for over 60 years. During his service his capacities were as trustee, pastor steward, and class leader. He had a great love for his church and instilled Christian values in his children. Jim was a strong and loving man who devoted his life to Christ and his family. The way he lived his life and caring nature were apparent in the untold number of family, friends, and neighbors who visited, prayed and comforted him during his illness.
Survivors include his wife, Sarah of the home; his children, Albertus (Carolyn) White, Sarah (Willie) Jones of Sumter, Julia (Steve) Muldrow of Columbia, Cleveland (Louise) White of Wedgefield, Janie (Dr. Lawrence) Rouse of Kenansville, N.C., Wallace (Audrey) White of Sumter, Brenda (Alfred) Cheathon of Anchorage, Alaska, Patricia Isaac (Sandy Pringle), Kelvin (Keisha) White of Sumter; a grandchild, Quentel Nathaniel reared in the home; two sisters, Amelia (Frank) Miller, Susan Rouse of Baltimore, MD; six in-laws, Phyllis (Ashmore) Lee, Roy (Dorothy) Sinkler, Dora Sinkler of Sumter, Marion Pugh of Wintergarden, FL; 38 grandchildren; 38 great-grandchildren; two special family friends, Marie Davis and Anniebell Anderson of Sumter; a host of relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by two daughters, Mattie Pringle and Ermanie Samuels.
Funeral services will be held 1:00 p.m. Saturday at Orangehill R.M.U.E. Church, Highway 261 South, Wedgefield, with Rev. Thomas Junious, pastor, eulogist.
The family will receive friends at the home, 1757 North St. Paul Church Road, Sumter.
The remains will be placed in the church at noon.
The funeral cortege will leave the home at 12:20 p.m.
Floral bearers will be granddaughters, great-granddaughters and godchildren.
Pallbearers will be grandsons and godchildren.
Burial will be in Orangehill R.M.U.E. Church Cemetery, Wedgefield.
