U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014
Fred “Bobby” Coles
COLUMBIA — Services for Mr. Fred Ervin “Bobby” Coles, 47, will be held 3 p.m. Thursday at Leevy’s Funeral Home chapel. Leevy’s Funeral Home, Taylor Street Chapel, is in charge.
Surviving are his sisters, Brenda (Pelham Jr.) Myers and Suzette (Stanley) Cheeseboro; an aunt and uncle who raised him, Charles and Julia McKenzie; Deborah and Charles McKenzie, who were reared like a brother and sister; a host of other loving relatives and friends.
Emma Davis Watkins
COLUMBIA — Services for Mrs. Emma Davis Watkins, 77, will be held noon (viewing at 11 a.m.) Saturday, January 27, 2007, at Zion Canaan Baptist Church, 7820 Farrow Road, Columbia, SC 29203 with burial in Union Baptist Church Cemetery, Rembert, SC. Leevy’s Funeral Home, Taylor Street Chapel, is in charge.
Emma departed this life Monday, January 22, 2007, in Palmetto Health Richland Memorial Hospital in Columbia, SC. Born October 7, 1929, in Rembert, SC, she was the daughter of the late William “Bill” and Maggie Kirkland Davis. She accepted Christ at an early age and joined Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church in Rembert, SC. In 1949 she was united in Holy matrimony to Mr. Samuel Watkins and in 1955 they moved to Columbia, SC. Emma joined Zion Canaan Baptist Church where she served faithfully for over 50 years as a Trustee-ette, a missionary and as a member of the Sunday school and Bible study classes. She was a devout Christian in her church and community. She was educated in the public schools of Sumter County and received further schooling and training through the South Carolina State Hospital and Richland Memorial Hospital in Columbia, SC, where she worked for many years. She was medically retired from Richland Memorial Hospital in 1972. Emma worked as a Grandparent at Richland School District 2 and after that continued to work in the community as a volunteer with several different community organizations until her health would not allow her to continue.
She leaves to cherish her memory a loving and devoted husband of over 57 years, Mr. Samuel Watkins; one daughter, Sandra (Henry) Wallace of Columbia, SC; four sons, William “Bill” Watkins, David (Angela) Watkins, Jeffery (Christine) Watkins, all of Columbia, SC, and Samuel Watkins Jr. of Gastonia, NC; one grandson, whom she reared as a son, Corey Watkins of Columbia, SC; 10 other grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; one brother, Rev. Freddie (Margaret) Davis of Mitchellville, MD; three sisters, Ida “Sue” Clea of Rembert, SC, Maggie D. Lane of Sumter, SC, and Evan. Minnie James of Elgin, SC; four sisters-in-law; one brother-in-law; a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
She was preceded in death by three brothers, Richardson Davis, Charlie Davis and Andrew C. Davis; and two sisters, Catherine Davis Missouri and Willie Mae Davis Crosson.
Edna McMillon
WEST COLUMBIA — Services for Edna McMillon are 2 p.m. Saturday at Mt. Pisgah AME Church, where she was a member, with burial in the church cemetery. Viewing is 2-7 tonight. Pearson’s Funeral Home, Columbia, is in charge. Born in Lexington Co. to Edward and Marie Lorick, she died Jan. 20, 2007. Surviving: sons, Donald and Freddie Lorick; brother, Shelton Lorick; 14 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren.
Don Coker
LEXINGTON — Funeral services for Don Edgar Coker, age 75, will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, January 27, 2007, at Calvary Chapel, Barr Road, Lexington, SC, conducted by the Reverend John Hoppie. Burial with military honors and Masonic rites will follow in Southland Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends Friday, January 26, from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at Pope Funeral Home in Winnsboro. Mr. Coker died Wednesday, January 24, 2007, in Lexington Medical Center.
Son of the late Kissler Breeding and Edna Gresham Coker, Mr. Coker was born July 19, 1931, in Winnsboro, SC. He had retired from the military, having served nine years in the U.S. Navy and 11 years in the U.S. Air Force. He then worked for the Civil Service as a boiler operator. Mr. Coker was a member of Calvary Chapel in Lexington and Masonic Lodge #384 in Cayce, and was a former Shriner.
Mr. Coker is survived by four sons, Jeff Coker and his wife, Diane, of Sandy Run, Terry Coker of Greenville, Dennis Coker of Lexington, Gene Coker of Gaston and Donald E. Coker, Jr. of the home; and two sisters, Virginia Olds and Vista “Meg” Von Moos, both of Seattle, WA. He was predeceased by his wife, Jessia Glenda Morris Coker; one son, Donald E. Coker, Sr.; and one brother, Robert Coker.
The family suggests that memorials be made to Life Point, Inc., 4200 Faber Place Drive, Charleston, SC 29405.
Pope Funeral Home of Winnsboro is serving the Coker family.
John Sumter III
HOPKINS — Funeral service for John H. “Fred” Sumter III of 121 Prioleau Road will be held 1 p.m. at Zion Benevolent Baptist Church. Interment will follow in the church cemetery. Visitation will be held 3-9 p.m. Friday at J.P. Holley Funeral Home.
Mr. Sumter died Tuesday. He was a member of Zion Benevolent Baptist Church.
He is survived by his brother, Garrick, Bernard (Demetria), Rod (Kendra) Sumter; sisters, Earlene (David) Weston, Brenda Barber, Easter Pressley; aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and a host of loving friends.
Mary Shumpert Vining
WEST COLUMBIA — Services for Mary Louise Shumpert Vining, 84, will be held 2 p.m. Saturday, January 27, 2007, at the chapel of Thompson Funeral Home of West Columbia. Officiating will be Rev. Dr. Donald F. West. Interment will follow in Southland Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends 6-8 p.m. Friday evening at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society, 128 Stonemark Lane, Columbia, SC 29210 or the American Heart Association, 520 Gervais St., Columbia, SC 29201.
Mary Louise Vining, widow of William Robert Vining, passed away Thursday, January 25, 2007. Born in West Columbia, SC, she was the daughter of the late George W. and Molly Lucas Shumpert. She was a lifelong area resident and retired from General Electric Company. She loved her flowers, gardening and fishing and never met a stranger. She was a loving and caring mom, grandmom and sister and will be dearly missed by all of her friends and family.
Surviving are her daughter and son-in-law, Patricia Ann Vining Shull and H. Eugene Shull of Cayce; son and daughter-in-law, Robert Wayne and Dianne F. Vining of West Columbia; sisters, Lynn Rae Johnson of Gaston, and Shirley Leslie of West Columbia; brothers, George Elbert “Ebb” Shumpert, R.S. “Stanley” Shumpert and A.B. Shumpert, all of West Columbia; grandchildren, Rebecca E. Smith and Michael E. Shull; and great-grandchildren, Kayla Klein, Cory Shull and Nicole Shull. Mrs. Vining was preceded in death by her sister, Lynnette Yonce, and brother, C.W. “Dub” Shumpert.
David Roberts Sr.
COLUMBIA — Homegoing Service for David Roberts Sr. of Columbia will be held 2 p.m. Saturday at Family Outreach Word & Worship Center with burial to follow in Serenity Memorial Gardens. Bostick-Tompkins Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
Mr. Roberts died Jan. 20, 2007. Born in Jenkinsville, he was the son of Johnny Sr. and Lillie M. Pearson Roberts. He was a member of Family Outreach Word & Worship Center where he served as a deacon.
Surviving are his wife, Sarah B. Roberts; children, Brenda R. Taylor, Debra R. Wright, David Jr., Evelyn and Shaungta Roberts; brother, Johnny J. Roberts Jr.; 15 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Eugenia Smith Stokes
CHAPIN — Service for Eugenia Smith Stokes, 80, will be held Saturday at 11 a.m. at Dunbar Funeral Home, Dutch Fork Chapel, Irmo, with burial in Bush River Memorial Gardens. Memorials may be made to Chapin United Methodist Church Building Fund. Visitation will be Friday 6-8 p.m. at the funeral home.
Mrs. Stokes passed away Wednesday, January 24, 2007. Born in Columbia, she was a daughter of the late Benjamin Ryan T. Smith and Myrtle Miner Smith.
Mrs. Stokes attended Chapin United Methodist Church.
Surviving are husband, Edward Houston Stokes; sons and daughters-in-law, Danny W. and Teresa J. Stokes and Robert and Jackie O. Stokes, all of Chapin and Jimmy Lee and Barbara S. Stokes of Aiken; brother, “Tilman” B.R.T. Smith Jr. and his wife, Jerine, of Chapin; grandchildren, Gene Stokes, Michael Edward Stokes, Michael Alexander Houston Stokes, Melissa Audrey Onari Guidry, Stacey Michelle Black, Ryan Edward Stokes, Mary Margaret Stokes and Joshua Lee Stokes; and great-grandchildren, Courtney Elizabeth Stokes, McKenzie LeAnne Stokes, Kaitlyn Jones, Lindsay Louise Stokes, Madison Grace Stokes, Mya Evelyn Black and Hannah Claire Millen. She was predeceased by grandson, Christopher Lee Johnson Stokes; and sisters, Margaret Josephine McCaskill and Loraine Rachel Pryce.
The Stokes family extends a special thanks to Lexington Medical Center and I.C.U. for their outstanding care of Mrs. Stokes during her illness.
Jesse Raymond Pressley
KINGSTREE — Services and burial for Jesse Raymond Pressley, 80, 1 p.m. Saturday at Elijah UMC, wake service: 6 p.m. today at Dimery & Rogers F.H. Mr. Pressley died Jan. 20, 2007. Surviving are children, Kathy McKenzie, Jennifer Higgins, Dennis, Jesse, James, Betty Pressley; sisters, Margaret, Mary Pressley, Emma Tisdale, Johnie Cooper, 24 grandchildren, six great-grandchildren; nieces, nephews, others.
Myrtle P. Punch McDonald
(May 17, 1946 - August 05, 2008)
Mrs. Myrtle P. McDonald was born on May 17, 1946, to the late Eugin Nedd Punch and Verna Wilson Punch in Georgetown, Guyana. She departed her beautifully fulfilled life on Tuesday, August 5, 2008, at the Heartland Hospice House in Columbia, South Carolina. Myrtle was raised in the South American Rain Forest Country of Guyana and eventually made her way to the United States. She spent most of her adult life traveling the world as the wife of an army serviceman. Along with being a caring wife and mother, Myrtle was a registered nurse and had a genuine love of taking care of others. Mrs. Myrtle McDonald leaves to cherish her precious memory: her husband, Lennox McDonald of South Carolina; her sons, Roger McDonald of Los Angeles, California Gavin McDonald of South Carolina and Christopher McDonald of Los Angeles, California. She is also survived by a large family of siblings: five sisters, Eugenie Isaacs of Brooklyn, New York, Hyacinth Lewis of London, England, Shirley Harris of Brooklyn, New York, Doreen Punch of Brooklyn, New York, and Jacqueline Punch Jean of Brooklyn, New York; four brothers, Winston Punch of Brooklyn, New York, Martin Punch of London, England, Vincent Punch of Brooklyn, New York, and Linden Punch of Brooklyn, New York; a host of nieces, nephews and other loving family and friends, all of whom will miss her dearly.
Louise Sanders-Saxton
BARNWELL — Services for Louise Sanders-Saxton, 88, will be held at 12:30 p.m. Saturday at Mt. Calvary Baptist Church with burial in Mt. Calvary Cemetery. Visitation is 7-8 tonight at Guinyard & Son’s Funeral Home. Born in Barnwell to Isaiah and Estella Sanders, she died January 19, 2007. Surviving are sister, Flossie Sanders; niece, Gloria Sanders; nephew, Charles Sanders.
Jalah Peeples
SWANSEA — Services for Jalah A’Zaria Peeples, 2, are 1 p.m. Saturday at Macedonia AME Church, Cope. Burial: St. Dorcas Baptist Church Cemetery. Viewing is noon-8 tonight at W.B. Crumel Funeral Home, North. Born in Richland Co. to James Peeples Jr. and Laura McMichael, she died Jan. 22, 2007. Surviving: parents; brother, JaQuan McMichael; grandparents; great-grandparents; other relatives.
William Perkins
GREENSBORO, NC — William Christopher Perkins, 48, died January 24, 2007, in Wesley Long Hospital due to complications from cancer.
Born on February 16, 1958, in Baltimore, Md., Chris was reared in the southeast. He was a 1976 graduate of Irmo High School, Irmo, SC. He attended Wofford College and graduated from the University of South Carolina with a degree in International Relations. He began a successful career in the insurance industry and moved to Greensboro, N.C., with his family in 1992.
Chris was a lifelong fan of the South Carolina Gamecocks. He could always be heard discussing sports, music and politics. Chris had a personality and smile that could brighten even the darkest of rooms. He was a caring husband, father, son and brother. Chris will be greatly missed by all who knew him and will always be remembered for his enthusiasm toward life and his love of friends and family.
He is survived by his wife, Beth Danielle Perkins of Greensboro, NC, and his two children, Colby Elizabeth Perkins and Michael Austin Perkins of Greensboro, NC; his parents, William and Joan Perkins, and sister, Elizabeth of Saluda, SC; sister Susan Saunders, her husband, John Saunders, of Columbia, SC, and nephew, Link Saunders of Charleston, SC.
A private Celebration of Life will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested a donation be made to the American Cancer Society, 4 Oak Branch Drive, Greensboro, NC 27401.
Paul Pauley
LEXINGTON — Memorial services for Paul Pauley, 81, will be held 3 p.m. Saturday, January 27, 2007, at Caughman-Harman Funeral Home, Lexington Chapel. The family will receive friends after the service at the chapel. Memorials may be made to the USO World Headquarters, P.O. Box 96860, Washington , DC 20090-6860 or the charity of ones choice.
Mr. Pauley, born September 3, 1925, in Hinton, WV, passed away Thursday, January 25, 2007. He was the son of the late Charles G. and Fannie Meryle Pauley. He was married to Irene Mays Pauley for sixty years. Mr. Pauley was a veteran of WW II and served in the U.S. Navy from 1942 to 1946. He graduated from Shady Spring High School with the 1943 graduating class while serving on the USS Cloues in the Pacific Theater. Duty stations were Great Lakes, IL, Boston, MA, Norfork, VA, Miami, FL, San Francisco, CA, Hawaii and the South Sea Islands. Mr. Pauley transferred to submarines, New London, CN, in 1945. After returning to civilian life, he earned a private pilots license and was a life member of the VFW, NRA and AOPA. He received his associate degree in Business Administration from Beckley College, BS degree in Business Administration from the University of Charleston and was a graduate of The Executive Program, Business Education Division of Management Education, University of Michigan. He was employed by Appalachian Power in Beckley, WV, and transferred to the Charleston Office in 1959. He was appointed Area Supervisor in Rainelle and Rupert, WV, in 1963 followed by Area Superintendent in Montgomery, WV, in 1967. He returned to Beckley as Division Personnel Director and later transferred to Bluefield, WV, as Supervisor of Customer Services. He retired from American Electric Power Company as Manager of Marketing and Customer Services in 1987. He was a Master Mason, 32nd Degree Scottish Rite Mason and a Shriner.
He is survived by his wife, Irene Mays Pauley; son, Michael S. (Elise Inez Bourne Pauley) Pauley; granddaughter, Jennifer Christine Pauley; stepgrandchildren, Trevor Alewine, Harrison Malone Ayer and Amy Reyanna Ayer; aunt, Mrs. Louise Stull Allison of Kissimmee, FL.
E. William Peacock Sr.
CAYCE — Graveside services for Earl William “Bill” Peacock Sr. will be held 3 p.m. Saturday in Greenlawn Memorial Park. The family has entrusted Greenlawn Funeral Home with the arrangements. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Pets, Inc. Born in Columbia to Frank and Emma Callicutt Peacock, he passed away January 24, 2007. Surviving are his loving wife, his children and grandchildren.
Leona Craft
COLUMBIA — Leona Craft, 78, died Tuesday, January 23, 2007. She was the daughter of the late Henry S. and Nealie L. Craft of Cayce. She is survived by sisters, Thea C. Goodwin of Cayce and Barbara C. Tomlin of Liberty Hill and predeceased by a brother, Willie R. Craft of Columbus, GA.
A private graveside service will be held at King Grove Baptist Church in Swansea, SC, Friday, January 26, 2007. Memorials may be made to Edwards Memorial Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church, 1600 Summerland Drive, Cayce, SC 29033.
Louis Fleming
SUMTER — Councilman Louis Fleming, devoted husband, father, humanitarian, civil rights leader and politician, departed from this earthly life Friday, January 19, 2007, in Tuomey Regional Medical Center in Sumter, South Carolina. Born in New York City, N.Y, on April 29, 1926, he was the seventh of eight children born to the late Theodore and Eloise McDaniel Fleming.
He was reared in St. Jude’s Catholic Church and served faithfully in many capacities to include: one of the first to be baptized there in 1940, one of the first altar servers, lector and Eucharistic Minister, usher, former chairman of Parish Council for several terms, Religious Education instructor, founding member of the Diocesan Office of Black Ministry and first volunteer Executive Director from 1982-85, founding member of the Knights of Peter Claver in 1990 (having served as Grand Knight and a Fourth Degree Knight), member of the Evangelization Commission, and Cursillo participant. He attended several Black National Congress Conventions over the years, attended numerous state and national state meetings for the Office of Black Ministries and was honored by that organization under the Office of Ethnic Ministry for being one of the main forces in the founding and being a motivating force for several decades.
He graduated from Lincoln High School of Sumter in 1944 and received an associate degree in Business Marketing from what is now Central Carolina Technical College (formerly Sumter Technical College) in 1975. He was also a proud Morris College Alumni, having earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration in 1978. He continued to be very actively involved with the Morris College National Alumni Association. The Morris College National Alumni Association Award was given to Councilman Fleming in Special Recognition of Exemplary Service as an Elected Government Official in 1989. A scholarship fund has recently been established in his honor there to assist with the further advancement of educational endeavors for our future leaders who are in attendance at the college. Councilman Fleming was a founding member of the Junior Leadership Conservation Core, Incorporated, which is a non-profit organization whose focus was to provide mentorship for at-risk youth. He shared his time as a tutor with the Adult Education Program with District #17 and served as Past President of Parents Follow-Thru Program. In appreciation for his commitment to the importance of education, he was also awarded the South Carolina Community Citizen Leadership Award for his participation with the Adult Education Program.
The Councilman was a combat veteran of 27 years having served in the U.S. Army from 1944-1971 with two tours in the Republic of Vietnam and two tours in the Republic of Korea. He retired at Fort Bragg, N.C., in 1970 as Chief Warrant Officer Three (CWO3). Before settling back in his boyhood town, his military travels took him to Virginia, Washington state, Fort Campbell, Ky., Fort Bragg, N.C., Verdun, France, and Fairbanks, Alaska. Early on, he was employed with Avenue Realty for a time and later as the Sumter County Veterans Affairs Officer. He continued on with his dedicated service by becoming a longtime member of Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 10813. He had over 30 years of service as a member of the American Legion Post 202 including having been a Past Commander from 1968-1970. He was also a member of the Disabled Veterans Gamecock V.
Throughout his lifetime, Councilman Fleming was a strong advocate for change with the African-American community and the Sumter community as a whole. He believed in being a voice for those who felt they had none and he unselfishly worked to seek equality and justice for all to benefit from. He had been a long time member of the Sumter Branch of the N.A.A.C.P. where he was awarded the Presidents Distinguished Service Award in 2006. In 1978, Councilman Fleming was a plaintiff in the Blanding vs. Dubose lawsuit which was historically instrumental in changing the voting zones from At-Large to Single Member Districts. This changed the face of the representation of the members of Sumter County Council to which he was later elected in 1988. He served faithfully for 18 years until his death and is recognized as a passionate and vocal member who believed in serving his constituents and beyond. He served two terms as Vice-Chairman from 1993-1995 and again from 1999-2001. He was elected as Chairman of Sumter County Council in January 2005 and served until he stepped down due to his illness on March 28, 2006. Despite his illness, he was determined to continue his service until his term expired.
Councilman Fleming served on numerous boards and received several awards to include: National Association of Counties (NACO), South Carolina Minority Coalition of County Officials, Santee-Lynches Regional Council of Governments Board of Directors, Central South Carolina Alliance Board of Directors, South Carolina Association of Counties Legislative Committee, Revenue, Finance and Economic Development Steering Committee. Greater Sumter Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, a member of the Governmental Affairs Committee. He played a very active role in the Visioning Process (collaborative efforts amongst the City of Sumter, the County of Sumter, and the Sumter Chamber of Commerce). He also participated in several Legislative Day trips to the South Carolina State House sponsored by the Sumter Chamber. He served as Past Chairman of Santee-Lynches Affordable Housing Corporation, President of the East Red Bay Road Association, Public Relations Officer for Junior Leadership and Conservation Corps, Incorporated. He was a charter member of the Sumter County African-American Cultural Society, board member for the League of Women Voters, a founding member of the Sumter County Junior County Council, and Friend of the Sumter County Library. He received the Community Partnership Award from Santee Lynches (2002),Omega Psi Phi Citizen of the Year Award (1993), The Freedom Fund Solicitation Award for Superior Efforts by the Sumter Branch N.A.A.C.P. (1988), Given the J.T. McCain Civil Rights Award by N.A.A.C.P. (2004), Honoring of Service by the Salvation Army Boys and Girls Club (2002), Certificate of Appreciation for Outstanding Service and Support for the Junior Leadership and Conservation Corps, Incorporated, Certificate of Appreciation by the St. Jude’s Alumni Association and Friends (1998), Recognition of Outstanding Contributions in Government Service by Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church (1998), and Recognition of Outstanding Service by the House of Representatives (1998), just to name a few. Most recently, he was inducted as a Fellow in the Gamecock City Society by Mayor Joseph T. McElveen, and The Order of the Palmetto was bestowed upon him by the office of the Governor of the State of South Carolina, signed by Governor Mark Sanford (both in 2006).
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by five siblings: Myrtle Johnson, Theodore Fleming Jr., Raymond Fleming, Jessie Fleming and Eleanor Fleming. He leaves to cherish his precious memories his devoted and loving wife of 53 years, Emma Richardson Fleming of the home; five daughters: Zarifa Raja Muhammad (Marzuq) of Manhattan, N.Y., Catherine Fleming Bruce and Andrea Michelle Fleming, both of Columbia, Mary Fleming-Andrews (Jeffery) of Phoenix, Ariz., and Chantal E. Fleming of Sumter; one son, Michel Louis Fleming of Sumter; nine grandchildren, Bashir Muhammad, Fawziyyah Muhammad, Ibrahim Muhammad, Fatimah Muhammad, Halimah Muhammad, Abd’al-Aziz Muhammad, Jordan Fleming, Gianne’ Fleming and Alaric Bruce; one brother, Wendell R. (Pauline) Fleming Sr. of Portsmouth, Va.; one sister, Harriet Drake of Newark, N.J., and a host of beloved cousins, nieces and nephews.
Funeral mass/memorial services for Councilman Louis Fleming will be held Sunday, January 28, 2007, at 1:30 p.m. at the Patriot Hall Auditorium, 135 Haynesworth Street, Sumter, with the Father Charles Donovan and Reverend Msgr. Joseph R. Roth. Burial will follow in Saint Lawrence Catholic Cemetery with full military honors. Honorary pallbearers: Knights of Peter Claver, Knights of Peter Claver Ladies Auxiliary, Knights of Columbus, County Council, American Legion Post 202, VFW and Sumter Sheriff Dept. A vigil will be Saturday, January 27, 2007, from 7 to 8 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Louis Fleming Scholarship Fund c/o Morris College or The Scholarship Fund Knights Peter Claver.
The family is receiving relatives and friends at the home, 256 East Red Bay Road, Sumter, where the processional will leave at 12:30 p.m.
Community Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
