U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014
Bernice Marie Griffin
GREENWOOD — Services for Bernice Marie “Butteroll” Griffin, 36, formerly of 110 Oakhill Drive, will be conducted at 2 Thursday at Springfield Baptist Church, Laurens Highway, by the Rev. Ulysses Parks. Burial is in the church cemetery. The body will be placed in the church at 1.
Pallbearers are Darrin Gilbert, Samuel Duncan, Randolph Duncan, Michael Barnes, Reginald Speach, Derrick Duncan and Garrett Speach.
Flower bearers are Gloria Tucker, Kasandra Mitchell, Regina Williams, Val Christian, Bridgett Wims, Annie Blocker, Pat Williams and Vivian Marshall.
She passed away Aug. 17, 2001, in Columbia. Born in Greenwood County, she was a daughter of Willie and Rosetta Lyons Griffin. She was a member of Springfield Baptist Church.
Survivors include her parents of Greenwood; a son, De’Marco Griffin of Greenwood; three daughters, SharrikaGriffin, Felicia Griffin and Ca’Daria Griffin, all of Greenwood; two brothers, Melvin Griffin of Rock Hill and Willie Griffin of Greenwood; six sisters, Angela Griffin, Tamara Griffin, Tonia Griffin, Christa Griffin and Linda Oliver, all of Greenwood and Wanda Sussewell Dula of Rome, Ga.; and a granddaughter.
The family is at the home of her parents, 1609 East Laurel Ave, Greenwood.
Percival-Tompkins Funeral Home, Greenwood, is in charge.
Carolyn Hitt Osborne
McCORMICK — Carolyn Hitt Osborne, 74, of Route 2, Box 240, widow of Carl F. “Daddy Bill” Osborne, passed away Aug. 22, 2001, at Self Memorial Hospital in Greenwood.
Born in Greenwood County, she was a daughter of Earl Hitt and Wessie Sturkey Hitt White. She graduated from Erskine College, retired as a teacher in McCormick schools and was a member of McCormick United Methodist Church.
Survivors include three sons, Carl “Frankie” Osborne and William “Ben” Osborne, both of Lexington and Wallace “Wally” Osborne of Candler, N.C.; two daughters, Wessie O. Mitchell of South Mill, N.C., and Elizabeth O. Winn of McCormick; and 11 grandchildren.
Graveside services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Saturday in Overbrook Cemetery by the Rev. Daniel Clendaniel II.
Visitation is from 7-9 Friday at Strom Funeral Home.
The family is at the home of a daughter, Elizabeth Winn, Highway 378.
Memorials may be made to of McCormick United Methodist Prison Ministry.
Strom Funeral Home is in charge.
Ernest Patterson Jr.
CLEVELAND — Ernest Patterson Jr., 41, of Cleveland, Ohio, passed away Aug. 12, 2001, at St. Elizabeth Medical Center.
Born in Youngstown, he was a son of Erma and Ernest Patterson Sr.
Survivors include his wife, Renee Bush Patterson, a son, David Patterson, and a daughter, T’licia Patterson, all of the home; seven sisters, Maggie Coleman and Azalee Robinson, both of Greenwood, S.C., Roberta Robinson, Glenda Robinson and Joyce Robinson, all of Youngstown, Darlene Patterson and Cheryl Patterson, both of Detroit; and six brothers, James Robinson of Alabama, Robert Robinson and Phil Patterson, both of Youngstown, Jerome Williams and Patrick Patterson, both of Georgia and Sgt. Victor Bush of Texas .
Services were held Aug. 16 at Greater Friendship Baptist Church, with burial in Youngstown.
Announcement courtesy of Percival-Tompkins Funeral Home, Greenwood, S.C.
Rev. Herman G. Perkins
COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Rev. Herman G. Perkins, 81, of 214 N. 18th St., husband of Mary Alice Perkins, passed away Aug. 20, 2001, at Ohio State University East Hospital.
Born in Greenwood, S.C., he was a son of the late Frank and Iola Adams Perkins. He was a former member of St. John A.M.E. Church, and he joined Mount Vernon Avenue A.M.E. Church, after moving to Columbus. He served as a pastor for more than 35 years and was a graduate of Franklin University and Payne Theological Seminary.
Survivors include his wife of the home; a son, Adam Perkins of Columbus; a brother, Athel Perkins Sr. of Columbus; four sisters, Pearl Perkins Keller, Ada Lee Perkins Morris and Ruth Perkins Smith, all of Greenwood and Emma Perkins of Columbus; and five grandchildren.
The family is at the home and at the home of a sister, Ruth P. Smith, 409 Powers St., Greenwood.
C.D. White & Son Funeral Home, Mount Vernon Avenue, is in charge.
Announcement courtesy of Robinson & Son Mortuary Inc., Greenwood.
‘Butch’ Sealey
WATERLOO — Jerry Samuel “Butch” Sealey Jr., 34, of Conroe, Texas , passed away Aug. 14, 2001, in Texas .
Born in Union County, he was a son of Jerry Samuel Sealey Sr. and Marietta Wylie Turner.
Survivors include his father of Waterloo; his mother of Chester; a sister, Dana Bayne of Fountain Inn; and a brother, Michael Sealey of Waterloo.
Memorial services will be conducted at 4 today at Wesleyan Memorial Church, Fountain Inn, by the Revs. Richard Suttle and Jerry Sealey.
Visitation is from 3-4 today at the church.
Harley Funeral Home, Greenwood, is in charge.
Josephine P. Slye
DONALDS — Josephine Picolo Slye, 70, of 3879 Highway 20, passed away Aug. 20, 2001, at Hospice of the Upstate in Anderson.
Born in Springfield, Ohio, she was a daughter of the late Frank and Rose Marie House Picolo. Retired from MAMCO, she had lived in Donalds since 1997. She attended Faith Baptist Church in Honea Path.
Survivors include three sons, Norman Lewis Slye Jr. of Due West, Daryl Keith Slye of San Antonio and Jeffrey Wayne Slye of Rock Hill; three daughters, Deborah Lynn Soderman of West Columbia, Texas , Cathleen Marie Slye of Kenosha, Wis., and Jennifer Lee Oberhart of Waterford, Wis.; two brothers, John Picolo and Robert Picolo, both of Kenosha; three sisters, Delores Wierzorck of Racine, Wis., and Lillian Yeager and Connie Picolo, both of Kenosha; a half sister, Rose Stratton of Tucson, Ariz.; 11 grandchildren and a great-grandson.
Memorial services will be conducted at 2 Friday at Oakbrook Memorial Park Mausoleum Chapel, Greenwood, by the Rev. Fred Scarborough.
Visitation is from 1-2 Friday at the mausoleum chapel.
The family is at the home of a son, Norman Slye, 3582 Highway 20, Due West.
Memorials may be made to Hospice of the Upstate, 1835 Rogers Road, Anderson, S.C. 29621.
Harris Funeral Home, Abbeville, is in charge.
Willie J. ‘Agg’ Strong
GREENWOOD — Services for Willie James “Agg” Strong, of 115 Strong St., will be conducted at 2 Friday at Trinity United Methodist Church by the Rev. Willie J. Key, pastor, assisted by the Rev. Johnny Waller. The body will be placed in the church at 1. Burial is in Evening Star Memorial Gardens.
Pallbearers will be Tony Phillips, Kendrick Tolbert, Roosevelt Lindsey, Eugene Day, James Thomas, James Williams and Marvin Christopher.
Honorary escorts are United Methodist Men.
Flower bearers are United Methodist Women.
Visitation is at the home Thursday from 7-8.
Robinson & Son Mortuary Inc. is in charge.
David Wright
GREENWOOD — David Wright, 57, of 108 Wilson Ave., husband of Carrie Lee Wright, passed away Aug. 21, 2001. Born in McCormick County, he was a son of the late Arthur Bud Wright and Sallie Elmore Drayton. He was a Brewer High School graduate and was employed with SCDOT as a supervisor. He was of the Baptist faith. Survivors include his wife of the home; three sons, Barry Dean Wright, Vandel “Van” Wright and Sherman “Buck” Wright, all of Promised Land; a daughter, Teresa Bowie of Promised Land; a brother, Arthur Wright of Greenwood; a sister, Bemore McDuffie of Greenwood, eight grandchildren, one reared in the home, Jasmine Renee Wright; and a great grandchild. The family is at the home. Services will be announced by Robinson & Son Mortuary Inc., which is in charge.
Gracie Ayers
GREENWOOD — Gracie Price Ayers, 80, of 309 Dukes St., wife of Philip B. Ayers, passed away Aug. 23, 2001, at Self Memorial Hospital.
Visitation is from 2-3 Saturday at Blyth Funeral Home.
The family is at the home.
Services will be announced by Blyth Funeral Home, which is in charge.
Hugh A. Beasley
GREENWOOD - Hugh Alton Beasley, 97, of Greenwood and Hodges, SC, passed quietly in his sleep Sunday, August 19, 2001. He was preceded in death by his wife of 56 years, Ora Faith Mitchell Beasley, who passed away February 14, 1996.
Born in Franklin County, Georgia, May 28, 1904, he was the son of James Franklin and Elizabeth E. Beasley. He attended the Lavonia Public Schools. He graduated cum laude from Furman University and the Furman School of Law in 1929. Furman University remained important to him throughout his life. For the next 55 years he practiced law in Greenwood. In 1957, his son, John F. Beasley, now deceased, joined him to form the Law Offices of Beasley and Beasley.
In 1936 on the Democratic ticket, he was elected Solicitor of the 8th Judicial Circuit. He served the people of South Carolina through 1952, excluding the war years 1943-1945 when he served in the United States Navy in the pacific. He earned 9 battle stars seeing action as Fighter-Director Officer in almost every Asiatic-Pacific campaign and the invasion of the Philippines. He participated actively in the initial landings on Green, Guam, Peleliu, Leyte, Hollandia, New Guinea, Bougainville Island, the Bismark Archipelago and the invasion of the Philippines. He was awarded the Bronze Star for his direction of the American planes in the Battle of Leyte. To quote from the commen-dation signed by James Forrester, Secretary of the Navy, "Under frequent enemy air attacks, he exercised direct control of fighter aircraft assigned to protect our surface forces and beachheads, both day and night, and controlled the air warning system. His courage and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service."
Upon discharge, as a Lieutenant Com-mander, he served many years in the Naval Reserves. His son, Captain James Beasley, deceased, graduated Annapolis and became Naval Aviator serving in Korea and Vietnam.
Hunting was his hobby. He went on Safari in Africa several times, hunted in Alaska and hunted in the Rockies and Appalachian Mountains. His trophies were donated to various museums or given to his family members.
He was a member of the First Baptist Church of Greenwood, a mason and a member of VFW.
He is survived by his daughter, Martha Elizabeth Beasley Cassels, of Montgomery, AL; his grandchildren, Victoria Beasley Hudson of Henderson, NC; Fredrick Charles Beasley of Charleston, SC; Marion Carlyle Crenshaw, III of Parktown, MD; William Frank Crenshaw of Jacksonville, NC; Hugh Charles Crenshaw of Durham, NC and Faith Crenshaw Millspaugh of Baltimore, MD; twelve great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by two grandsons, Mark James Beasley and Hugh Thomas Beasley.
A memorial service will be held Saturday, August 25, 2001 at 3 PM at the First Baptist Church of Lavonia, GA. A Military Burial with full Color Guard will follow at the Lavonia City Cemetery. Military honors will be presented by the United States Navy and the United States Marine Corp.
Visitation will be at the Church from 2 PM to 2:50 PM.
The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorials be made to the First Baptist Church of Lavonia, GA.
Blyth Funeral Home is in charge.
Ruthie Lee Potts
NINETY SIX - Ruthie Lee Fellows Potts, 75, of 5704 Hwy. 178 S., widow of Lonnie Potts, passed away Tuesday, August 21, 2001 at National Health Care in Greenwood.
Born in Cochran, Georgia, she was the daughter of the late Thomas Fuller and Lucy Viola Mullis Fellows. She was a member of the Faith Assembly Of God and was retired from Greenwood Mills after 25 years of service.
Surviving are two sons, Thomas M. (Butch) Boyd, Sr., and Joseph (Joe) A. Boyd, both of Greenwood; two daughters, Gennie Wilkerson of Valdosta, Georgia and Shirley Pelfrey of Chappells; one sister, Ruby Fellows Amerson, Greenwood; nine grand-children, Thomas (Tommy) Boyd, Jr., Joseph (Jody) Boyd and Jackie Moonie of Greenwood, Philip Wilkerson of Valdosta, Ga., Mitchell and Michael Faircloth of Shallotte, N.C., Sylvia Sandola of Lexington, Toby Griffin of Waterloo and Debra Hughes of Abbeville; thirteen great-grandchildren, ten great-great-grandchildren and an aunt, Ms. Alice Miller of Valdosta, Ga. She was predeceased by two brothers, Lonnie and Horace Fellows.
Funeral services will be 4 P.M. Friday from the chapel of Harris Funeral Home, Abbeville, with the Rev. David Cobb officiating.
Burial will follow in Bethlehem Cemetery near Coronaca. Pallbearers will be Tommy Boyd, Jr., Jody Boyd, Mark Moonie, Tony Morris, Robert Boyd, all of Greenwood and Keith Hale of Aiken.
The body is at Harris Funeral Home, Abbeville, where the family will receive friends from 7-9 P.M. Thursday. The family is at the home of Joe and Laura Boyd, 5704 Hwy. 178 S., Ninety Six.
Sue Helen Durham
CALHOUN FALLS — Sue Helen Durham, 82, of 621 Darlington St., passed away Aug. 24, 2001 at Heardmont Nursing Home in Elberton, Ga.
A native and former 30-year resident of Greenville, she was a daughter of the late Frank and Julie Dyer Durham. She was a retired textile spinner and was of the Church of God faith.
Survivors include a sister, Mrs. Wallace (Rosie) White of Calhoun Falls. Graveside services are at 3 today at Old Graceland Cemetery, conducted by the Rev. Jerry Dalton and the Rev. Charles Perry.
Calhoun Falls Funeral Home is in charge.
