U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014
Sarah Newton
ANDREWS — Sarah Caroline Thomas Newton, 95, of 50 Herdon Haven, Abbeville, widow of Clarence Newton Sr., died Monday, Dec. 23, 2002 at her home.
Born in Georgetown, she was a daughter of the late John Willie and Mary Caroline Jayroe Thomas.
She was a homemaker and a member of Gourdines Chapel in Andrews.
Survivors include six sons, Dan Newton, Thomas Newton, Joseph Newton and Ronnie Newton, all of Andrews, Clarence L. Newton Jr. of Thomasville, Ala., and Warren Newton of North Charleston; two daughters, Mary Lee Herdon of Abbeville and Sarah Nell Thompson of Maysville, N.C.; two sisters, Hazel Hickson of Conway and Nita Bourdreux of Biloxi, Miss.; a brother, Laurie Thomas of Conway; 18 grandchildren and 37 great-grandchildren.
Services are at 11 today at Gourdines Chapel. Burial is in the church cemetery.
Memorials may be made to Gourdines Chapel, c/o Judy Newton, 10789 Saints Delight Road, Andrews, SC 29510.
Graham Funeral Home, Georgetown, is in charge.
The Chandler-Jackson Funeral Home, Abbeville, was in charge of local arrangements.
Inez G. Puckett
Services for Inez Graham Puckett, of 400 N. Emerald Road, Apt. F-4, Foxfield Apartments, are 1 p.m. Saturday at Cornerstone Full Gospel Church, conducted by the Rev. Arthur Lee Williams, assisted by the Revs. Bernard White and Joseph Caldwell. The body will be placed in the church at noon. Burial is in Pine Pleasant Baptist Church Cemetery.
Pallbearers and flower bearers are friends of the family.
Visitation is 6-7 tonight at Robinson & Son Mortuary.
The family is at the home.
Robinson & Son Mortuary Inc. is in charge.
Rudolph Tompkins
WATERLOO - Rudolph Earl Tompkins, 68, resident of 4136 Todd Quarter Road, husband of Barbara Bennett Tompkins, died December 25, 2002 at Self Regional Medical Center.
Born in the Waterloo Section of Laurens County, he was a son of the late Robert W. and Ida Mae Cunningham Tompkins and the late Calvin McDowell. He grew up in Greenwood attending the Greenwood public schools and was a graduate of South Carolina State University in Orangeburg where he majored in Music Education. He also attended Benedict College in Columbia, Presbyterian College in Clinton and was a graduate of Eckles Mortuary College in Philadelphia, PA. Tompkins spent two years in the US Army of which 18 months was spent in Germany.
Mr. Tompkins taught in the public schools in South Carolina and Georgia where he served as Band Director at T.J. Elder High School in Sandersville, GA, Geer-Gantt High School in Belton, SC, Brewer High School in Greenwood and Bell Street High School in Clinton. He also worked in the choir of each school. He played with the State College Collegian Band, the O.J. Band of Anderson, the Marty Wise Combo of Greenwood and the All Army Band of Germany and was a member of the Greenwood Martin Luther King, Jr. Choir.
Mr. Tompkins formerly served on the Board of Directors of the Laurens County Chamber of Commerce, Laurens County Community Theater Board, Laurens County Red Cross Advisory Board and also served for 11 years on the South Carolina State Board of Funeral Service, five years as the first black Consultant-Deputy Inspector and six years as a Board member. He also served as Governor of District #3 of the South Carolina Morticians Association and served as organist of the association for 30 years.
A member of the National Funeral and Morticians association, Inc., he was a member of the Advisory Board for the Funeral Service Program at Piedmont Technical College in Greenwood. He was Vice-President of the Greenwood Chapter of the SC State Alumni Association, Lifetime member and treasurer of the Brewer High School National Alumni Association, President, Charter member and educational coordinator of Pi Chapter of Epsilon Nu Delta Mortuary Fraternity, Inc. He was a member of the NAACP.
Mr. Tompkins was co-owner and manager of Percival-Tompkins Funeral Home, Inc. in Greenwood and served as embalmer for Goings Funeral Home in Laurens and Friendly Funeral Home in Calhoun Falls.
He was also owner and manager of Calvary Memorial Gardens in Laurens.
Mr. Tompkins had won numerous awards including the South Carolina Morticians Man of the Year in 1988 and the Pi Chapter of Epsilon Nu Delta Mortuary Fraternity Professional for 1996.
He was a member of Laurel Hill Baptist Church where he served as Trustee and organist of the church and also served as organist of Macedonia Baptist Church in Greenwood.
Surviving in addition to his wife of the home are two daughters, Lisha Tompkins Walker of Douglasville, GA and Toi L. Tompkins of Kew Gardens, NY; a brother, Robert Derrick Tompkins, Sr. of Atlanta, GA and a sister, Marchelle Rene Tompkins-Spearman of Greenwood; a half-sister, Angela McDowell of Syracuse, NY; a half-brother, Curtis McDowell of Syracuse, NY; three grandchildren, Vermond Walker, III, Alexa Rose Walker and Tylen Corbett Walker.
Funeral services will be conducted 3PM Saturday at Laurel Hill Baptist Church with Dr. Willie S. Harrison officiating, assisted by Rev. Herbert Glenn, presiding, Rev. Norris Turner, Rev. S. A. Mattison, Rev. W. L. C. Duncan, Rev. Bernard White and Elder George Devlin.
Burial will be in the church cemetery.
Pallbearers will be Deacons and Trustees of Laurel Hill Baptist Church.
Honorary pallbearers will be members of the South Carolina Morticians Association, the South Carolina State University Alumni Association, Inc. and members of the Pi Chapter Epsilon Nu Delta Fraternity.
Flower bearers will be members of Brewer High School Class of 1952 and the Brewer High School National Alumni Association.
The body is at Percival-Tompkins Funeral Home in Greenwood and will be placed in the church at 1PM Saturday.
The family is at the home.
Percival-Tompkins Funeral Home is in charge.
Garry L. Waldrop
NINETY SIX — Services for Garry LaTronzo Waldrop are 2 p.m. Saturday at Mount Carmel United Methodist Church, conducted by the Rev. Joseph Streater. The body will be placed in the church at 1. Burial is in the church cemetery.
Pallbearers and flower bearers are cousins and friends.
Honorary escorts are members of Ninety Six High School Class of 1994.
Visitation is 7-8 tonight at the home, 217-A West Main St.
Daniel and Sons Funeral Home is in charge.
Thelma Jean Watts
AIKEN — Thelma Jean Lott Watts, of 1522 Redd St. N.W., widow of Thomas J. Watts Sr., died Sunday, Dec. 22, 2002 at her home.
Born in Saluda County, she was a daughter of the late Joe and Pauline Abney Lott. She was a member of Friendship Baptist Church and an eastern star.
Survivors include a son, Michael Watts of Columbus, Ohio; a sister, Mrs. Willie James (Dorothy) Crouch Sr. of Saluda; three grandchildren.
Services are 1 p.m. Saturday at Friendship Baptist Church, conducted by the Rev. Johnny C. Gantt, assisted by the Rev. F. Keith Slaughter. The body will be placed in the church at noon. Burial is in Mount Moses C.M.E. Church Cemetery, Saluda.
The family is at the home.
Butler & Sons Funeral Home, Saluda, is in charge.
Doris W. Epperson
Doris Wrenn Epperson, 67, of 310 Sunrise Circle, died Friday, Dec. 27, 2002 at Magnolia Manor.
Born in Greenwood County, she was a daughter of the late James A. “Lonnie” and Isabelle Rankin Timmerman. She retired from Kemet and was a member of Greenwood Faith Chapel.
Survivors include a son, Greg Wrenn of Greenwood; a sister, Mrs. Wendell L. (Barbara) Hall of Ninety Six and two grandchildren. Services are 2 p.m. Sunday at Harley Funeral Home, conducted by the Rev. Ray Massey and Mr. Bob Albert. Burial is in Greenwood Memorial Gardens.
Pallbearers are John “Sparky” Wheless, Earl Wrenn, Alvin Timmerman, Donald Timmerman, Ellis Timmerman, Hilton Dodgen, Ronnie Ethridge and T.J. Collins.
Visitation is 6-8 tonight at the funeral home.
Family members are at their respective homes.
Harley Funeral Home is in charge.
Jake Golding
CLINTON — Jones Chandler “Jake” Golding, 89, of 801 Musgrove St., widower of Millie Nelson Golding, died Thursday, Dec. 26, 2002 at Laurens County Hospital.
Born in Laurens County, he was a son of the late James A. and Maggie Chandler Golding. He was a graduate of Greenwood High School and retired as an agent with Life of Georgia Insurance Co. (now ING). A member of First Presbyterian Church, he was also a member of the Brotherhood Sunday School Class of the church and the Hejaz Shrine Temple of Greenwood.
Survivors include a nephew and three nieces.
Graveside services are 11:30 a.m. today in Greenwood Memorial Gardens, conducted by Dr. John Livingston.
Visitation is 10-11 today at Blyth Funeral Home.
Memorials may be made to First Presbyterian Church, 108 E. Cambridge Ave., Greenwood, SC 29646 or The Presbyterian Home of South Carolina, 801 Musgrove St., Clinton, SC 29325.
Blyth Funeral Home, Greenwood, is in charge.
Sarah Holder McDaniel
CUMMING, GA — Mrs. Sarah Holder McDaniel, age 77 of Cumming, died Thursday, December 26, 2002. Mrs. McDaniel was a Homemaker.
Survivors include her husband of 35 years, Leon McDaniel of Cumming; children, Gene Popay, Cumming; Wayne and Wanda Smith, Woodland, AL; Charles Smith, Cumming; Alvin and Shirley Smith, Auburn; Brenda and David Martin, Cumming; 12 grandchildren; 4 great-grandchildren; a sister, Mae Cliff Rayburn, Rome; sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, Tunie Holder, Summerville; Geneva and Tom Reynolds, Peggy Stewart, and Reba Keisler, all of Greenwood, SC. And several other relatives also survive.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, December 28, 2002 at 11:00 AM at Ingram Funeral Home Chapel, Rev. Ruel Martin and Rev. David Martin officiating.
Interment will be at Sawnee View Memorial Gardens.
The family received friends on Friday from 3:00 to 9:00 PM at Ingram Funeral Home.
Ingram Funeral Home, Cumming, GA, was in charge of arrangements.
Frankie Mae Pixley
JOHNSTON — Frankie Mae Pixley, 52, died Thursday, Dec. 26, 2002 at the Doctor’s Hospital in Augusta.
Born in Edgefield County, she was a daughter of Clevie Pixley Suggs and Frank Burt. She was a member of Mount Calvary Baptist Church and the Women Home Aide Society.
Survivors include her parents of Johnston; a son, Tony Pixley of North Augusta; four sisters, Nancy Williams and Cheryl Buckman, both of Johnston and Barbara Byrd and Janet Logan, both of Brooklyn, N.Y.; two grandchildren.
Services are 2 p.m. Sunday at Mount Calvary Baptist Church, with burial in the church cemetery.
The family is at the home of her sister Nancy Williams, 122 Clayhopper Drive.
Butler & Sons Funeral Home, Saluda, is in charge.
William Riley Swearingen Jr.
William Riley Swearingen Jr., 78, died Friday, December 27, 2002 at the Wesley Commons Health Care Center, Greenwood.
Born September 24, 1924 in Edgefield, he was a son of the late William Riley and Lucy Watson Swearingen.
During his sophomore year at Clemson University, he enlisted in the US Army Infantry serving during World War II, became a sergeant and received a Presidential Citation for outstanding performance. After the war, he received his B.A. degree from Clemson University.
He spent seven years in retail sales for one of the nation's largest general merchandise firms before joining J. R. Payne Oil Company as manager. Under his leadership, volume increased as the firm served many retail outlets, home heating accounts and large commercial accounts in two counties.
Mr. Swearingen joined the South Carolina Oil Jobbers Association in 1958, and he immediately assumed a role in leadership in the organization that led to his election as treasurer, secretary, vice president and president. In addition to his duties as president of SC Oil Jobbers Association, he became president of the Greenwood Fuel Oil Dealers Association and Credit Services, Inc.
He served as president of the Cotillion Club and was an active longtime member of the Greenwood Country Club, The Club, Gatewood Club, American Legion, Clemson Alumni Association and IPTAY Club. He was a member and teacher at Main Street United Methodist Church.
Mr. Swearingen was preceded in death by his first wife, Pearle Payne Swearingen and later his second wife, Ruth Hines Connor Swearingen.
Surviving is his son, Michael William Swearingen of Hodges; his two sisters, Lucy Swearingen Good of Rock Hill and Myra Swearingen Bradshaw of Manning; his sister-in-law, Mrs. J. Monroe Swearingen of Charleston; a nephew, J. Monroe Swearingen, Jr. of Columbia and two nieces, Anne Shackleton Smith of Rock Hill and Anna Louise Swearingen of Charleston.
Graveside services will be at 3 p.m. Sunday at Greenwood Memorial Gardens with the Rev. Patricia Griffith-Fallaw officiat-ing. The family will receive friends at Harley Funeral Home on Saturday from 5 to 7 p.m.
The family is at the home, 306 Chinquapin Road, Greenwood.
Memorials may be made to Main Street United Methodist Church, 201 N. Main Street, Greenwood, SC 29646 or to the charity of one's choice.
Harley Funeral Home of Greenwood is in charge of arrangements.
Doris Clark Attaway
NINETY SIX — Doris Clark Attaway, 79, formerly of 120 Park St., widow of Earl Carroll Attaway, died Thursday, Dec. 26, 2002 at National Health Care, Greenwood.
Born in Greenwood County, she was a daughter of the late John Robert and Julia Shirley Clark. She was a retired employee of the Adams Plant of Greenwood Mills, where she was a member of the Quarter Century Club. She was a member of Siloam Baptist Church.
Survivors include a son, Ronald Attaway of Placida, Fla.; two sisters, Margie Rushton and Mildred Clark, both of Greenwood; and a brother, John Vernon Clark of Ninety Six.
Memorial services are 11 a.m. Tuesday at Harley Funeral Home, conducted by the Rev. Fred Smith.
Visitation is from 10-11 Tuesday at the funeral home.
Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, Upstate SC Chapter, 521 McDuffie St., Anderson, SC 29621-5529 or to a charity of one’s choice.
Harley Funeral Home is in charge.
Nannie Klugh Wright
DONALDS — Services for Nannie Klugh Wright, of 3777 Highway 20, are 3 p.m. Monday at Mt. Zion A.M.E. Church, Hodges, conducted by the Rev. Albert Thompson, assisted by Elder Oscar A. Klugh and the Rev. Larry Nelson. The body will be placed in the church at 2 p.m. Burial is in Mt. Lebanon A.M.E. Church Cemetery.
Pallbearers are grandsons.
Flower bearers are granddaughters.
The family is at the home.
Parks Funeral Home, Greenwood is in charge.
