U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014
Kathy C. Estel
Kathy Clardy Estel, 47, wife of Donald W. Estel, died Sunday, April 20, 2003, at her home in Manning.
Born Aug. 3, 1955, in Charleston, she was the daughter of the late Jimmy Olin Clardy Sr., and the late Floride Hawkins Clardy. She was a registered nurse employed by Medical Staffing Network in Charleston, worked at McLeod’s Hospital in Florence, and was a member of Wyboo Community Church.
Survivors include her husband, Donald W. Estel of Manning; a daughter, Christina Craven of Manning; a stepdaughter, Alishia Estel of New Martinsville, W.V.; a son, Jimmy Craven of Manning; a brother, Jimmy Olin Clardy Jr. of Manning; and three grandchildren, Micky Craven, Cassie Craven and Amber Craven.
She was preceded in death by a son, Robert Craven.
Services were held at 2 p.m. Wednesday in the chapel of Stephens Funeral Home in Manning with the Rev. Joe Gagne officiating.
Burial followed in Clarendon Memorial Gardens in Manning.
Mary B. Gibson
Sumter - Mary B. Gibson, 69, wife of Henry Gibson, died Sunday, April 13, 2003, at Palmetto Baptist Medical Center in Columbia.
Born June 4, 1933, in Charleston, she was the daughter of the late Marion and Elizabeth Benton Brabham. She was retired bookkeeper from Carol’s Heritage Dress Shop, a member of First Baptist Church, and was a Life Master in the American Contract Bridge League.
Survivors include her husband of 52 years; a son, Donnie Gibson (Janice) of Atwater, 
Calif.; a daughter, Delores Gainey (Lloyd) of Cheraw; four grandchildren, Adam Gibson, Corey Gibson, Amanda Gainey, and Allison White; a brother, Jimmy Brabham of Hartsville; and a sister, Dorothy Newbolt of Augusta, Ga.
Services were held at 2 p.m. Wednesday at First Baptist Church with the Rev. Don Hansen officiating.
Burial followed in Chatham Hill Cemetery in Cheraw.
Memorials may be made to First Baptist Church, P.O. Box 867, Sumter, S.C. 29151.
James E. Ham
James “Jimmy” Edward Ham, 57, companion of Elsie Lucille Webb, died Tuesday, April 8, 2003, at his home.
Born June 25, 1945, in the New Zion section of Clarendon County, he was the son of the late Walter Ham and Mary Gordon McFadden Ham. He received his formal education in the public schools of Clarendon County. In his youth he accepted Christ as his personal savior and joined St. John AME Church in the Workman community of Kingstree. He was employed by Rockland Textile Mills of Baltimore, Md., and a machine operator.
Survivors besides his companion include two step-grandsons that he reared as his own, Shawan and Tywan Webb; a daughter, Geneva Ham of Bridgeport, Conn.; two brothers, Fleetwood (Linda) Ham of Conway and Russell Francis of Baltimore; three sisters, Francine (John Scott) Butler of New Zion and Mary Kirby and Joann (Willie) Clanton of Baltimore; a grandchild; and 12 step-grandchildren
He was preceded in death by a brother, Joseph Ham.
Services were held at 3 p.m. Sunday at St. John AME Church in the Workman community of Kingstree with the Rev. B.L. Green officiating, assisted by the Revs. Jerome McCray and Edward Roberts.
Burial followed in the church cemetery.
Raymond ‘Ray’ Hilton
Sumter - Raymond “Ray” Hilton, the son of Levan and Chinese Wells Hilton, was born in Clarendon County on Oct. 23, 1950. He attended the public schools of Clarendon County and was a 1970 graduate of Manning Training High School. He felt that his earthly journey was ending and accepted Christ as his personal savior since his recent illness.
Ray said that God had given him a second chance, and he was a changed man. Those of us who are Christians know you never come in contact with Christ and remain the same. His life was changed completely. It was wonderful being around him and seeing the difference in his life.
He was a retired employee of Georgia Pacific Inc. of Alcolu.
“Ray” answered to the call of God on Sunday, April 13, 2003, at the home of his wife, Barbaretta Hilton, Holly Court Apt. 2-E. His journey on earth had ended. On June 27, 1970, he was joined in holy matrimony to the former Miss Barbaretta Conyers. To this union, they were blessed with four wonderful children.
A son, Anthony, and a grandson, Nicholas Ray Hilton, preceded him in death.
The life of “Ray” will remain dear to his loving wife, Barbaretta Hilton; three daughters, Aleisha Harris (Ernest Paige), Tina (James) Edwards and Josephine Hilton (Willie) Servance of Manning; four adorable grandchildren, Alexis Harris, Tierria Hilton, Alexandria McFadden and Anthony Raymond Hilton of Manning; his loving parents, Deacon Levan Hilton Sr. and Chinese Hilton; four brothers, Levan (Essie) Hilton Jr., Johnnie L. (Dorothina) Hilton and James Hilton of Manning, and Willie E. (Mable) of Orangeburg; four sisters, Juanita (Willie) McFadden, Lillie (Floyd) Blackwell, Johanna (Maceo) Pack and Mahalia (Richard) Taylor of Manning; an adopted brother, the Rev. Curtis (Jackie) Canty of Manning; a mother-in-law, Josephine Conyers of Manning; three sisters-in-law, Syliva Conyers and Juanita Conyers of Manning and Luebertha (Henry) Robinson of Queens, N.Y.; two brothers-in-law, Leroy (Sarah) Conyers and Jonathan (Amanda) Conyers of Manning; and a host of uncles, aunts, nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
Services were held at 2 p.m. Thursday at Mt. Zero Missionary Baptist Church, S.C. 261 West, Paxville community, Manning with the Rev. Henry Presley officiating, assisted by the Revs. Gussie Ceasar, Dennis Jeffcoat and Curtis Cantey and Minister Wayne Blackwell and Dr. Cokley Richburg.
Burial followed in the churchyard cemetery.
The Manning High School Class of 1970 served as pallbearers and flower bearers.
Harold Jones
Bowling Green, Ky. - Harold Evan Jones, 51, died Wednesday, April 16, 2003, at his residence.
Born June 19, 1951, in Clarendon County, he was the son of Daisy DeLaine Block and the late Clarence Block, and grandson of the late Louis DeLaine and Lula DeLaine.
Survivors include three beautiful ladies, his mother, Daisy DeLaine Block of Columbia, Delilaa Ghazalay of Singapore and Wilma King of Bowling Green; two sons, Evan Jones of Sumter and Danial Jones of Singapore; paternal grandfather, Lawrence Block; two daughters, Shone Frost of Dallas and Tara Spann of Atlanta; one brother, Michael Block of Columbia; a sister, Tonya Sallerwhite of Marietta, Ga.; and three granddaughters.
Services were held Tuesday, April 22 at 1 p.m. at Fleming & DeLaine Chapel on Boyce Street in Manning with the Rev. Edythe DeLaine officiating.
Burial followed in Liberty Hill AME Church Cemetery.
Pearl L. McElveen
Pearl Lousie McElveen, 93, died Sunday, April 13, 2003, at a Sumter healthcare facility.
Born in Florence County, she was the daughter of the late Martin Lane Hicks and Mary Bell Keels Hicks. She was a member of the Horse Branch Free Will Baptist Church.
Survivors include a daughter, Elsie Crawford of Sumter; a son, Barry McElveen of Columbia; two sisters, Stella Berry of Manning and Pauline Elmore of Alcolu; five grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and a great-great-grandchild.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Archie L. McElveen; five sons, James L. McElveen, Emory L. McElveen , Jerry McElveen, Shelby McElveen and Jack McElveen; two sisters, Muriel Beatson and Coley Ruff; a brother, Alton Hicks; and a grandson, Emory Crawford.
Services were held at 3 p.m. Wednesday at Horse Branch Free Will Baptist Church
Burial followed in Olanta Baptist Church Cemetery, directed by Floyd Funeral Home of Olanta.
Memorials may be made to the Horse Branch Free Will Baptist Church, 1097 Horse Branch Road, Turbeville, S.C. 29162.
Cathy T. Smerchek
Newport, Tenn. - Cathy Marie Thomas Smerchek, 44, died Monday, April 14, 2003, at her home in Tennessee.
Born July 3. 1958, in Rock Hill, she was the daughter of Sylvia and Jack Roberts. She was a member of First Baptist Church of Newport.
Survivors besides her parents of Salters include a brother, Brad Roberts of Salters; three sisters, Faye Shealy and Julie Baker of Lane, and Phyllis Wilson of Salters; two nieces; one nephew; and one great nephew.
Services were held on Thursday, April 17, 2003, at Manes Funeral Home in Newport, Tenn.
Memorials may be made to First Baptist Church of Newport, 261 East Broadway, Newport, Tenn. 37821.
Martha M. Williams
Martha Lee Murray Williams, 51, wife of Jasper Lee Williams, died Thursday, April 10, 2003, at Tuomey Regional Medical Center in Sumter.
Born Aug. 31, 1951, in the Foreston community of Clarendon County, she was the daughter of the late Joseph Murray and Mrs. Illa Hilton Murray of Foreston. She attended the public schools of Clarendon County and was a member of Shiloh AME Church where she served on the Missionary Society and Gospel Choir. She was the president of the Junky Yard Cemetery.
Survivors besides her husband include four sons, Lynnard Demetrious Murray and Quinton Murray of the home, and Tyrell Anderson and Antron Anderson of Manning; two daughters, Quincena M. (Johnnie) Witherspoon of the home and Nicole Anderson of Manning; four brothers, Joseph C. (Susie) Murray, Sammie (Virgree) Murray, Leon Murray and Luther Murray of Foreston; six sisters, Alean (James Henry) King and Ester China of Foreston, Shirley (Fred) Holmes of Beaufort, Catherine (Willie) Pompey of Greeleyville, Emma (Worthy) Robbins of Alcolu and Bernell Brockington of Richmond, Va.; and eight grandchildren.
Services were held at 3 p.m. Sunday at Manning Elementary School on Boyce Street in Manning with the Revs. Eddie Lasaine, Fred Snider, Nathaniel Edwards and Ralph Brown and Ministers Sammie Murray, Harry Robinson and Effie Hilton officiating.
Burial followed in Junky Yard Cemetery in Foreston.
Ruth M. Cantey
Ruth Mack Cantey, 79, widow of Robert Cantey, died Monday, April 21, 2003, at Clarendon Memorial Hospital in Manning.
Born April 10, 1924, in Clarendon County, she was the daughter of the late Willis Mack and Annie Mae Cooper Mack. She was educated in the public schools of Clarendon County. She and her husband were prosperous farmers. She was a devoted member of Society Hill AME Church, where she served as church school (treasurer), class leader, stewardess, missionary, former church clerk and in the senior choir. She was active in the community affairs and was affiliated with numerous community and civic organizations, including the YMCA and YWCA-District No. 1 (secretary), Manning branch of NAACP (executive board), Jordan Precinct (precinct worker), the Clarendon County Voters League and the Clarendon County Democratic Party. She was a recipient of many awards, humanitarian services by the Manning District Lay Organization of the AME church and by the Manning Branch of the NAACP for largest number of memberships annually from 1994 to 1999.
Survivors include three sons, Julious Cantey and Johnny Cantey (Beatrice), of Buffalo, N.Y., and Jeremiah Cantey (Reoea) of Manning; three daughters, Helen Thompson (Leroy) and Susie Snider (Levi) of Manning and Celestine Smalls of Sumter; two brothers, David Mack (Mary Lee) and Emanuel Mach (Ethe Carol) of Buffalo; two sisters, Cincy Waiters of Buffalo and Naomi Frazier (Albertis) of Manning; three brothers-in-law, Marion (Earnestine) Cantey of Newark, N.J., James (Jerlene) Cantey of Manning and the Rev. Joe (Louise) Cantey Jr. of Irvington, N.J.; four sisters-in-law, Lucille Space and Hattie (Charles) Johnson of Manning, evangelist Shirley (Van) Williams of Irvington and Elease (Rev. George) Wilson of Dansville, Va.; a devoted caregiver, Angela Hilton; 13 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by three siblings, Ethel Conyers, Corrine Johnson and Oree Edwards; and a granddaughter, Ruth Lachael Thompson.
Services were held at 2 p.m. Saturday at Society Hill AME Church with the Revs. Leon A. Terry, Larry E. Barns, Leroy Green, Jonathan Mouzon, Sam Miller and O’Donald Dingle, Elder Joe Cantey Jr., and Minister Shirley Waiters officiating.
Burial followed in the church cemetery family plot.
Roy. J. Carpenter
Sumter - Roy Joseph Carpenter, 71, husband of Irma Medlin Carpenter, died Sunday, April 27, 2003, at McLeod Regional Medical Center in Florence.
Born in Burlington, Vt., he was the son of the late Joseph Roy Carpenter and Mary Greenough Carpenter. He served in the US Air Force during the Korean War and later retired as a route salesman from Textilease of Sumter in 1992.
Survivors besides his wife include three daughters, Carol Shirah and her husband Sammy of Sumter, Brenda Foley of Yuba City, Calif., and Tami Blascak and her husband Mark of Manning; one stepdaughter, Amy Haselden of Sumter; two stepsons, Kim Haselden and Tony Haselden of Lexington; one brother, Adelbert Carpenter of Florida and six grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, one brother, Donald Carpenter, and one sister, Ruth Lavery.
Services were held Tuesday at 4 p.m. at the Bullock Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. George W. Quick officiating.
In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to The National Kidney Foundation, 5000 Thurman Mall Drive, Columbia, S.C. 29201.
