U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014
Billy Wise
St. MATTHEWS — Billy “Long Tall” Wise, 77, of 30 Clay Bottom Ln., died Friday, November 26, 2004 at his residence. Graveside services will be held at 3:00 p.m. Sunday, November 28th in Congaree Baptist Church Cemetery. Rev. Calvin Hall officiating. Pallbearers: William Hall, Billy Ray Wise, Jr., Ricky Schuhly, Mark Black, Ronald Wise, Jody Riley. Dukes-Harley Funeral Home is in charge.
Mr. Wise was born in Calhoun County, a son of the late Moses Brady Wise, Sr. and Rosa Brady Wise. He was a retired self-employed carpenter. Mr. Wise was a US Army Veteran of WWII serving with the Military Police.
Survivors: son: Billy R. Wise, Sr., St. Matthews; 3 daughters: Rhonda E. Hackler, Sumter, Sandra Hall, Ridgeland, Nell Williams, St. Matthews; 1 sister: Fairey Riffle, Martinsville, In; 8 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; special friend: Edan Ballard, Elloree.
He was predeceased by a grandson, Brady Hall; two brothers: M.B. Wise, Jr. and F.W. Wise, and a sister, Ruby Wise.
Friends may call at the residence of Bill and Nell Williams, 30 Clay Bottom Road, St. Matthew.
Memorials may be made to: Tri Couny Hospice.
Susanne Johnson
MULLINS — Mrs. Susanne Bethune Johnson, widow of Gilbert Allen “Chick” Johnson, Jr., died Saturday, November 27, 2004 at McLeod Regional Medical Center after an illness.
Funeral services will be held at 3:30 P.M. Monday, November 29 at Macedonia United Methodist Church. Burial will follow in Cedardale Cemetery, directed by Cox-Collins Funeral Home.
Mrs. Johnson was born March 11, 1922 in Cheraw, S.C., a daughter of the late Robert Murdock Bethune, Sr. and the late Sue Anderson Bethune. Mrs. Johnson was a retired teacher, having taught in the Marion County Public Schools and at Pee Dee Academy. She was a 1943 graduate of Coker College. Mrs. Johnson was a member of Macedonia United Methodist Church, where she was a member of the Smith Edwards Circle.
Surviving Mrs. Johnson are: 2 daughters: Carlotta Johnson Wiggins and her husband John of Marion and Susan Johnson Sparks and her husband Rick of Myrtle Beach; 4 Grandchildren: Patrick Sparks and his wife Susan of Myrtle Beach, Zan Wiggins of Myrtle Beach, Gil Wiggins of Marion and Rob Wiggins of Marion; a Brother: Bob Bethune and his wife Pat of Myrtle Beach; and a Sister-in-Law: Doris Johnson Gray and her husband Sammy of Harbor Island.
Memorials may be made to Macedonia United Methodist Church, 402 N. Main St., Mullins, S.C. 29574 or to the charity of one’s choice.
Visitation will be held Sunday evening from 6 till 8 P.M. at Cox-Collins Funeral Home.
Miriam Stephenson
DARLINGTON — Mrs. Miriam Stephenson, 71, of Darlington died Monday, November 29, 2004.
Funeral services will be held on Thursday, December 2, 2004, at 2 p.m. at Philadelphia Southern Methodist Church. Burial will follow in the Philadelphia Cemetery directed by Kistler-Hardee Funeral Home.
Mrs. Stephenson was born in Bowman, SC, to the late Samuel Hugo and Frances Bull Weathers. She was the wife of Reverend Robert M. Stephenson, Jr., who died in 1993. Mrs. Stephenson was a graduate of Bob Jones University with a Bachelor of Arts degree; the University of SC with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree; and from Francis Marion University with a Master of Education degree. She was a staff nurse at the Medical University in Charleston for several years after graduation. Mrs. Stephenson also served as a Southern Methodist medical missionary in Nigeria, West Africa, with the Sudan Interior Mission for nine years. She then worked in several hospitals in Georgia and South Carolina. She was a nursing instructor in the Associate Degree Nursing Program and Level Coordinator at Florence-Darlington Technical College. Later she was the Director of Counseling/Testing until her retirement in 1994. Mrs. Stephenson enjoyed volunteer work at the Shriners Hospital in Greenville, SC. She took numerous short-term mission trips to countries including the Ukraine, China, Ecuador and Venezuela. She served as President of the Woman’s Missionary Council of the Southern Methodist Denomination, and was a member of the Board of Directors of the Southern Methodist College in Orangeburg, SC. She was also a faithful member of the First Southern Methodist Church in Greenville, SC.
She devoted her life to serving her Savior, Jesus Christ, and was loved and respected by all who knew her.
Mrs. Stephenson was preceded in death by her husband, and a son, David Samuel Stephenson.
Survivors include a son, John (Pat) Stephenson of Darlington; two daughters, Vicky (Tom) Biers of Quinlan, TX, and Bobbye Sue (Ellison) Evans of Turbeville, SC; three brothers, Don (Pat) Weathers of Lexington, Dr. William T. (Nancy) Weathers and John W. (Dolores) Weathers both of Greenville, SC; a sister, Sara (J.T.) Burton of Leesville, SC; six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren; her aunt, Irene Dantzler.
Memorials may be made to Boy’s Farm, Inc., P.O. Box 713, Newberry, SC 29108.
Walter Bonnett Sr.
SPRINGFIELD — Services for Walter Eugene Bonnett Sr., 82, will be held 2:00 p.m. Saturday, December 4, 2004, at the Springfield United Methodist Church with burial in the Springfield Cemetery. Visitation is 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at Folk Funeral Home in Williston. Memorials may be made to Springfield United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 207, Springfield, SC 29146.
Mr. Bonnett, husband of the late Nellie Plemons Bonnett, died Thursday. Born in Orangeburg, he was a son of the late Willie E. Bonnette and Nina Alice Fralick Bonnette. He attended Orangeburg Public Schools and Aberdeen School of Metallurgy in Aberdeen, MD. He served in the U.S. Army WW II, Combat Ordinance Division of the 26th Infantry, European Theater of Operations, Battle of the Bulge and was awarded the Purple Heart and Good Conduct Medal. He was an active member of the American Legion Post #54 for over 55 years. Mr. Bonnett retired in 1981 from E.I. DuPont de Nemours and Company, SRS, in Aiken with 31 years of service. He was a member of Springfield United Methodist Church and served on the Administrative Board for many years as head usher and chaired various committees.
“Mr. Walter” (“Boppy” to the grandkids) was a devoted husband, father and grandfather. His dedication to his church and community was unequaled. The creations and restorations from his “old shop” that grace the community will continue to provide a lasting tribute to his talent and creativity.
Survivors include sons, Walter E. “Buzz” Bonnett, Jr. of Columbia and Robert R. “Bob” Bonnett of Alpharetta, Ga.; sisters, Jeanette B. Fogle of Columbia, Emmogene B. Poole of Springfield and Mrs. F.O. (Mary Alice B.) Holmes of New Ellenton; brother, Clarence O. Bonnette of Springfield; grandchildren, Benjie Bonnett, Briana Zorn, Shannon Zeigler; great-grandchildren, Kayla and Lakyn Jeffrey, Harley Zorn and Cassandra Zeigler.
John Bradley
ULMER — Services for John Owens Bradley, 52, son of the late Frances Jones Jr. and Celestine Williams Bradley, will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday at Cave Funeral Services, Allendale, with burial in Miller Swamp Baptist Church Cemetery, Sycamore. He died November 27, 2004. Surviving are his siblings, Carolyn Gilbert, Berverly and Maxine Bradley, Leroy Stoney.
Mildred Lauretano
GEORGETOWN — Mildred Floyd Lauretano, 83, died Wednesday, December 1, 2004, at her residence.
Mrs. Lauretano was born in Cades on August 18, 1921, a daughter of the late Theodore Harrison Floyd and Carrie Mae Ward Floyd. She grew up in Cades and lived in Columbia prior to moving to Georgetown. Mrs. Lauretano was employed by Fogel’s Dept. Store and Mildred’s Dress Shop for a time and retired from Marian’s Dress Shop. She was a member of First Baptist Church and Winyah Chapter #148, Order of the Eastern Star.
Surviving are a son, Ted Lauretano and his wife, Kathy Drew Lauretano of Pawley’s Island; two sisters, Evelyn Coker and her husband, Delbert of Georgetown and Isco McMeekin and her husband, Frampton of St. Stephen; two grandchildren, Candace Boyd and her husband, Patrick of Pawley’s Island and Nicholas Lauretano and his fiancee, Jennifer Telles of Charleston; a great-grandchild, Caroline Rowan Boyd of Pawley’s Island; and numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, great-great-nieces, great-great-nephews, and a great-great-great-nephew.
Mrs. Lauretano was predeceased by her husband, Alfonso A. Lauretano; a son, Michael Joseph Lauretano; a sister, Linnie Mae Coker; and three brothers, Bill Floyd, Julius Floyd, and Dave Floyd.
Funeral services will be eleven o’clock Saturday morning, December 4, 2004, at the graveside in Elmwood Cemetery Annex. Officiating will be the Rev. Dr. Ted A. Sherrill and the Rev. Hiram L. McElrath.
Sign a guest book at www.mayerfuneralhome.com.
The family will receive friends at the Georgetown Chapel of Mayer Funeral Home, Friday evening, December 3, 2004, from six until eight.
Memorial may be made to Tidelands Community Hospice, Inc., 2591 N. Fraser St., Georgetown, SC 29440.
James Singletary
LAKE CITY — Services for James Louis Singletary, 46, will be held at 2 p.m. today at New Zion Baptist Church; burial: Sandhill Memorial Park, directed by Green’s Funeral Home. He died Nov. 30, 2004. He served four years in the U.S. Army. Surviving: aunt/adoptive mother, Jannie Mae Cameron; siblings, Flossie McFadden, Lillie Mack, CWO3 John (Ret.), Herman, Wallace Franklin; relatives and friends.
Julius Snipes
LANCASTER — Services for Julius Snipes, 84, widower of Thelma Eubanks Snipes, 11 a.m. Saturday (visitation 6-8 tonight): Hartley Funeral Home; burial: Lancaster Memorial Park. Born in Kershaw Co. to Jess and Viola Snipes, he died Dec. 2, 2004. A member of Temple Baptist Church, he had 40, out of 53 years, of perfect attendance. Surviving: sons, Jessie, Randy; sister, Ethel Plyler; grandchildren; great-grandchildren.
Elester Upson Sr.
AIKEN — Services with burial for Elester Upson Sr., 69, former painter, will be held at 3:30 p.m. today (body in church at 2:30 p.m.) at Shaws Creek Baptist Church. G.L. Brightharp & Sons Mortuary is in charge. He died November 29, 2004. Surviving are wife, Lillie Upson; children, Patricia Hoyte, Melissa Jackson, Elester, Michael, Anthony, Kevin, Norman, Gregory, Phillip and Randy Upson.
