July 2006

Mary B. Garrett July 26, 2006

Mary B. Garrett, 83, of Lowman Home, formerly of Greenville, SC, went to be with the Lord on Wednesday, July 26, 2006 after a short but valiant battle with cancer.
Born in Wellford S.C., she was the daughter of the late James Robert Butler and Ruth Gwinn Butler. She spent her entire life trying to glorify the Lord. An alumna of Berea College in Berea Kentucky and Furman University, she taught English and Drama for more than 30 years at Lancaster Senior High, Greenville Senior High School and finally James L. Mann High School, retiring in 1985.
At the time of her death, Mrs. Garrett was a member of the Lowman Home Chapel; she had been a member of Eastlan Baptist Church in Greenville SC for 40 years. Active at Eastlan, she taught Sunday School almost her entire time there. She was also a member of Delta Kappa Gamma, and the AAUW (American Association of University Women).
She was preceded in death by her beloved husband of fifty-one years Leland E. Garrett, Sr. Surviving are her daughter and son-in-law, Beth and Johnny James of Prosperity; sons and daughters-in-law Dr. Leland. and Nancy Garrett of Raleigh, NC, Sydney and Amy Garrett of Cary, NC, and Dale and Diane Garrett of Irmo. Also surviving are her granddaughters, Dr. Katherine Garrett of Raleigh, NC, Jennifer Garrett of Raleigh, NC, Marybeth Garrett of Cary, NC, and Madison Garrett of Irmo and her grandsons Joe Simms of Atlanta, Georgia and Christopher Garrett and his wife Sarah Slagle-Garrett of Raleigh, NC.
Visitation was in the Lowman Home Daily Life Center/Hoefler Gallery in White Rock from 7:00 to 9:00 PM on Saturday.
Service were at the Lowman Home Chapel led by the Reverends Gary Lyerly and Marshall Sargent on Sunday, July 30, 2006 at 2:00 PM.
Burial with a graveside service did follow at the Wood Memorial Park in Duncan on Sunday, July 30,2006, at 5:00 PM.
To honor Mary’s memory, memorials may be made to the Lutheran Foundation Fund for Lowman Home or the New Life Chapel Fund at Lowman Home, PO Box 444, White Rock, SC 29177.
Messages to the family may be sent via email at notes@whitakerfuneralhome. com.
Whitaker Funeral Home, Chapin, is assisting the family.

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Annie Blanche Paysinger Wilson July 25, 2006

Annie Blanche Paysinger Wilson, 84, of 2006 Springfield Circle, Newberry, SC, widow of Maurice H. Wilson, Sr., died Tuesday July 25, 2006 at the Newberry County Memorial Hospital.
Mrs. Wilson was born on Aug. 19, 1921 in Newberry County, a daughter of the late James Ernest and Fairer Tompkins Paysinger. She was a 1942 graduate of Newberry College and was a teacher having taught in the Charlotte, NC. She was a member of the Lutheran Church of the Redeemer and an avid Coke Cola memorabilia collector.
She was a devoted wife and mother and is survived by three daughters and sons-in-law, Jacquelyn W. and Rev. R. E. Lybrand, Jr. of Spartanburg, Mary Ann W. and Charlie Waggoner of Dallas, GA, and Janie Dell and Mark A. Langheim of Suwanee, GA; a son and daughter-in-law, Maurice H. and Harriett Wilson, Jr. of Charlotte; one sister Sara P. Shealy of Newberry; six grandchildren; and two great grandchildren. She was predeceased by a sister, Margaret Paysinger and a son-in-law, Ronald Price.
Funeral services were conducted at 2:00 P.M. Friday at the Lutheran Church of the Redeemer by the Rev. Steve Counts and the Rev. Steve Lorimar. Interment was in Rosemont Cemetery
The family did receive friends after the interment services in Smelzer Hall at Newberry College.
Memorials may be made to the Wilson Baseball Scholarship, c/o Newberry College, 2100 College St., Newberry SC 29108.
Honorary pallbearers were the members of the Men’s Bible Class of the Lutheran Church of the Redeemer.
Messages to the family may be sent via email at notes@whitakerfuneralhome.com.
Whitaker Funeral Home, Newberry is assisting the family.

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Dorothy Shealy Nobles Stewart July 22, 2006

Dorothy Shealy Nobles Stewart, 77, of 2649 Wilson Road, Newberry, twice married, first to the late Everett L. “Bo” Nobles and second to the late Glenn L. Stewart, died Saturday, July 22, 2006 at Providence Hospital in Columbia.
Mrs. Stewart was born on August 24, 1928 in Newberry, a daughter of the late Olin O. and Cora Wise Shealy. She was a member of St. Luke’s Lutheran Church.
She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Randy and Judy Nobles of Prosperity; two grandsons, Jarad Nobles and Nathan Nobles, both of Newberry; a stepson, Wayne “Butch” Stewart of Newberry; two sisters, Ruth Frick of Charlotte and Reba Lester of Newberry; two brothers, Ralph Shealy of Spartanburg and Rev. George Bennet Shealy of Walhalla;. She was predeceased by two sisters, Gladys Clamp and Sara Golden and two brothers, Ray Shealy and Gene Shealy.
Funeral services were conducted at 2:00 PM Monday at St. Luke’s Lutheran Church by Rev. Arden Hallman. Interment did follow in the church cemetery.
Visitation will be from 6:00 to 7:30 PM Sunday at the funeral home.
The family requests that you honor her memory by making memorials to St. Luke’s Lutheran Church, New Fellowship Hall Fund 4056 St. Luke’s Church Road, Prosperity, SC 29127.
Messages to the family may be sent via email to notes@whitakerfuneralhome. com
Whitaker Funeral Home, Newberry is assisting the family.

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William H. “Billy” Hiller July 19, 2006

William H. “Billy” Hiller, 56, of 105 DeWalt Street, Prosperity, died Wednesday, July 19, 2006, at the Newberry County Memorial Hospital.
Mr. Hiller was born on November 22, 1949 in Newberry, the son of the late George O. “Bubba” and Josie Derrick Hiller. He was a member of Wightman United Methodist Church and was an employee of Georgia Pacific in Prosperity.
Mr. Hiller is survived by three daughters, Billie Jo Rawlings and her husband Jimmy of Chapin, Michele Garcia of Littlefield TX, and Sonny Harmon of MA; two brothers and sisters-in-law, Wayne and Sue Hiller of Newberry and Von and Mary Hiller of Dodgeville, WI; and seven grandchildren, Blythe Rawlings, Haley Martinez, Joseph Martinez, Jamie Garcia, Gabriel Garcia, Samuel Garcia, and Alexis Harmon.
Funeral services were conducted 4:30 P. M. Sunday at the Whitaker Funeral Home by Rev. Eddie Taylor. Interment was in the West End Cemetery.
Visitation was from 6:00 to 7:30 PM Saturday at the funeral home.
Memorials maybe made to Wightman United Methodist Church, PO Box 367, Prosperity, SC 29127.
Active pallbearers were Kevin Harmon, Jeremy Hiller, Bruce Reuter, Marion Reuter, Lee Foster, Casey McCarty, Mark Bowers, and Barry Richardson. Honorary pallbearers were the members of the Prosperity Fire Department and the Prosperity Rescue Squad.
Messages to the family may be sent via email at notes@whitakerfuneralhome. com.
Whitaker Funeral Home, Newberry is assisting the family.

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Thelma Shealy Riddle July 19, 2006

Thelma Shealy Riddle, 95, of Little Mountain, SC, widow of John Carroll “Jake” Riddle, died Wednesday, July 19, 2006 at her residence.
Mrs. Riddle was born on April 7, 1911, in the Central Community of Newberry County, a daughter of the late Thomas Anderson and Inez Bowers Shealy.
Mrs. Riddle was a life long member of Mt. Tabor Lutheran Church, the Adult Sunday School Class, and the Young at Heart. She was also a former Sunday School teacher and was a homemaker.
Mrs. Riddle is survived by a daughter and son-in-law, Carolyn and Richard “Dick” Shealy of Little Mountain; a son and daughter-in-law, Thomas and Harriett Riddle of Little Mountain; six grandchildren, Ricky Shealy, Adriane Shealy, Johnny Riddle, Molly Lominack, Jody Riddle and Sandra Wessinger; and seven great grandchildren, Courtney, Jennifer, and Michelle Wise, Laken Riddle, Morgan Shealy, Jacob Riddle, and Kassidy Lominack. She was predeceased by a sister, Ernestine Kibler and three brothers, Horace Shealy, Dewey Shealy, and Raymond Shealy.
Funeral services were conducted at 10:30 AM. Saturday at Mt. Tabor Lutheran Church by the Rev. Steven Counts. Interment was in the church cemetery.
Visitation was from 7:00 to 8:30 PM Friday at the Whitaker Funeral Home.
Memorials may be made to Mt. Tabor Lutheran Church Bus Fund or Building Fund, 816 Mt. Tabor Road, Little Mountain, SC 29075 or to the Little Mountain Rescue Squad, 234 Depot St., Little Mountain SC 29075.
Active pallbearers were grandchildren. Honorary pallbearers were Dr. Mark Davis, Dr. John Thompson, Dr. Tom Bradberry, Genelle Dominick, Bobbie Jean Ruff, Daisy Swittenburg, Myrtle Shealy, and the members of the Young at Heart.
Messages to the family may be sent via email at notes@whitakerfuneralhome.com
Whitaker Funeral Home, Newberry is assisting the family.

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Francis Pitts Martin July 11, 2006

Francis Pitts Martin, 84, of 2964 Trinity Church Road, Newberry, widow of Lewis D. Martin, died Tuesday, July 11, 2006, in White Oak Manor, Newberry.
Mrs. Martin was born on March 29, 1922 in Newberry County, a daughter of the late Hugh Forest and Helen Williams Pitts. She was a homemaker and was a member of Trinity United Methodist Church and the U. M. W.
She is survived by a daughter Barbara M. Rogers of Newberry; a son, Wayne D. Martin of Ninety-Six; two sisters, Joyce Bouknight of Newberry and Gloria Brehmer of Kinards; two brothers, Marion Pitts of Newberry and Jim Pitts of Chapin; three grandchildren, Kelly Morris of Prosperity, Charles Rogers of Newberry and Dave Martin of Nine-Six; and two great-grandchildren, Dillon and Dalton Morris of Prosperity. She was predeceased by a brother, Vernon Pitts and a sister, Lila Pitts Martin.
Funeral services were conducted 11:00 AM Thursday at Trinity Untied Methodist Church by Rev. Hugh Bickley. Interment was in the church cemetery.
Visitation was from 6:30 to 7:30 P. M. Wednesday at the funeral Home and the family was at the residence of Mrs. Barbara Rogers, 2712 Trinity Church Road, Newberry.
Active pallbearers were Charles Rogers, Dave Martin, Watkins Martin, Mike Brehmer, Stan Bouknight and Tony Pitts.
Memorials may be made to the Trinity United Methodist Church Cemetery Fund, 1167 Trinity Church Road, Newberry, SC 29108.
Whitaker Funeral Home, Newberry, is assisting the family.

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Gunnery Sergeant Kent Franklin Nickerson July 10, 2006

Gunnery Sergeant Kent Franklin Nickerson, United States Marine Corps (Ret.), 82, died Monday, July 10, 2006 at Lexington Medical Center following a brief illness.
Sgt. Nickerson was born on April 5, 1924, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, a son of the late Earl Franklin and Roseina Nickerson. He left his family’s farm at age 17 to enlist in the Marine Corps following the attack on Pearl Harbor. He fought in the South Pacific, in the Marshall Islands at Johnston and Kwajelain and locations undisclosed. He served again in Korea and in Vietnam.
A dedicated saltwater fisherman, he loved boats and life on the water. Sgt. Nickerson retired from the Marines to Tidewater, Virginia, where he spent winters in Wide Water on the Potomac and summered aboard his sportfisherman “Gunny V” in Colonial Beach. Throughout life he was a keeper of tropical fish and ardent model railroader. Few men loved dogs more or treated them better.
Sgt. Nickerson is survived by his wife, Dorothy Jeanne Winner Nickerson; two sons and daughters-in-law, John and Brenda Nickerson of Youngs Island and Kent and Janice Nickerson of Columbia; a sister, Roxane Ewan; a brother, Earl Nickerson; a granddaughter Allison Nickerson Romaine; a grandson, Joshua Nickerson; a great-granddaughter, Sara McTeer Romaine and a great-grandson, Tyler Gray.He was predeceased by a brother, James Nickerson.
The family expresses sincere thanks to the staff at Lexington Medical center for the care they provided and to Palmetto Health Hospice. What wonderful people they are.
Memorials may be made to a charity of one’s choice.
Funeral services were held in Arlington National Cemetery, Virginia.
Messages to the family may be sent via email at notes@whitakerfuneralhome.com.
Whitaker Funeral Home, Newberry, is assisting the family.

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Harry Jerome “Jerry" Forrest, Jr. July 8, 2006

Harry Jerome “Jerry" Forrest, Jr., U. S. Air Force Captain Retired, 68, of 180 Bedenbaugh Road, Silverstreet, died Saturday, July 8, 2006, at his residence.
He was born on October 9, 1937 in Leesville, a son of the Lucille “Lucy” Coleman Forrest of Saluda and the late Harry Jerome “Romie” Forrest, Sr. He was retired from the U. S. Air Force. His love for woodworking was a special hobby. He was a member of St. Paul United Methodist Church of Saluda.
Surviving is his loving wife of 47 years, Mary Bedenbaugh Forrest; a son, daughter-in-law and grandson, Scott, Jill and John David Forrest; his mother; and a sister, Dianne Forrest all of Saluda. He was predeceased a son, David Allen Forrest and a sister, Linda Forrest.
Graveside funeral services were conducted at 11:00 A. M. Wednesday at the Trinty United Methodist Church Cemetery, 1160 Trinty Church Road by the Rev. Walter “Buster” Youngblood. The family did receive friends at his residence 180 Bedenbaugh Road, Silverstreet.
The family sends special thanks to Dr. Alan Turner, Davita Greenwood Dialysis nurses, staff and patients; also the Hospice Care of Piedmont.
To honor Jerry’s memory memorials may be made to a charity of one’s choice.
Messages to the family may be sent via email at notes@whitakerfuneralhome.com.
Whitaker Funeral Home, Newberry is assisting the family.

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George V. Gfell July 2, 2006

George V. Gfell, 76, of 100 Aderley Oak Loop, Irmo died Sunday July 2, 2006 at the Lexington Medical Center.
He was born on February 21, 1930 in Norwalk, OH, a son of the late Paul E. and Bernice Knouse Gfell. He was an Air Force Veteran of the Korean War and a retired employee of Kennametal Inc of PA. He was a member of Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church in Chapin and a member of American Legion Post #7 in Lexington. He also was a high school football official in Lexington, KY for 40 years.
Mr. Gfell is survived by his wife, Edna Kawa Gfell; two sons and daughters-in-law, Greg and Jeanette Gfell of Lexington, KY and Tim and Sheila Gfell of Irmo; a sister, Shirley Sotak of Parma, OH; two grandsons, Timothy Byron Gfell and Benjamin Phillip Gfell, a sister-in-law, Frieda Parsh of Raleigh, NC; a niece, Dianna Parsh of Raleigh, NC; a brother-in-law, John Kawa of Clover; and three nephews, Ted Sotak, Terry Sotak, and Tom Sotak all of Cleveland OH.
Funeral Mass was offered at 11:00 A. M. Wednesday at Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church by the Father Andrew Vollkommer. Interment was in Woodridge Memorial Gardens.
Rosary was recited at 7:00 P. M. Tuesday at Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church. Visitation did follow the Rosary and last until 9:00 P.M.
Memorials may be made to Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church, Debt Reduction, PO Box 549, Chapin, SC 29036.
Messages to the family may be sent via email at notes@whitakerfuneralhome.com.
Whitaker Funeral Home, Chapin is assisting the family.

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