Hoyt Atkinson - Friday, January 29, 2010

Sumter, SC

Hoyt Atkinson, 74, died Friday, January 29, 2010 at Carolinas Hospital System in Florence.

Born in Elliot, SC, he was a son of the late Kirven Dunnie Atkinson, Sr. and the late Annie Eliza Hopkins. Mr. Atkinson was formerly employed by Sumter Dairies.

Survivors include four children, Annie Rose Kirby (Russell) of Timmonsville, Wayne Cook of Johnsonville, Kathy Davis (Elliot) of Sumter, and Lisa Jackson (John) of Sumter; four sisters, Sallie Horner of Florence, Louise Hoover of Columbia, Jane Goodson of Sumter, and Carolyn Jeffcoat of Cordova; two brothers, James Adville Atkinson (Margie) of Florence and Charles Atkinson of Cordova; two grandsons, Robbie Causby, Jr. and Cody Helms (Jessie); three granddaughters, Melinda Langston, Kayla Helms, and Dakota Jackson; a great-grandson, Patrick Causby; and two great-granddaughters, Madison Reynolds and Kaydence Turner.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Monday at Hancock-Elmore-Hill Funeral Home with the Rev. Jim Ridenhour and the Rev. Lanier Singleton officiating. Burial will be in the Wells Cemetery.

The family will receive friends from 12 to 1:30 p.m. Monday at Hancock-Elmore-Hill Funeral Home.

Hancock-Elmore-Hill Funeral Home of Bishopville is in charge of the arrangements.

Lawrence Anthony White, Major, USAF - Sunday, December 27, 2010

Phoenix, AZ. 

Lawrence Anthony White, Major, USAF, retired, 76, died December 27, 2009. He was born in Camden, SC on March 17, 1933 to Thomas Britton White Sr and Winonah McCoy White. 

The youngest of four brothers, he grew up on the family farm, graduated from Bishopville High School, SC and earned his degree from Clemson University. 

Larry was a U.S. Air Force pilot for 20 years. He could fly anything and flew many types of aircraft including tankers, C130s, and fighter jets earning, among other honors, the Distinguished Flying Cross for service as a fighter pilot in Vietnam. 

He retired to Phoenix in 1976 and joined his brother-in-law John Wikle, in business. He enjoyed volunteering at John C. Lincoln Hospital and was a faithful auxiliary member for many years. 

His love for family and friends was unconditional. He leaves behind his wife of 36 years Marian Wikle White, daughters Marjorie Carnahan (Darrell) and three grandchildren of Phoenix and Laurie Bergren (Dr. John) and two grandchildren of Petersburg, Alaska. Larry loved and was very proud of all five grandchildren: Clara, Maggie, DJ, Caddie and Ellie. 

He also leaves his oldest brother Thomas Britton White, Jr. (Isabel) and sisters-in-law Salome White of Camden and Ann White of Weatherford, OK and numerous nephews and nieces. Two brothers preceded him in death, Averil McCoy White of Camden and Harold White of Weatherford. 

Interment will be at the National Cemetery, corner of Cave Creek and Pinnacle Peak Rd at 9:00 am, Saturday, January 2, 2010. Memorial service will also be on Saturday at 1:00 pm at Hansen Mortuary, 8314 N. 7th St., Phoenix, AZ. 

Kathryn B. Elmore - January 12, 2010

Bishopville, SC Kathryn B. Elmore was born on October 3, 1928, in Lee County to Ida Victoria and Henry Brown.  She died on January 12, 2010, in her Bishopville home following a brief battle with cancer.  She was the widow of the late Troy Lee Elmore and is survived by children Kitty Joyner, Jenni Brown, and Troy Lee (Chuck) Elmore, Jr. of Bishopville, Terri Stokes of Newberry, Lisa Farmer of Lugoff, and Jill Farmer of Hartsville; sisters Ila Mae Cappell and Eunice Cappell, both of Bishopville; thirteen grandchildren; and sixteen great-grandchildren.  Sisters Edith Miller and Louise Rogers of Bishopville and two brothers, Norman Brown and Wilburn Brown of Bishopville, preceded her in death. Professionally, she was retired from the Campbell Soup Company, where she worked for 19 years.  She was a writer of poetry, a reader of the scriptures, an insatiable traveler, and a prolific dreamer.  A lover of books and learning, she returned to high school at the age of forty-five and received her diploma, having previously chosen to get married at the age of 16 and raise a family. She counted her family as her greatest accomplishment.  She was a lifelong member of Brown Town Primitive Baptist Church, located in Lee County.  Throughout her life, she lived by her own favorite guiding principle from God’s word: Do unto others, as you would have them do unto you.   Her reward is now in heaven. A celebration of her life will be held on Friday, January 15, at 2 p.m. at Norton Funeral Home Chapel in Bishopville, followed by graveside services at Cedar Creek Baptist Church. Visitation will be Thursday 6-8 pm at the Funeral Home.  In lieu of flowers, the family asks that contributions be made in her honor to Tri-County Hospice and Brown Town Primitive Baptist Church.

Julia Sybil Lee Sellers - Wednesday, January 6, 2010

Bishopville, SC


Julia Sybil Lee Sellers, 78, widow of James F. Sellers, Jr., passed away peacefully on Wednesday, January 6, 2010 at McLeod Hospice House in Florence.

Born March 3, 1931 in the Red Hill section of Lee County, she was a daughter of the late Sanford Lee and the late Ida Lee. Mrs Sellers graduated from Central School and lived her entire life in Lee County. Over the years she worked at various Bishopville businesses including Denny Jewelry Company, McCoy Jewelers, Woodward Memorial Public Library, and the Lee County Health Department. She was a loyal member of Bethlehem United Methodist Church were she served as a children's Sunday school teacher for nearly 20 years.

Survivors include a son, Jim Sellers (Lisa) of Murrells Inlet; two grandsons, Trey Sellers and Taylor Sellers, both of Murrells Inlet; three sisters, Esther Norris (Howard) of Camden, Yvonne Logan of Lancaster, and Jackie Drayton (Ray) of Bishopville; four sisters-in-law, Pat Lee of Cheraw, Christine DesChamps of Bishopville, Mary Lee Likens of Jacksonville, NC, and Carolyn Sellers of Bishopville; and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by an infant son; and her brother, Olin Lee.

A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. Saturday at Bethlehem United Methodist Church in Bishopville with the Rev. Dr. B. Mike Alexander, Jr. and the Rev. Paul Rogers officiating. Burial will be private.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Bethlehem United Methodist Church, PO Box 167, Bishopville, SC 29010; or to Belin Memorial United Methodist Church: New Organ Fund, PO Box 528, Murrells Inlet, SC 29576.

Hancock-Elmore-Hill Funeral Home of Bishopville is in charge of the arrangements.

Thomas "Thos" Lawton Edwards, Jr - January 1, 2010

Bishopville, SC


Thomas "Thos" Lawton Edwards, Jr. 42, died Friday, January 1, 2010 in Orlando, Florida.

Born in Florence County, he was a son of Thomas Lawton Edwards, Sr. and Lynn Kirven Mathis. Mr. Edwards worked at Mayo High School in the Darlington County School System.

Survivors include three children, Robert David Edwards, Elizabeth Brynn Edwards, Mason Timothy Edwards, and their mother, Kerry Clements Edwards; two sisters, Heather Edwards Bohn (Matt) and Megan Mathis; a bother, Rufus Mathis; this stepfather, David Mathis; two nieces, Zoe and Eleanor Bohn; a nephew, Nicholas Bohn; and a special friend, Lisa Lanier-Gary.

The family will receive friends anytime at the home, 320 Savannah Road, Bishopville.

A private service will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Edwards Children's Trust c/o Mayo High School for MST, 405 Chestnut Street, Darlington, SC 29532.

Hancock-Elmore-Hill Funeral Home of Bishopville is in charge of the arrangements.