Blake Lanier Watts, Sr

Blake L. Watts Sr.

Hickory, NC


Blake Lanier Watts, Sr., died March 23, 2011 at Palliative Care Center &; Hospice of Catawba Valley. He was born to the late Callie Gardner Watts and Birchmore Charles Watts on September 23, 1927 in Bishopville, SC. 

Blake 'Kilo' Watts

He is survived by his wife, Alice Miller Watts of the home; two sons: Blake Lanier Watts, Jr and wife Lisa of Hickory, Reid Auburn Watts of Lenoir; three grandsons: Duncan Lanier Watts, Tristan Campbell Watts and Liam Joseph Birchmore Watts all of Hickory; two sisters, Helen Watts Kirkley of Florence, SC; Ozella Watts Williams and husband Milam of Greenwood, SC; a brother, Dargan Birchmore Watts and wife Jane of Orlando, FL; and numerous nieces and nephews. 

Mr. Watts was a graduate of Bishopville High School and a 1951 graduate of Presbyterian College in Clinton, SC where he served as President of the Honor Council, ran track and played football. He was a member of Presbyterian College's 10 second backfield and his record of yards per carry still stands today. 

After his graduation he worked for B.C. Moore and Sons and came to Hickory to manage one of their stores. In 1957 he went to work for Investors Diversified Services as a Financial Advisor. He retired in 2000 after 43 years with the company. 

Mr. Watts was a charter member and elder of Northminster Presbyterian Church and currently a member of First Presbyterian Church of Hickory, where he served as President of the Heritage Group. 

He played Santa Claus at various stores and for many charitable organizations and orphanages. He also was an auctioneer both professionally and for many charity fund raisers. 

Blake Watts was fiercely loyal to the causes he championed. He was the first President of the Hickory High School Boosters Club when it was formed and his exuberant pep rallies will be long remembered by any who attended them. 

His accomplishments were numerous but his deepest passion was his love for and devotion to his wife of 56 years, his "Sweet Alice". 

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, March 26, 2011 at First Presbyterian Church in Hickory with the Rev. Deborah McEachran and the Rev. Mark Clark officiating. The family will receive friends following the service in the fellowship hall. A private family committal will precede the service at Oakwood Cemetery. 

Memorials may be made to First Presbyterian Church, 237 2nd St., NW, Hickory, NC 28601 or Palliative Care Center & Hospice of Catawba Valley, 3975 Robinson Rd., Newton, NC 28658. 

Online condolences may be left for the family at www.bass-smithfuneralhome.com. Bass-Smith Funeral Home is serving the family of Blake Lanier Watts, Sr.


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Paulette Rose Weatherford Downing - Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Florence, SC

Paulette Rose Weatherford Downing, 58, died on Tuesday, March 22, 2011, at McLeod Hospice House in Florence.

Born Oct. 8, 1952, she was a daughter of the late Carl Foster and Pauline Sarah Weatherford. She graduated from Central Carolina Community College. She worked with Tri-County Home Health, Sumter County Department of Social Services, Lee County School System and retired as a registered nurse from Community Long Term Care. She attended Memorial Chapel Christian and Missionary Alliance.

Surviving are two sons, Joseph Downing of St. Louis, Mo., and Jamie Downing and his wife, Amanda, of Bishopville; two daughters, Ashleigh Gilbert and her husband, Brooks, and Amanda Kremer and her husband, Michael, all of Bishopville; one brother, Wayne Weatherford and his wife, Roberta, of Honolulu, Hawaii; one sister, Marvis Baker of Bishopville; and 10 grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at 4 p.m. Friday at Memorial Chapel C&MA with the Rev. Paul Atkinson and the Rev. Bob Morris officiating.

The family will receive friends on Friday prior to the service from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Memorial Chapel C&MA.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to McLeod Hospice House, P.O. Box 100551, Florence, SC 29502-0551 or to Memorial Chapel C&MA, 2509 Green Lane, Bishopville, SC 29010-7814.

You may sign the family's guest book at www.bullockfuneralhome.com.

The family has chosen Bullock Funeral Home of Sumter for the arrangements.

Blake "Kilo" Watts - Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Gathering of the Classes Another sports icon from Bishopville has passed on to be with the Great Coach in the heavens. God speed Blake... you made your mark here on earth and earned your place inside the Pearly Gates.

Funeral arrangements are incomplete at this time.

Remembered Joy

Don't grieve for me, for now I'm free!

I follow the plan God laid for me.

I saw His face, I heard His call,

I took His hand and left it all...

I could not stay another day,

To love, to laugh, to work or play;

Tasks left undone must stay that way.

And if my parting has left a void,

Then fill it with remembered joy.

A friendship shared, a laugh, a kiss...

Ah yes, these things I, too, shall miss.

My life's been full, I've savored much:

Good times, good friends, a loved-one's touch.

Perhaps my time seemed all too brief—

Don't shorten yours with undue grief.

Be not burdened with tears of sorrow,

Enjoy the sunshine of the morrow.

Link: Irish Blessing

Mary Baker Arrants - March 12, 2011

Bishopville, SC


Mary Baker Arrants, 79, widow of Homer Ray Arrants, Sr., died Saturday, March 12, 2011 at Carolina Pines Regional Medical Center.

Born in Lee County, she was a daughter of the late Lever Baker and the late Oline B. Baker. She was a member of First Baptist Church.

Survivors include a son, Ray Arrants (Gwen) of Bethune; a daughter, Anne Olliff (Bill) of Pawley's Island; grandchildren, Apryl Hathaway (Pete), Rebeka Arrants, Kathy O. Johnson, Will Olliff, and Meredith Olliff; great-grandchildren, David and Kalee Johnson, and Owen and Maxfield Hathaway; and a sister, Sylvia Cederquist of Greely, CO.

She was preceded in death by a brother, R.M. Baker.

Graveside services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday in the Tiller Cemetery. Visitation after the service at the cemetery.

Memorials may be made to First Baptist Church, 229 West Church St., Bishopville, SC 29010 or to Harmony Baptist Church, 1940 Bethune Rd., Bethune, SC 29009.

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

Read more: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/thestate/obituary.aspx?n=mary-baker-arrants&pid=149212753#ixzz1GbymHEP4