Thomas Howard Saunders Sr. - Thursday, Oct. 18, 2012

Thomas Howard Saunders - Sumter, SC

Retired Air Force Col. Thomas Howard Saunders Sr., age 82, passed away on Thursday, Oct. 18, 2012, at Tuomey Regional Medical Center.

He was born March 7, 1930, in Worth County, Ga., a son of the late Charlie Eugene and Mamie Roberts Saunders. Upon graduation from Doerun High School, he moved from Georgia to Connecticut, where he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force, serving three years during the Korean Conflict as a tactical instructor of basic trainees. Upon discharge in 1952, he entered the University of Connecticut, graduating in 1956 as ROTC Wing Commander, recipient of the Order of the Sword, Arnold Air Society, with a regular commission in the Air Force as a second lieutenant. Thus began his third decade long career as an Air Force officer. Col. Saunders was a veteran of the Vietnam War, having flown 101 missions over North Vietnam, during which time he was hit on two occasions, successfully returning severely damaged aircraft to base.

He was a member of the Order of the Daedalians, Sons of the American Revolution, Arnold Air Society, American Legion, Sumter’s Masonic Lodge No. 364 and Military Officer’s Association.

During his distinguished career, he earned, among many other awards, the Legion of the Merit, the Distinguished Flying Cross, three Meritorious Service Medals, 11 Air Medals and two Combat Readiness Medals. He served at Lackland Air Force Base and Laredo Air Force Base, Texas; Loan Air Force Base, France; Shaw Air Force Base; Udorn Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand; Air War College at Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.; AFSOUTH NATO, Naples, Italy; Zweibrucken Air Base, Germany; Ramstein Air Base, Germany; and Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., where he retired.

When he wasn’t flying his revered RF-4C Phantom or RF-101 VooDoo, Tom (call sign “Husky”) enjoyed gardening, playing golf with his buddies, hunting for the BIG buck and catching whatever was biting that day. Not only did he find much joy in his hobbies, he found even more joy in sharing them with his grandchildren and younger extended family members.

Surviving in addition to his wife are a son, Thomas Howard Saunders Jr. and his wife, Susan Gail Hatfield, of Prosperity; three daughters, Cindy Joan Saunders Beeson and her husband, George Kenneth, of Bulverde, Texas, Tamara Lynn Saunders Bingham of Tokyo, Japan, and Lorri Michelle Saunders of Sumter; a brother, Charlie H. Saunders of Crestview, Fla.; a sister, Marguerite Saunders Pitts of Doerun, Ga.; five grandchildren, Thomas Howard Saunders III and his wife, Kate, of Oviedo, Fla., Jessica Renee Saunders Cooley and her husband, Senior Master Sgt. Scott, of Great Falls, Mich., Michael David Beeson and his wife, Roxanne McDowell, of Dripping Springs, Texas, Mark Andrew Beeson and his wife, Tanya Ammons, of San Antonio, Texas, and Austen Glenn Bingham and his wife, Hannah, of Carrollton, Ga.; and four great-grandchildren, Coryn Renee Cooley, Clayton Lee Cooley, Aidyn Katherine Saunders and Gorman Owen Beeson.

He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Curtis E. Saunders and Calvin Saunders; and a sister, Myrtle Saunders Massini.

A graveside service with full military honors will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday at Fort Jackson National Cemetery with the Rev. Mike Hatfield officiating.

The family will receive friends from noon to 1 p.m. Thursday at Bullock Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Daedalian Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 3192, Sumter, SC 29150; the Tamassee DAR School, 1925 Bumgardner Drive, Tamassee, SC 29686; or to a charity of one’s choice.

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

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

L. Craig Cagle - Saturday, October 13, 2012

Sumter, SC

L. Craig Cagle, 64, husband of Edwina Bennett Thrasher Cagle, died Saturday, October 13, 2012 at Tuomey Regional Medical Center.

Born in Junction City, KS, he was a son of the late Louie Lawrence “Larry” Cagle and the late Dorothy Fischer Cagle. He was a member of New Salem Baptist Church and was retired from construction work.  Mr. Cagle was a member and Past Master of Hillcrest Masonic Lodge, a 33^rd Degree Scottish Rite Mason, former secretary of Sumter York Rite Bodies, a member of Knight Masons, KYCH, Palmetto York Rite College, and Past Worthy Patron of the Order of the Easter Star Hillcrest Chapter 263.

Survivors include his wife of Sumter; a step-daughter, Bronwin T. Rabon of Sumter; step-mother, Norma Cagle of Simpson, LA; a step-grandson, Jonathan Rabon (Crystal) of Sumter; three step-great-grandchildren; a sister, Barbara Alice Jordan; and a step-sister, Barbara Brinlee of Simpson, LA.

He was preceded in death by a brother, Jeffrey Cagle.

Funeral services with Masonic rites will be held at 3 P.M. Tuesday in the Elmore-Cannon-Stephens Funeral Home chapel with the Rev. Sim Smith officiating. Burial will be in the Evergreen Memorial Park Cemetery.

The Masons will serve as pallbearers and honorary pallbearers.

The family will receive friends from 2 to 3 P.M. Tuesday at Elmore-Cannon-Stephens Funeral Home.

Memorials may be made to New Salem Baptist Church, 2500 West Oakland Ave., Sumter, SC 29154.

Elmore-Cannon-Stephens Funeral Home and Crematorium of Sumter is in charge of the arrangements.

James Wyatt "Chip" Cothran Jr. - October 10, 2012

BISHOPVILLE , SC

James Wyatt "Chip" Cothran, Jr., 69, of Bishopville, went peacefully to be with Jesus on Wednesday, October 10, 2012. He was born May 25, 1943 in Columbia, SC to Dorothy Roland Parke Cothran and the late James Wyatt Cothran. 

Mr. Cothran graduated from Bishopville High School and the University of South Carolina, serving as President of the Student Body in each school. He also graduated from the University of South Carolina School of Law. Mr. Cothran was a long time real estate developer. 

Chip has a deep personal relationship with his Lord and Savior. We praise God for Chip's life. Chip was preceded in death by his father and is survived by his mother of the home; a son, James Wyatt Cothran, III of Athens, GA; a daughter, Lauren C. Roach (Josh) of Greenville, SC; a granddaughter, Callie; a sister, Julia Lea Cothran of the home; and a brother, Thomas Parke Cothran (Lou) of Mt. Pleasant, SC. 

Graveside services will be held at 1:00 P.M. Friday in the Bishopville Presbyterian Church Cemetery, Main St., Bishopville with the Rev. Ken Hicks officiating. 

The family will receive friends immediately after the service in the church fellowship hall. 

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

Read more here: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/thestate/obituary.aspx?n=james-wyatt-cothran&pid=160354857#storylink=cpy

Dr. Richard Maynard Denny - October 6, 2012

Bishopville, S.C.

Funeral services for Dr. Richard Maynard Denny, age 97, who passed away October 6, will be held Tuesday at 11:00 at the Bishopville First Baptist Church. Rev. Lin Kirkman and Rev. Sam Stevens will officiate. 

Burial will be in the Piedmont Cemetery directed by Norton Funeral Home, Bishopville. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church fellowship hall. 

Dr. Denny was born in Bishopville a son of the late Doc Turner & Cora Dorothea Hartman Denny. He was a graduate of Bishopville High School, Clemson College Class of 1938, graduate of Southern College of Optometry, member of Bishopville First Baptist church, Rotary Club, VFW, Veteran of WWII and was active in the Lee County Council on Aging. 

Surviving are his wife, Sophia Lottie Creed Denny, Sumter; two sons, Dr. Richard Lee (Mirian) Denny, Sumter, Dr. Maynard Lyn (Abbie) Denny, Lake City; one daughter, Frances (FF III) Morrison, Hartsville; 8 Grandchildren, 13 Great Grandchildren. He was preceded in death by a son Lt. Charles Emery Denny. www.nortonfh.net

William Johnson “Billy” McCutchen Jr. - October 4, 2012

BISHOPVILLE, SC

Funeral services for William Johnson “Billy” McCutchen Jr., age 75, who passed away Oct. 4, 2012, will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday at Bishopville Presbyterian Church with the Rev. Wallace Woodcock and the Rev. Allen Lynch officiating. Burial will be in Bishopville Presbyterian Church cemetery, directed by Norton Funeral Home.

Visitation will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. today at the funeral home.

Billy was born in Florence, a son of the late William J. Sr. and Elizabeth Richardson McCutchen. He was a graduate of Bishopville High School and the S.C. Criminal Justice Academy. He was a member of Bishopville Presbyterian Church, having served as deacon, elder and valued member of the chansel choir. He loved golfing, hunting, fishing and horses. Most importantly, Mr. McCutchen cherished his time with his family. He will be missed by his many friends and family.

Surviving are his wife of almost 54 years, Louise Hapeshis McCutchen; one daughter, Peggy (Allen) Corbett; one son, Johnny (Ann) McCutchen, all of Bishopville; six grandchildren, Kayla McCutchen, Caroline McCutchen, Brittany Newton, Maggie Corbett, Libby Corbett and William Corbett; two brothers, Richard P. (Beth) McCutchen of Bishopville and Dr. Allen F. (Betty) McCutchen of Hartsville; two sisters, Betty M. Heriot of Bishopville and Harriet M. Davis of Lexington; and several nieces and nephews.

Memorials may be made to Bishopville Presbyterian Church Cemetery, P.O. Box 66, Bishopville, SC 29010 or to Hospice Care of S.C., 121 N. Main St., Bishopville, SC 29010.