George Tillman Swearingen

BISHOPVILLE, S.C. 

Mr. George Tillman Swearingen, age 80, died June 19, 2013 in Bishopville, SC.  He was born July 20, 1932, a native of Trenton, SC, son of the late Dorothy Swearingen Toney and George Tillman Swearingen.  He was also preceded in death by his sister, Bobbie Swearingen Smith.

George was a graduate of Trenton High School.  He then attended Clemson University graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Animal Husbandry in 1955, and then received his Master of Public Health from The University of Oklahoma.   Clemson was a military institution at the time, and George served as a 2nd Lieutenant in the US Army, based in Germany, after graduating.

He worked with the South Carolina State Board of Health in Aiken, SC for several years and then moved to Charlotte, NC where he worked and retired from Duke Power Company as manager of environmental health.   George’s retirement years were spent in Bishopville, SC.  In Charlotte, George was an active member at Sharon Presbyterian Church, where he served in a number of capacities, including as an elder and on the committee to build a fellowship hall, resulting in plenty of Clemson orange in the new building.  Upon moving to Bishopville, George was a member of Bishopville Presbyterian Church.

If a man can be defined by his friends, George had a full life, with numerous friends from his childhood in Edgefield County, his time at Clemson, neighbors, and coworkers at Duke Power Company.  He was a gregarious man, a real character, who loved his family and friends, coaching baseball, the outdoors, building and woodworking, gardening, hunting and fishing, and all things Clemson.  His quick wit and unique sayings will be missed.

He is survived by his wife of fifty years, Roberta “Boochie” DuRant Swearingen; his children, Robin Swearingen Goodson (Michael) and George Tillman Swearingen III (Kerry); and his grandchildren, Morgan Flinn Goodson, Ian Cooper Goodson, George Tillman Swearingen IV and Dargan Shaw Swearingen.  He is also survived by his sister Harriet Toney Shirley; his brother-in-law Marion DuRant (Sue); and numerous nieces and nephews.

A service in celebration of the life of George Swearingen will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 22, 2013 at Bishopville Presbyterian Church in Bishopville, SC.  Burial will follow in the church cemetery.   The family will receive friends at the church following interment.

The family greatly appreciates the love and care provided to George by the staff of Cottonwood Villas over the last several years, as well as the assistance of Hospice Care of South Carolina during the last two months of his life.

Arrangements are in the care of Hancock-Elmore-Hill Funeral Home of Bishopville.

Ottis Dewey 'Slim' Whitman Jr. died Wednesday, 19 June, 2013

Click here for Slim's songs <<<<<<<<<<<

(CNN) -- Slim Whitman, the high-pitched yodeling county music singer whose productive career spanned decades, died Wednesday, his son-in-law told CNN. He was 90.

The singer-songwriter, born Ottis Dewey Whitman Jr., died of heart failure at Orange Park Medical Center in Florida, Roy Beagle said.

Whitman gained fame in Europe as well as the United States. "Love Song of the Waterfall," which a Country Music Television biography calls his "breakthrough" hit, was released in the early '50s.

His next single "Indian Love Call" brought him stardom, according to the bio.

"Whitman joined the Grand Ole Opry, and then went to Britain in 1956 as the first country singer to play the London Palladium. Throughout the late '50s and early '60s, he had a string of British hits, including 'Tumbling Tumbleweeds,' 'Unchain My Heart,' and 'I'll Take You Home Again Kathleen," the bio said.

He gained cult status after he filmed a TV commercial that touted a released of his top greatest hits, a compilation that was a great success.

"Between 1980 and 1984, Whitman had a small run of minor hits, highlighted by 1980's number 15 hit 'When.' In the late '80s, he returned to television-marketed albums, releasing Slim Whitman: Best Loved Favorites in 1989 and 20 Precious Memories in 1991. During the '90s, Whitman recorded infrequently but continued to tour successfully, particularly in Europe and Australia," CMT said.

His music was featured in the 1996 film "Mars Attacks!" In the film, the sound of Whitman's "Indian Love Call" made the heads of invading Martians explode.

Jane Elizabeth Chappell Mayes February 6, 1921 - June 12, 2013

Jane Elizabeth Chappell Mayes, 92, widow of William Rhodes Mayes, died on Wednesday, June 12, 2013, at her home, 19 Salem St., Mayesville.

Born on Feb. 6, 1921, at 218 Heyward St., in Bishopville, she was a daughter of the late Dr. Ralph B. and Mae Baskin Chappell. She was educated in the Bishopville public schools and attended Winthrop College and Coker College. She was a civilian employee at Camp Rucker, Ala., during World War II. She was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution. She was a member of Mayesville Presbyterian Church for 67 years. She loved her family, her God, her church, and her friends.

She is survived by a son, William Rhodes Mayes Jr. (Teresa) of Charlotte, N.C.; two daughters, Jane Whitworth Mayes Cubbage (Tom) of Ballentine and Maria Chappell Mayes Watson of Greenville; two grandsons, Whitworth Mayes Cubbage (Nicole) of Columbia and William Benton Watson of Atlanta; two great-grandchildren, Arista Noel Couture and Layton Kemp Cave; also a number of nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, great-great-nieces, great-great-nephews; great-great-great-nieces; and great-great-great-nephews.

She was preceded in death by a brother, Parker “Buddy” Baskin Chappell; and a sister, Louise “Weezie” Chappell Reames.

Graveside services will be held at 11 a.m. today at Mayesville Black River Cemetery with the Rev. Brian Peake officiating.

A reception will follow the graveside service in Morrison Hall at Mayesville Presbyterian Church, ARP Synod.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Mayesville Black River Cemetery Fund, P.O. Box 144, Mayesville, SC 29104.

Online condolences may be sent to www.sumterfunerals.com.

Elmore Hill McCreight Funeral Home & Crematory, 221 Broad St., Sumter, is in charge of the arrangements, (803) 775-9386.

Emory Hayes Bedenbaugh - Friday, June 7, 2013

Bishopville, SC

Emory Hayes Bedenbaugh, 84, husband of the late Patricia Jane Balcomb Bedenbaugh, died Friday, June 07, 2013, at Generations of Chapin. 

Born in Newberry, SC, he was a son of the late Aldon Eugene Bedenbaugh and the late Ida Mae Hayes Bedenbaugh. 

He was a member Bethlehem United Methodist Church. He retired as the owner/operator of WAGS Radio and also retired from the Lee County Development Board. 

Survivors include five children, Mike Bedenbaugh (Mitzi) of Bishopville, Cathy Ballentine (Steve) of Mt. Pleasant, Tony Bedenbaugh (Laura) of Irmo, Tracey Bedenbaugh of Bishopville, and Todd Bedenbaugh (Beth) of Chapin; 12 grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren. 

Services will be private. The family will receive friends at the home, 708 West Church St., Bishopville.

Memorials may be made to Bethlehem United Methodist Church, PO Box 167, Bishopville, SC 29010. 

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=emory-hayes-bedenbaugh&pid=165205013&fhid=8954#storylink=cpy