Margaret Flowers Stokes - July 14, 2009

Bishopvile, S.C.

Graveside services for Margaret Flowers Stokes, age 91, who died July 14 will be held Friday at 2:00 pm from the Presbyterian Church Cemetery directed by Norton Funeral Home.

Visitation will be Thursday 6-8 at the Funeral Home.

Mrs. Stokes was born in Bishopville a daughter of the late Walter P. & Carolyn Blake Flowers. She was a member of the Bishopville Presbyterian Church.

Surviving are Nieces & Nephews: Bobby (Robert), Woodrow, Faye & Brenda Flowers, Debra Yesner, Trisha Johnson, Peggy Hart, Bill, Keith & Sandy Rhodes. She was preceded in death by her husband J.W. Stokes; Brothers: Bob & Beattie Flowers; Sister: Carolyn F. Rhodes.

www.nortonfh.net

Olive A Crews - July 10, 2009

BISHOPVILLE, SC

Olive A. Crews, 78, widow of Jimmy Crews, died Friday, July 10, 2009 at a local nursing facility.

Born in Darlington County, she was a daughter of the late Joseph David Kelley and the late Kate Posey Kelley. Mrs. Crews was the owner of Star Haven Stables.

Survivors include one daughter, Julia C. Hucks and her companion, David Mathis of Bishopville; one grandson, Stacy M. Hucks and his Fiance, Brandi Kirby of Elgin; one great-grandson, Landon Cole Hucks; and one sister, JoAnn Kelley Lee and her husband, Lyndal of Hartsville.

She was preceded in death by a daughter, Rita Terry King; and three brothers, Posey David Kelley, Thomas E. Kelley, and Rev. Ted Fulton Kelley.

A memorial service will be held at 4 p.m. Wednesday at the Hancock-Elmore-Hill Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Luke B. King officiating.

The family will receive friends following the service at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions be made to a charity of one’s choice.

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

Benjamin John "Benny" Makela - June 21, 2009

Bishopville, SC

Benjamin John "Benny" Makela, 69, husband of Alice Nason Makela, died Sunday, June 21, 2009 at Carolina Pines Hospital in Hartsville, SC

Born in Bishopville, SC, he was a son of the late Reino John Makela and the late Edna Hill Makela. Mr Makela was a United States Army Veteran. He was a member of the VFW and was a registered Land Surveyor for Allen-Makela Land. He earned his Bachelors Degree in Forestry from Clemson University.

Survivors include his wife; a son, Matt Makela (Jessie); a daughter, Megan Makela; a grandson, Gavin Makela; a step-grandson, Daniel Atkinson; his mother-in-law, Rosa Lee Nason; two sisters-in-law, Julia Bell and Ann Wagner; a brother-in-law, Mike Livesay; and cousins, Ruth and Ronald Hill of Michigan.

He was preceded in death by a sister; Nancy Makela Livesay.

A memorial service will be held at 6 p.m. Tuesday in the Hancock-Elmore-Hill Funeral Home chapel with the Rev. Cecil Stevens officiating.

The family will receive friends anytime at 115 South Calhoun Street, Bishopville.

Honorary pallbearers will be Lemuel Bounds, Michael King, Rick Maynard, Joe Taylor, Gilbert Baker, and Julian Allen.

Memorials may be made to the VFW #3096 c/o G.M. Baker, 207 A, Cousar Street, Bishopville, SC 29010.

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

Edna Bell Hall - june 25, 2009

Lucknow, SC

Edna Bell Hall, 91, widow of Frank J. Hall, died Thursday, June 25, 2009 at the home of her son.

Born in Lee County, she was the daughter of the late Gary Chapman Pate and the late Jennie C. Hall Pate. Mrs. Hall was a member of Lucknow Baptist Church and Lucknow Baptist WMU. She was a retired seamstress.

Survivors include a son, F. Gary Hall (Delores); two grandchildren, Wanda H. Galloway and Randal "Randy" Hall (Katie); four great-grandchildren, Mitchell Galloway (Angie), Leigh Ann Perry (Chris), Brandolyn G. Lowery (Gregg), and Frankie Hall (Scarlet); five great-great-grandchildren, Zane Galloway, Chance Galloway, Bryson Hall, Landon Hall, and Shawn Perry; and a brother, James H. Hyatt (Louise).

Funeral services will be held at 4:30 p.m. Sunday in the Lucknow Baptist Church with the Rev. Howard Brown officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery.

The family will receive friends from 4 to 6 p.m. Saturday at Hancock-Elmore-Hill Funeral Home and other times at the home of her son, 3311 Lucknow Road, Bishopville, SC 29010.

Memorials may be made to the Lucknow Baptist Church, 899 Hubb Kelley Road, Bishopville, SC 29010.

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

Homer Ray Arrants - Friday, June 26, 2008

Bishopville, SC

Homer Ray Arrants, Sr. 83, husband of Mary Baker Arrants, died Friday, June 26, 2009 at McCoy Memorial Nursing Center.

Born in Lee County, he was a son of the late Webber Arrants and the late Annie Brown Arrants. He was a member of First Baptist Church of Bishopville and the Lucknow Masonic Lodge where he served as past Grand Master. Mr. Arrants was retired from the U.S. Postal Service and was a Realtor with Cousar & Associates Realty.

Survivors besides his wife of Bishopville include a son, Ray Arrants (Gwen) of Bethune; a daughter, Anne Olliff (Bill) of Pawley's Island; five grandchildren, Apryl Hathaway (Pete), Rebeka Arrants, Kathryn O. Johnson, Will Olliff, and Meredith Olliff; and three great-grandchildren, David Johnson, Kales Johnson, and Owen Hathaway.

Graveside Services will be held a 11 A.M. Monday in the Tiller Cemetery with the Rev. Tom Rutan officiating.

The family will receive friends from 6 to 8P.M. Sunday at Hancock-Elmore-Hill Funeral Home and other times at the home 209 Green Street, Bishopville.

Memorials may be made to First Baptist Church of Bishopville, P.O. Box 144, Bishopville, SC 29010 or to Harmony Baptist Church, 1940 Bethune Road, Bethune, SC 29009.

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

Joseph Edward ‘Joe’ Atkinson, Jr. - Tuesday, June 9, 2009

St. Charles, SC

Joseph Edward “Joe” Atkinson, Jr., age 80, passed away on Tuesday, June 9, 2000 at Tuomey Regional Medical Center. Mr. Atkinson was the son of the late Joseph Edward Atkinson, Sr. and the late Mary Brabham Atkinson.

He is survived by his wife, Betty Shepard Atkinson of the home; three sons, Charles Wade Atkinson (Julia), Joseph Edward Atkinson, III (Joyce), and David Shepard Atkinson (Julia) all of St. Charles; a daughter, Ann Atkinson Cooper (English) of Bishopville; a sister, Mary L. Barber of Columbia; 11 grandchildren, Richard Norman Atkinson, Jr., Teal Ann Atkinson, Dabnee Grace Atkinson, Haley Erin Atkinson, Jordan Turner Atkinson, Kacie Elizabeth Atkinson, Amber Nicole Atkinson, Leanna Marie Atkinson, Lauren Elizabeth Atkinson, David Taylor Atkinson, and Sarah Shepard Cooper; and three daughters-in-law, Gee Turner Atkinson, Teri G. Smock, and Tammy B. Tyler.

He was preceded in death by a son, Richard Norman Atkinson; three brothers, Thomas A. Atkinson, Clifton E. Atkinson, and Lionel Mims; and a sister, Julia A. Logan.

Mr. Atkinson was a cotton farmer in the St. Charles area of Lee County for more than 60 years where he was active in cotton farming and ginning. He was a lifetime member of Elliott Baptist Church where he served as a deacon.

Visitation will be on Thursday, June 11, 2009 at Hancock-Elmore-Hill Funeral Home in Bishopville from 5 until 8 P.M. and other times at the home, 3652 Manville-St. Charles Road.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, June 12, 2009 at 11 A.M. in the Hancock-Elmore-Hill Funeral Home chapel. Burial will be in the Wells Cemetery.

Pallbearers will be his three sons, Wade, Joe, and David Atkinson; his son-in-law, English Cooper; and his two grandsons, Taylor and Richard Atkinson.

Honorary pallbearers will be Gene Davis, Grady Brown, Archie Chandler, Dale Player, Pete Player, Arthur Beasley, Gayle Kerr, Fred Sandy, Manning Richardson, Jacob Jennings, Roy Atkinson, Tyson Eckley, Richard McCutchen, and the men of Elliot Baptist Church.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to Elliott Baptist Church, P.O. Box 117, Elliott, SC 29046, the Wells Cemetery Fund, 2289 Dog Island Road, Bishopville, SC 29010, the S.C. Cotton Museum, 121 W. Cedar Lane, Bishopville, SC 29010, or to a charity of one’s choice.

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

John T. "Dick" Wheeler Jr - May 5, 2009

ASHWOOD, SC

John T. "Dick" Wheeler Jr., 90, widower of Frances Tinsley Smith Wheeler, died Tuesday, May 5, 2009, at Carolina Pines Regional Medical Center in Hartsville.

Born in Lee County, he was a son of the late John T. Wheeler Sr. and the late Lily Rose Benjamin Wheeler. Mr. Wheeler was a member of the Ashwood Nazarene Church, the VFW Post #3096, and the American Legion Post #29. He was a U.S. Army Veteran of World War II and the Korean War and retired as a security guard from Reeves Brothers. To his family, he was the biggest little man in the world, and the best daddy anyone could have. 

Survivors include four daughters, Peggy Smith Todd (Albert) of Hemmingway, Carolyn Smith Lane (Raymond) of Ashwood, Cynthia Wheeler Munn (Wayne) of Effingham, and Marcena Wheeler Reppenhagen of Pelion; a brother, Walter Wheeler (Janet) of Sumter; numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great grandchildren; and a number of nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by a son, James Ralph Smith; a daughter, Diane Smith Jett; a brother, Thomas Benjamin Wheeler; and a sister, Runette Wheeler Knoch.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday in the Ashwood Nazarene Church with the Rev. T.W. Mitchell, the Rev. Robert Morris, and the Rev. James Copeland officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery.

The family will receive friends from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Friday at Hancock-Elmore-Hill Funeral Home and other times at the home, 1716 Woodrow Road, Sumter, SC 29153.

Memorials may be made to the VFW Post #3096, 207A Cousar Street, Bishopville, SC 29010; or to the Lee County Council on Aging: Meals on Wheels, PO Box 343, Bishopville, SC 29010.

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