Helen Watts Kirkley July 11, 1921 - May 16, 2013

Florence, S. C. 

Mrs. Helen Watts Kirkley, 91, passed away peacefully at Elmcroft Assisted Living on May 16th, 2013, after a long illness. 

Mrs. Kirkley was born in Lee County on July 11th, 1921, and was the daughter of the late Birchmore and Callie Gardner Watts. 

After graduating from Winthrop College with a degree in education, she taught school in several locations in South Carolina and  after moving to Bennettsville in the late 1960's, she was appointed the Principal at Wallace Primary School, and  during several summers, she traveled to St. Coletta School in Jefferson, Wisc. where she taught disabled children.   After 30 years of dedication to education, Mrs. Kirkley retired in 1983 from the Chester County School District.  Not content with retirement she worked with Dr. She Ling Wong in Bennettsville and Rockingham, N. C., and in 1997 she began working at Fantasy Harbour in Myrtle Beach.

Mrs. Kirkley was a member of the Concord United Methodist Church in the Lucknow Community west of Bishopville and First United Methodist Church in Bennettsville.  She was a member of the Katie McCall Newton Circle, and a member of various Bridge and Garden Clubs in Bennettsville.  She was a very giving person, volunteering her time to the March of Dimes, American Red Cross, Florence Little Theatre, Give Kids the World, United Methodist Manor of the Pee Dee, 2003 Dixie Youth Baseball World Series, Senior Expo in Florence, Carolinas Hospital System, and was honored in 1991 for volunteering 800 plus hours at the Marlboro Park Hospital.

She was a wonderful person and educator who was always willing to give a helping hand and will be deeply missed by those who knew and loved her.  As she stated in a newspaper article about her 30 years of service, she said  "My theme song has always been, if I can help somebody as I travel on, then my living is not in vein."

Mrs. Kirkley's surviving family includes a brother, Dargan Watts, of Orlando, Fla., a sister, O’zella Williams, of Greenwood, a son, Jim Kirkley, of Gresham, SC, a granddaughter, Michelle Murphy, of Florence, SC, grandson-in-law, Michael Murphy, of Florence, four grandsons, Jeff, Chris, Jason and Jack Kirkley of Marion, three great grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Jack B. Kirkley, her daughter, Jackie Carroll, two brothers, Curtis Watts and Blake Watts, and two sisters, Pansy Hatfield and Willie Bell Wright.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00am, Saturday, June 1st, 2013 at Concord United Methodist Church, 3121 Old Camden Highway  in the Lucknow community, west of Bishopville.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Alzheimer’s Foundation of America, 322 Eighth Ave., 7^th floor, New York, N. Y. 10001 or Concord United Methodist Church, c/o Mrs Bobbie Arrants, 1083 Stokes Bridge Rd. West, Bishopville, S. C. 29010.

Frances Elizabeth Clarke Martin - Monday, April 8, 2013

Frances Elizabeth Clarke Martin, daughter of the deceased Harry Powell Clarke and Margaret Hammett Clarke, widow of Henry G. Martin Jr., grandmother to the deceased Gary Schraibman, and the last of seven Clarke sisters, was a resident of Brentwood, Tennessee, for the past few years, where she passed away April 8, 2013.  Known by most as Frankie, she was born in SC and lived there most of her life.

She is survived by her five children: Jane Smith of Columbia, SC, Hank (Linda) Martin of Nolensville, TN, Mary (Paul) Van Hoesen of Nashville, TN, Anne (Ronnie) Galloway of Sumter, SC, and Dale (Freddy) Richardson of Murfreesboro, TN, ten grandchildren and fourteen great-grandchildren.

For over sixty years Frankie was an active member of First Presbyterian (Bishopville), First Presbyterian (Sumter), and St. James Lutheran Church (Sumter), respectively.  She served as choir member and soloist, as a Sunday school teacher, and in the Women’s Circle.  She served on the board of directors for Sumter Little Theatre and starred in many musical productions. Frankie was a member and soloist of the Sumter Civic Chorale, patron of the Sumter SPCA, dedicated volunteer for United Ministries of Sumter County, past president of Women’s Afternoon Music Club, past president of Ladies Golf Association at Sunset Country Club, and an active member of multiple bridge clubs and garden clubs in Bishopville and Sumter.  Accompanied by her husband, Henry, Frankie sang for hundreds of weddings, funerals, and community events in Sumter, Bishopville, and throughout the state of SC.  She loved and devoted her life to Jesus, her family and friends.  Frankie will be remembered for her Southern hospitality, her optimistic view of life, her poetry, quick wit and humorous musical parodies, and the life of love she lived.

A memorial service will be held at St. James Lutheran Church, 1137 Alice Drive, Sumter, SC, on Saturday, May 4, at 11 am.

Memorials may be made to United Ministries of Sumter County, PO Box 1017, Sumter, SC 29151, or to the Gary Schraibman Memorial Foundation, c/o Central Carolina Community Foundation, 2711 Middleburg Drive, Suite 213, Columbia SC 29204.

Following the memorial service, the family will receive friends in the church fellowship hall.
“Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her:  ‘Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all.’” (Proverbs 31:28, 29)

On-line condolences may be sent to www.sumterfunerals.com

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

Donald Eric Arrants April 20, 2013

Bishopville, S.C.

Graveside services for Donald Eric Arrants, age 47, who passed away April 20, will be held Tuesday at 2:00 pm at the Tiller (Bethany) Cemetery directed by Norton Funeral Home. 

Rev. Hazel Mixon will officiate. Visitation will be Monday 5-7 pm at the Funeral Home. 

Eric was born in Darlington a son of the late Don & Shirley Lyles Arrants. 

Surviving are two sons, Mark Arrants, Hartsville and Matthew Arrants, Bishopville; two sisters, Wanda (Richard) Gainey, Bishopville and Donna Arrants, Hartsville; one grandchild, Bailey Arrants, Bishopville. www.nortonfh.net

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Theo Woodham Lang Saturday, April 13, 2013

BISHOPVILLE, SC 

Theo Woodham Lang, 99, of Bishopville, died Saturday, April 13, 2013, in McCoy Memorial Nursing Center. 

A graveside service will be held in Savannah Advent Christian Church Cemetery Wednesday, April 17 at 1:30, conducted by the Rev. T.W. Mitchell. Visitation will be 6:00-7:30 Tuesday evening at Norton Funeral Home, Bishopville Chapel. 

Theo was born in the Ashland section of Lee County, a daughter of John Edward and Laura Hall Woodham. The widow of James W. Lang, she was first married to the late Robert R. Woodham Jr. 

Surviving are her son, Robert T. Woodham of Bishopville; grandson, Jim McDonald of Destin, Fla.; granddaughter Sherry Swann (Robert) of Satsuma, Ala.; four great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren. 

Theo was predeceased by her daughter, Barbara W. Trauner; a granddaughter, Sandy McDonald; and five siblings: L.T. Woodham, Ruby Lucile Woodham, Travis Woodham, Sam Woodham and Ruth W. Lockett. 

The family thanks the staff at McCoy for the loving care given to Theo during her residence there. 

Memorials may be made to First Church of the Nazarene, 320 N. Dennis Ave., Bishopville, SC 29010 or to Lee County Memorial Library, 200 N. Main St., Bishopville, SC 29010. 

Norton Funeral Home of Bishopville is in charge of arrangements.

Read more here: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/thestate/obituary.aspx?n=theo-woodham-lang&pid=164271260&fhid=6362#storylink=cpy

Christine McCutchen McNeill November 15, 1946 - April 22, 2013

Myrtle Beach, SC

Christine McCutchen McNeill, 66, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by her family, April 22, 2013.

She was born November 15, 1946 in Columbia, SC, to the late William Bayard McCutchen, Jr. and Sara Ballantine McCutchen.

Christine grew up in Bishopville, SC and graduated from Bishopville High School in 1965. She retired from Puckett, Scheetz and Hogan Insurance after 20 years of service. Christine loved working in her yard and garden. She was loved by everyone and will be missed by many.

Survivors include her husband of 47 years, John McNeill, Sr.; her children, John McNeill, Jr. of Myrtle Beach, SC and Cyndi McNeill Toppings of Aynor, SC; three sisters, Deborah Miller of Simpsonville, SC, Jane Huggins of Bishopville, SC and Marty Church and husband Raymond of Florence, SC; two granddaughters, Ashley McNeill and Jordan Toppings; sister-in-law, Jackie Pearce and husband Harlee; brother-in-law, David Caughman; and many nieces and nephews. She will be especially missed by her beloved dogs, Buddy and Daisy.

A memorial service will be held at 2:00 PM, Thursday, April 25, 2013 at McMillan-Small Funeral Home with Sonny Clardy officiating. The family will receive friends at the funeral home following the service.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Grand Strand Humane Society, 3241 Mr. Joe White Avenue, Myrtle Beach, SC 29577.

An online guestbook is available at www.msfh.net.

Nancye Lee Farver July 23, 1931 - April 17, 2013

Nancye Lee Farver
Edisto Beach, SC

Nancye Lee Farver, 81, of Edisto Beach, South Carolina, widow of Dr. Harry Edwin Farver, entered into eternal rest Wednesday, April 17, 2013. A gravedside service will be held Friday, April 19, 2013 in the Presbyterian Church on Edisto Island Cemetery (2164 Hwy. 174), at 2:00 pm.. Arrangements by J. Henry Stuhr Inc., West Ashley Chapel, 3360 Glenn McConnell Parkway, Charleston. 

Nancye was born July 23, 1931in Baltimore, Maryland, daughter of Maurice and Minnie Burke McGuigan. She was a member of The Presbyterian Church on Edisto Island, who was a devoted wife, a loving mother and cherished life through her family. Nancye was an avid reader, a master of crossword puzzles and an avid sports fan with golf as her favorite. Until the end, Nancye was blessed with a most keen, intellectual mind and a strong willpower to please ALL.

She is survived by her sons, H. Craig Farver (Jenny) of Reidsville, NC, Michael Alan Farver (Susan) of Bishopville, SC; her daughters, Linda F. Payne (Joe) of Lexington, SC, Karen F. Carter (Marion) of Elliott, SC, Joan F. Litton (John) of Lexington, SC; 10 grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren.

Memorials may be made to the Edisto Beach Fire Department, 2414 Murray Street, Edisto Beach, SC 29438.

A memorial message may be sent to the family by visiting our website atwww.jhenrystuhr.com.

Nancye Lee Farver - Wednesday, April 17, 2013

Nancye Lee Farver, widow of Dr. Harry Edwin "Mike" Farver, died Wednesday. Please keep the families in your prayers. Arrangements by Stuhr's West Ashley Chapel of Charleston are incomplete at this time and will be posted to this LINK when they become available.