Gentis P. Whitmire
Six Mile — Mrs. Gentis Pilgrim Whitmire, 96, of 231 Lusk Road, wife of the late Col. Asa Palmer Whitmire, died Tuesday, April 5, 2011, at Cannon Memorial Hospital.
Born in Pickens County, a daughter of the late Arthur and Elizabeth Bolding Pilgrim, Mrs. Whitmire was a homemaker and a member of Mountain View Baptist Church. Gentis was an avid bowler and had a love for gardening.
Surviving are a daughter, Doris Carl and her husband Leland of Magnolia, Texas; a sister, Beulah Chappell of Pickens; four grandchildren, Leland and Brian Carl and Jeffrey and Keri Whitmire; and four great-grandchildren, Camden and Kenzie Carl and Asa and Jaxson Whitmire.
In addition to her husband and parents, Mrs. Whitmire was predeceased by a son, Gary Palmer Whitmire; four brothers, Coy, Hoyt, Calvin and Carl Pilgrim; and three sisters, Lena Murphree, Dessie Dodson and Olive Riggins.
Funeral services were 2 p.m. Saturday at Mountain View Baptist Church, Six Mile, with the Rev. Rick Hayes officiating. Burial followed in Hillcrest Memorial Park.
Memorials may be made to Mountain View Baptist Church, 336 Mountain View Church Road, Six Mile, SC 29682.
Condolences may be expressed online at www.robinsonfuneralhomes.com or in person at Robinson Funeral Home-Downtown, which is assisting the family.

Lewis Roberts Arrington
Clemson — Lewis Roberts Arrington died Tuesday, April 5, 2011.
Born in Greenwood County, he was the son of the late John Durst and Minnie Lou Arrington. Dr. Arrington was reared in Kirksey and Ninety-Six and was a direct descendent of the Londonborough Palatines, and the last living member of the Durst-Arrington Kirksey Community, the influence of which on Upstate South Carolina history is well-documented. He graduated from Clemson A&M (now Clemson University) in 1940. While at Clemson, he was the recipient of a Danforth Fellowship, President of the Baptist Student Union, and Regimental Chaplain. In 1941 he received a Masters degree from Virginia Polytechnic Institute. He began WWII service in Jan. 1942 in the US Quartermaster Corps, serving in Iceland and in the SHAEF Quartermaster Corps in London. In Germany and France he was with the Prisoner of War Executive Detachment and served in the Phillipines for six weeks. In March 1946 he was discharged and served in the Army Reserves for 28 years, retiring May 1, 1979 as Lt Col. He began his professional career at the University of Florida and received his PhD in 1952 in Animal Nutrition. He joined the Dept. of Nutrition, teaching veterinary science students, was the author of 2 textbooks and numerous professional articles and did research on laboratory animals. Professional organizations included Phi Kappa Phi, Alpha Zeta and Sigma Xi. The faculty of the College of Agriculture and the students of the Veterinary Science Club twice honored him as Teacher of the Year. He retired as Associate Dean in the College of Food and Agricultural Sciences in 1980. He was active in First Baptist Church of Gainesville, Fla. and First Baptist Church of Clemson, serving as Deacon and Sunday School teacher and was a volunteer with Clemson Community Care. His hobbies included wood-working and furniture refinishing.
He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Frances Carwile Arrington; son, Lewis R. Arrington, Jr. and wife, Tracy of Omaha, Neb.; daughters, Jane Arrington McKeown and husband, Robert of Columbia and Nancy Arrington King and husband, Tommy of Greenville; grandchildren, Hannah Alice McKeown, Sarah Abigail McKeown, Andrew Lewis King and Elaine Frances Arrington; step-grandchildren, Trevor Martin King (Ashley), Suzanne King Kolb (Charlotte) and Casey Elizabeth King; step-great-grandchildren, Trace Martin King and Karis Haley King.
Graveside services were held at 10:30 a.m., Friday at Old Stone Church Cemetery followed by a Memorial Service at 11 a.m. at First Baptist Church of Clemson.
The family extends deep appreciation to the staff of Clemson Downs Health Care Facility and Interim Health Care Hospice for the care, support and comfort.
Memorials may be made to First Baptist Church of Clemson 397 College Ave, Clemson, SC 29631 or to Clemson Community Care.
Condolences may be expressed online at www.robinsonfuneralhomes.com or at Duckett-Robinson Funeral Home, Central.

ANITA R. PEARSON
Easley — Anita R. Pearson, 62, of Easley, loving wife of Steve Stansell, died April 3, 2011.
Born in Greenville, she was a daughter of the late Jeff and Louise Rymer. Mrs. Pearson was a member of Shiloh Baptist Church in Marietta.
In addition to her husband, she is survived by her children, Sammy Dale Pearson and his wife, Conchita; Robert O O Pearson, Christy E. Hall, and husband Dustin, all of Easley, and C. David Pearson and his wife, Michelle, of Piedmont; one grandson; six granddaughters; and two great granddaughters; and her brother, Billy Craigo.
In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by one brother; and her late husband, Clarence R. Pearson.
The funeral service was held at 1:30 p.m. on Friday, April 8 at Shiloh Baptist Church. Burial followed at the Pearson family cemetery.
Condolences may be made to the family by visiting www.thomasmcafee.com.

Verna H. Alexander
Pickens — Verna Hayes Alexander, 95, of 1619 Shady Grove Road, wife of the late Harold Alexander, died Friday, April 8, 2011 at Cannon Memorial Hospital surrounded by her loving family.
Born in Pickens County, she was the daughter of the late Willie B. Hayes and Mamie Brown Hayes. Mrs. Alexander was a 1933 graduate of Pickens High School. She was a homemaker and member of Shady Grove Baptist Church.
Surviving are her children; Don Alexander, Mildred Dow (The Rev. Lerlin), Joyce Alexander, David Alexander (Pat) and Mike Alexander all of Pickens; 14 grandchildren; 20 great grandchildren; and two great-great grandchildren. She is also survived by Maudie Brown Medlin raised in the home as her sister.
In addition to her parents and husband, she was predeceased by two grandchildren, Korey Alexander and Alison Alexander Collins; a brother, Luke Hayes; and two sisters, Kathleen Hayes and Athleen Hayes Porter.
Graveside services were held on Monday, April 11 at 2 p.m. at Hillcrest Memorial Park in Pickens.
Flowers are accepted or memorials may be made to the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering of Shady Grove Baptist Church, 2901 Shady Grove Road, Sunset, SC 29685.
Online condolences may be expressed by visiting DillardFunerals.com.

Richard H. Gettys
Easley — Richard Henry Gettys, 80, of Easley, husband of Celia Bryson Gettys, died Sunday, April 10, 2011. 
Born in Danville, Virginia and reared in Rock Hill, he was the son of the late Thomas Roddey Gettys and Missouri Martin Gettys. After graduation from Rock Hill High School, he served in the U.S. Marine Corps as a heavy machine gunner, drill instructor at Parris Island and instructor in officers’ basic school in Quantico, Va.  He was awarded the Purple Heart and Silver Star for valor in the Chosin Resevoir Campaign of the Korean War and participated in the Inchon Landing. He graduated from Wofford College where he was elected to Phi Beta Kappa and earned graduate degrees from Furman University and Clemson University. As a lifelong educator, he began his career as a teacher and coach at Spartanburg High School.  Later he became the first principal of Easley Junior High School (now Gettys Middle School) and then principal of Easley High School. He was the first Director of Management Information Systems of the School District of Pickens County.  He retired from his education career in 1994 as Superintendent of Pickens County Schools. Mr. Gettys was a Commissioner for Easley Combined Utilities at the time of his death, having served in this capacity for over 40 years. He was a member of Easley Presbyterian Church and on the Board of Directors of Piedmont Municipal Power Agency.  He was also involved in numerous Easley civic organizations.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by his sons Dr. Richard Henry Gettys, Jr. (Sherry Anne), Roddey Bryson Gettys (Jeanne), Robert Lesslie Gettys (Lee), all of Greenville. He is also survived by grandchildren Charlotte Gettys Meade, Meredith Gettys, Jack Gettys, Hank Gettys, Julian Gettys, Bobby Gettys, and Caroline Gettys.
He was predeceased by his siblings Charles Martin Gettys, Gillom Alexander Gettys, Dorothy Gettys Lesslie, and Thomas Roddey Gettys, Jr. and a granddaughter, Anne Scott Gettys.
Memorial services will be held on Wednesday April 13 at 3:30 p.m. at Easley Presbyterian Church.   
Family members are at their respective homes.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Easley Presbyterian Church, 200 S. First Street, Easley, SC 29640, Wofford College, 429 N. Church Street, Spartanburg, SC 29303, or the charity of one’s choice.