JODY LEVI BLACK

EASLEY — Mr. Jody Levi Black, 47, husband of Shelly Lewis Black, went to be with his Lord and Savior Monday, Sept. 3, 2018.

It is with great sadness that the family of Jody Black announces his passing on Labor Day after an accidental drowning on Lake Keowee. Jody was a loving, devoted husband, father, son, brother and Pop. His pride and adoration for his family was easily seen and felt. To be his friend was to understand the very meaning of loyalty and selflessness.

Born in Pickens County, he was a son of Ronnie Levi and Mary Elizabeth Youngblood Black of McCormick. Mr. Black was a 1990 graduate of Easley High School and was a technician with L&R Fork Lift Maintenance.

Jody loved his family with everything he had. He experienced life to the fullest through his love for hunting and fishing. Numerous trips to a mountain stream or right down the road on the lake created family memories that some people only dream of. All of these experiences and examples of love in his life, though, pale in comparison to the love he found this year on Mother’s Day weekend, when he experienced the fullness of love offered to him by Jesus Christ when he humbly accepted him as his personal Lord and Savior.

Jeremiah 29:11 tells us, “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’”

The Lord had plans for Jody, and the Lord still has plans for Jody that will be lived out in the lives of the beautiful family that he left behind, until the great reunion comes.

Surviving, in addition to his wife of 26 years and his parents, are a son, Jacob Warren Levi Black of Easley; a daughter, Mary Elizabeth Black Morgan (Bradley) of Easley; a brother, Edward Heath Black (Lori) of Easley; a sister, Lori BlackStone Gossett of Pickens; a grandson, Jase Warren-Levi Morgan and one grandchild on the way.

Funeral services were held Sept. 7 in the chapel of Robinson Funeral Home-Downtown.

Flowers will be accepted, and memorial donations may be made in memory of Jody to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, P.O. Box 1000, Department 142, Memphis, TN 38148.

Condolences may be expressed online at robinsonfuneralhomes.com or in person at Robinson Funeral Home-Downtown, Easley, which is assisting the family.

WILLIAM BLISS III

EASLEY — William Bliss III, 73, passed away Tuesday, Sept. 4, 2018, at Oakview Senior Living Facility.

William was born in Syracuse, N.Y., and graduated from North Syracuse Central High School. He worked for Will and Baumer Candle Company in 1978. He then relocated to the Greenville area when he began his career with Michelin. He was retired from Michelin with 31 years of service. William enjoyed golfing, fishing and boating.

He is survived by his loving wife of 50 years, Jean Bliss; daughter, Kathleen (Thomas) Younginer; granddaughters, Brittany Younginer, Emily (David) Berryhill and Elizabeth (Marcus) Judd; aunt, Helen Falge, of Clay, N.Y.; and sister-in-law, Denise Bliss, of Cicero, N.Y. He was predeceased by his parents, William and Mabel Bliss, and brother, Ronald Bliss.

Receiving of friends will be held on Saturday, Sept. 15, from 10-11 a.m. at Dilard Funeral Home. A memorial service will follow at 11 a.m. at Dillard Funeral Home.

Memorials may be made to Oakview Senior Living Facility at 110 Hood Rd., Greenville, SC 29611.

Online condolences may be expressed to the family by visiting dillardfunerals.com.

BILL TROTTER

PICKENS — William A. “Bill” Trotter, 78, husband of Edna Mae Pilgrim Trotter, went home to be with the Lord on Wednesday, Sept. 5, 2018.

Mr. Trotter was born in Pickens County, a son of the late Elbert L. and Eula Jones Trotter. He was retired from Michelin Tire Corporation and he was a member of East Pickens Baptist Church and the Obedient Followers Sunday School Class. Mr. Trotter loved to search out new and different restaurants and loved to travel to his favorite place, Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, Tenn.

Survivors include his wife of 57 years, Edna Mae Trotter, daughter, Sherry Burrell (Daniel Scott) of Pickens, and brothers, John W. Trotter and Calvin L. Trotter, both of Pickens.

In addition to his parents, Mr. Trotter was preceded in death by his sisters, Sybil Pilgrim and Barbara Godshall.

Funeral services were held at Dillard Funeral Home on Sept. 7. Burial followed at Hillcrest Memorial Park.

A message of condolence may be expressed to the family by visiting dillardfunerals.com.

Flowers will be accepted, or memorials may be made to East Pickens Baptist Church Senior Adults, PO Box 454, Pickens, SC 29671.

REV. JOEL “JOEY” AIKEN JR.

LIBERTY — The Rev. Joel “Joey” William Aiken Jr., 51, of 527 Mills Avenue, went home to be with his Lord and Savior on Thursday, Sept. 6, 2018, at Greenville Memorial Hospital.

Born in Easley, he was a son of Joel W. Aiken Sr. and Mary Whitmire Aiken. Joel was a graduate of Liberty High School and Southern Wesleyan University.

He taught special education at Northwest Middle School, and later became an associate pastor at New Life Church of God for 10 years. Joel loved people and inspired countless lives throughout his own. To meet him was to love him, and other than his family his greatest love in life was to spread the Gospel to all.

Joel was a member of New Life Church of God, and he also loved Clemson athletics and all sports.

Surviving in addition to his parents, are his wife, Jillian M. Aiken of the home; a son, Elijah Jeremiah Aiken of the home; two sisters, Melissa Ellenburg of Easley and Shelia Galloway of Liberty; and four nieces and nephews, Kaitlin “Elle” Ellenburg, Ashley Kay, Randall Galloway and Samantha Galloway.

The family will be at the home. In lieu of flowers, memorials are requested to the Elijah J. Aiken College Fund, C/O First Citizens Bank, Liberty Branch, PO Box 208, Liberty SC 29657.

Funeral services to celebrate Joel’s homegoing were conducted on Sept. 11 in the Liberty Mortuary chapel. Burial will be private.

Online condolences may be left for the family by visiting libertymortuary.com. Liberty Mortuary is handling arrangements.

CLYDE ROBERSON

LIBERTY — Clyde Neal Roberson, 76, of 7704 Liberty Highway, passed away peacefully on Friday, Sept. 7, 2018, at the Rainey Hospice House.

Born in Boiling Springs, he was a son of the late Paul Floyd and Margaret Rollins Roberson.

Mr. Roberson was retired from Greenwood Mills and was a United States Army National Guard veteran. He was a member and deacon at Calumet Baptist Church in Liberty. He was an avid fisherman and was the owner and operator of Goodtimes Hunting and Fishing.

Surviving are his wife, Janice Smith Roberson of the home; two sons, Chris Roberson (Regina) of Anna, Texas, and Kevin Roberson (Dana) of Liberty; and two granddaughters, Emma and Courtney Roberson.

The family will be at the home. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Hospice of the Upstate, 1835 Rogers Road, Anderson SC 29621.

Funeral services to honor the life of Mr. Clyde Roberson were conducted on Sept. 10 at Calumet Baptist Church. Burial followed at Greenlawn Memorial Park.

Online condolences may be left for the family by visiting libertymortuary.com. Liberty Mortuary is handling arrangements.

CECILIA H. SPEARMAN

EASLEY — Claudia Cecilia Houston Spearman, 70, of Asbury Circle, wife of the late James Burgess Spearman, passed away Friday, Sept. 7, 2018.

Born in Greenville, she was a daughter of the late Claude Cecil Houston and Annas Galloway Houston.

Mrs. Spearman received her bachelor’s degree from Winthrop University and her master’s degree from Clemson University. She taught first grade at McKissick Elementary School in Easley for more than 35 years and was a member of Carmel Presbyterian Church in Liberty. She enjoyed genealogy, playing the dulcimer and spending time with her grandchildren.

Surviving are her children, Megan Kim Spearman of Greenville and Chad Michael Spearman of Easley; grandchildren, Derek Harbin and April Spearman; sisters, Dawn Houston Eck (Michael) of Franklin, Tenn. and Wanda Lee Hill of Easley; and brothers, Jonathan Houston of Pickens, Lee Houston (Nora) of Liberty and Curtis Houston (Joann) of Maryland.

A memorial service was held on Sept. 11 at Carmel Presbyterian Church.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Greenville Humane Society, 305 Airport Road, Greenville, SC 29607.

Condolences may be expressed online by visiting robinsonfuneralhomes.com or in person at Robinson Funeral Home-Downtown, which is assisting the family.

GUY BREZEALE

PICKENS — Guy Brezeale, 86, husband of the late Betty Joan Herron Brezeale, passed from this life on Friday, Sept. 7, 2018.

Mr. Brezeale was born in Pickens County, a son of the late Ernest Columbus and Clovie Haynes Brezeale. He was retired from the United States Marines after 20 years of service and went on to retire from Platt Saco Lowell in Easley.

Survivors include his son, William Noice Brezeale of Fountain Inn; daughter, Deborah Joyce Sonner of Pickens; seven grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; and five great-great-grandchildren. Also surviving, is a sister, Annie Gibson of Sebastian, Fla.

A graveside service with full military honors was held on Sept. 11 at Hillcrest Memorial Park.

A message of condolence may be expressed to the family by visiting dillardfunerals.com.

BUDDY T. SEXTON

LIBERTY — Buddy Terrell Sexton, 83, of 725 Five Forks Road, passed away peacefully on Sunday, Sept. 9, 2018, at his home surrounded by his loving family.

Born in Cateechee, he was a son of the late Claude C. and Betty Rena Martin Sexton. He worked at Swirl, and later retired from T.S.S. Americas.

Buddy was a longtime member of Camp Creek Baptist Church, where he served as Sunday school superintendent, deacon and head usher. He was a United States Army veteran of the Korean War.

Surviving are his wife, Pauline Durham Sexton of the home; two daughters, Sandy Hopkins (Scott) of Evans, Ga., and Rebecca Clark of Liberty; a son, Stan Sexton of McCormick; and two grandchildren, Zack Gossett and McKenzie Hopkins.

Funeral services to honor the life of Mr. Sexton were conducted on Tuesday, Sept. 11, at Camp Creek Baptist Church. Burial followed at Liberty Memorial Gardens.

Online condolences may be left for the family by visiting libertymortuary.com. Liberty Mortuary is handling arrangements.

MILDRED J. BRIDGEMAN

EASLEY — Mildred J. Bridgeman, 79, passed away on Thursday, Sept. 6, 2018, at her home.

She was a member of Pleasant View Welcome Baptist Church. Mildred enjoyed cooking and seamstress work and she loved spending time with her grandchildren.

Surviving are her loving and devoted husband of 56 years, Charles Bridgeman; five children, Debbie (Danny) Johnston, Tim (Angie) Bridgeman, Kay Bridgeman, Carol Gillis and Dale Bridgeman; 11 grandchildren, Kaila, Kyle, Chase, Kelsey, Alex, Katie, Jacob, Brandon, Cody, Clay and Cameron; and four great-grandchildren.

Graveside services were held on Sept. 10 at Hillcrest Memorial Park, with the Rev. Wayne Dunnigan officiating.

Memorials may be made to Hands of Mercy Hospice at 111 Carter Park Drive, Seneca, SC 29678

Dillard Funeral Home in Pickens is assisting the Bridgeman family in making arrangements.

MARGARET “LORINE” BULLARD

EASLEY — Margaret Lorine Galloway Bullard, 81, passed away on Thursday, Sept. 6, 2018, at Capstone Health and Rehabilitation.

Born on Feb. 5, 1937, she was the daughter of the late Walker Kay and Margaret Reece Galloway. She was a member of West End Baptist Church and was retired from Alice Manufacturing Co. after 46 years as a weaver.

Surviving are her husband, Farris Bullard of the home; siblings, Murrell Galloway (Susan) of Piedmont, Larry Galloway (Gwen) of Westminster and Martha “Elzora” Tompkins of Liberty.

She was also predeceased by her siblings, Geraldine Galloway, Broadus Galloway, Charles Galloway, Eunice Noblitt, Marion “Sonny” Galloway, Alvin “Ed” Galloway and Kathleen Stephens.

Graveside services were held at Hillcrest Memorial Park on Sept. 8, with the Rev. Jack Connelly officiating.

Dillard Funeral Home in Pickens is assisting the Bullard family in making arrangements.

CLARA SANDERS

LIBERTY — Clara Merck Sanders, 93, of 361 Cartee Road, passed away peacefully on Sunday, Sept. 9, 2018.

Born in Liberty, she was the widow of John William “Bill” Sanders and a daughter of the late W.M. Franklin and Lou Ella Rackley Merch.

She was retired from Greenwood Mills and was a longtime member of Jones Avenue Baptist Church.

Surviving are a son, Ronnie Sanders and his wife Glenda of Liberty; a sister, Ella Mae Holden of Easley; two brothers, Grady Merck and Fulton Merck; three grandchildren, Amy Carr, Cara Seeton, and Ryan Sanders; five great grandchildren, Josh Seeton, Cameron Carr, Sean Carr, Jordan Sanders, and Noah Seeton; one great great grandchild, Jeremiah Seeton.

In addition to her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by a son, W. Melvin Sanders; a sister, Addie Edens; and five brothers, Furman, Jule, Lester, Herman and Luther Merck.

Funeral services to honor Mrs. Sanders life will be conducted at 1 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 13, in the Liberty Mortuary chapel. Burial will be at Liberty Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the mortuary.

Online condolences may be left for the family by visiting libertymortuary.com. Liberty Mortuary is handling arrangements.

RITA SIMS

EASLEY — Rita Ann Hudson Sims, 76, wife of Lewis Ronald “Ronnie” Sims, passed from this life on Sunday, Sept. 9, 2018, at her home surrounded by her loving family.

Rita was born in Greenville County, a daughter of the late John Earl and Juanita Elizabeth Messer Hudson. She was a 1960 graduate of Parker High School and she was retired from the lunch room at West End Elementary School in Easley. Rita was a member of Rock Springs Baptist Church, where she was active in her Sunday School class. She enjoyed spending time with her family and camping with her husband Ronnie. She was a member of Travel Masters Camping Club in Easley.

Survivors include her husband of 54 years, Ronnie; her daughters, Sonya Gregory (David) of Columbia and Ronda McWhorter (Les) of Anderson. Also surviving are grandchildren, Preston Gardner, Courtney Gardner, and Shane Gardner, Hailee McWhorter, and Garrett McWhorter; and great grandchildren, Phoenix Gardner, Josephine Medina, and Alaira White. Rita is also survived by her furry baby, Chase.

The family will receive friends Thursday, Sept. 14, at Dillard Funeral Home in Pickens from noon-1:45 p.m. with funeral services following at 2 p.m. in the funeral home chapel. Burial will be at Hillcrest Memorial Park.

The family would like to extend a special thanks to members of the Interim HealthCare Hospice team who provided care so lovingly during her last days.

A message of condolence may be expressed to the family by visiting dillardfunerals.com.