James Edward Dobson

Easley — Mr. James Edward “Ed” Dobson, 62, husband of Mary Ann Richards Dobson, died Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2013 at the Magnolias of Easley.

Born in Greenville County, he was the son of Mildred Smith Dobson, of Greenville, and the late James Clinton Dobson. He graduated from Carolina High School and Clemson University. Mr. Dobson was with J. P. Stevens stores as Merchandise Manager for 20 years and retired as Hobby Manager at The Great Escape after 21 years of service. Mr. Dobson was a member of the Easley Lions Club since 1981, served two terms as President, received the Melvin Jones Fellowship and was a Master Key Member.  He was a former member of the Greenville Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society and the Pickens Genealogical Society, a member of First Baptist Church, Easley, where he served as a deacon, was Head Usher for over 30 years and was a member of the Fresh Spirit Sunday School Class.

Surviving, in addition to his wife and mother, are a daughter, Heather Dobson Venable (Mark), of Easley; a sister, Tracy Cooke of Greenville; and two grandchildren, Eli and Liam Venable.

Memorial services were 3 p.m. Friday, Dec. 6 at First Baptist Church, Easley, with the Rev. Dr. John Adams officiating.

Flowers will be accepted or memorials may be made to First Baptist Church, Easley, 300 East First Ave., Easley, SC 29640 or to Easley Lions Club, c/o Phil Smith, 201 Camille St., Easley, SC 29642.

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

James Ladd

Easley — Mr. James Edward Ladd, 74, husband of Mildred Gilbert Ladd, died Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2013 at Palmetto Health, Richland.

Born in Oconee County, to the late C.W. and Essie Ladd, James retired from textiles and was a member of Mt. Carmel Baptist Church.

Surviving, in addition to his wife, are three daughters, Joy Alexander (Bruce), Beverly Coggins (Mike) and Jamine Leslie (Mark); three brothers, Albert, Ray and Elbert Ladd; one sister, Beulah Ladd; five grandchildren, Bryan Gossett, Shaunda Menke, Isaac Alexander, Benjamin and Victoria Leslie; three great-grandchildren, Zoe and Olivia Alexander and Grayson Menke.

In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by two brothers and two sisters.

Funeral services were 2 p.m. Saturday Dec. 7 at Mt. Carmel Baptist Church.

Memorials may be made to Mt. Carmel Baptist Church, 1623 Hester Store Road, Easley SC 29640.

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

Teresa Bates

Easley — Teresa (Tret) Tipton Bates, 56, of Easley, wife of Richard Bates, died Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2013 at her home.

Born in Pickens County, she was a daughter of Buddy O Tipton and Betty Jewel Jones. Mrs. Bates was a homemaker and of the Baptist faith.

Surviving, in addition to her husband and parents, are a son, Richard Bates III; a daughter, Natasha Hamby (Jon); two brothers, Donnie and Darrell Tipton; one sister, Felecia Duncan; and four grandchildren, Madisen and Connor Hamby; Abigail and  Olivia Bates.

Mrs. Bates was predeceased by a sister, Shannon Jones.

Funeral services were 3:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 6 in the chapel of Robinson Funeral Home-Downtown. Burial followed in Hillcrest Memorial Park.

Memorials may be made to Piedmont Hospice, 1865 E. Main Street Suite F Duncan SC. 29334.
Condolences may be expressed online at www.robinsonfuneralhomes.com or in person at Robinson Funeral Home-Downtown, which is assisting the family.

Scott Allen Gray

Central — Scott Allen Gray, 48, of John Joseph Lane, died Wednesday Nov. 27, 2013.

Born in Detroit, Mich., he was the son of Barbara Stanley Montgomery of Six Mile and the late Richard Gray. Scott was employed with Cross Country Home Services in Anderson and was a U.S. Marine Corps and National Guard Veteran.

In addition to his mother, he is survived by his children, Scott Gray and Deborah Gray of Pulaski, Tenn.; two granddaughters, Alexis and Emma Gray; a sister, Debra Gendron (Michael) of Six Mile; two brothers, Richard Gray of Six Mile and Thomas Gray (Sally) of Union; and nieces, nephews and cousins.

Funeral services were held on Thursday, Dec. 5 at 2 p.m. at the M. J. “Dolly” Cooper Veterans Cemetery in Anderson.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project P.O. Box 758517 Topeka, Kansas 66675.

Online condolences may be expressed by visiting DillardFunerals.com.

Dillard Funeral Home is assisting the Gray family.

Frances R. Benjamin

Easley — Frances Rives Benjamin, 93, of Old Liberty Road, wife of the late Olin Benjamin, died Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2013 at her home.

Born in Pickens County, a daughter of the late Tom and Essie Bates Rives, Mrs. Benjamin retired from the Alice Plant of Alice Manufacturing Company and was a member of United Wesleyan Church where she belonged to the Ladies Bible Class.

Surviving are four sons, Olin Benjamin, Jr., (Joan) of Easley, Roger Benjamin (Pat) of Liberty, Sherrill Benjamin (Mary Ann) of Chicago and Randall Benjamin (Elaine) of Easley; three daughters, Donnie Stewart-Waldrop (Wayne) and Karen Payne (Philip), all of Easley, and Jean Boiter (Tony) of Liberty; a brother, Reuben Reeves of Spartanburg; 15 grandchildren, 24 great-grandchildren; and five great-great-grandchildren.

In addition to her husband and parents, Mrs. Benjamin was predeceased by a son, Wallace Benjamin; two brothers, Ralph Reeves and J.B. Reeves; and by three sisters, Jessie Mae Woods, Leila Kennimer and Bertha Simpson.

Funeral services were 12 p.m. Friday in the chapel of Robinson Funeral Home-Downtown with the Rev. Lawrence Keever and the Rev. Joe Hayes officiating. Burial followed in Westview Cemetery.

The Ladies Bible Class of United Wesleyan Church served as Honorary Escorts.

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

Joyce F. Smith

Easley — Joyce Finger Smith, 85, of Earls Bridge Road, wife of the late Rev. John Smith, Jr., died Friday, Dec. 6, 2013 at her home.

Born in Orleans County, N.Y., a daughter of the late Carl and Lucy Beck Finger, Mrs. Smith was a homemaker, a quilter, and a very active member of Second Presbyterian Church in Greenville.

Surviving are a son, John Carl “Skippy” Smith (Beth) of Florence, Miss.; three daughters, Julie S. Garrett (Gene) of Easley, Jill S. Snyder (Mike) of Harman, W.Va., and Christine S. Lloyd (Bill) of Colorado Springs, Colo.; five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews.

In addition to her husband and parents, Mrs. Smith was predeceased by two sisters, Nina and Theresa, a brother, Edward, and by a granddaughter, Martha Garrett.

Funeral services were 11 a.m. Tuesday at Second Presbyterian Church. Burial followed in Hillcrest Memorial Park, Pickens.

Memorials may be made to the PCA Ministerial Relief Fund, 1700 North Brown Road, Lawrenceville, GA 30043 or to the Deacons Fund of Second Presbyterian Church, 105 River Street, Greenville, SC 29601.

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

Jeffrey M. Prieboy

Pickens — Jeffrey Michael Prieboy, 40 husband of Ivey Blitch Prieboy, died Sunday, Dec. 8, 2013.

Jeffrey was born in Joliet, Ill. son of Anthony M. and Carla Whitesel Prieboy of Anderson. He was owner and operator of Artistic Lightscapes in Pickens and was a member of Holy Cross Catholic Church.

Survivors include his wife Ivey, of the home, son, Jeffrey Michael Prieboy, Jr. of the home, his parents Anthony and Carla of Anderson and his sister, Toni Prieboy Brown (Patrick) of Mahomet, Ill. and their daughter Sydney.

The family will receive friends from 4 to 6 p.m. Wednesday at Dillard Funeral Home, Pickens.

In lieu of flowers, an education fund will be set up for Jeffrey, Jr. at SCBT bank in Pickens.

Dillard Funeral Home is assisting the Prieboy family.

Maron Watson

Liberty — Maron Watson, 82, of 307 Campground Road, died Sunday at McCall Hospice House in Simpsonville.

Born in Cateechee, he was the husband of Margaret Derrick Watson of the home and a son of the late Henry F. and Luna Alexander Watson. He was retired from Woven Electronics and was a member of Solid Rock Baptist Church.

Surviving in addition to his wife are three sons, Stanley Watson (Cheryl), Steve Watson (Jennifer Beck) and Frankie Watson (Renee) all of Liberty; six grandchildren; and seven great grandchildren.

In addition to his parents he was predeceased by a son, Gary Watson; four sisters, Lila Nicholson and Margie, Lola and Mae Watson; and two brothers, Herman and Hubert Watson.

Graveside services for Mr. Watson will be held at 3 p.m. Wednesday at Hillcrest Memorial Park. A visitation will be held prior to the service from 1:30 until 2:45 p.m. at Liberty Mortuary.

The family will be at the home of his son Frankie Watson at 106 Nostaw Drive Liberty, SC 29657.

Memorial messages may be sent to the family by visiting www.libertymortuary.com. Liberty Mortuary is handling arrangements.

Leece Henry Barkley

Liberty — Mr. Leece Henry Barkley, 62, died Thursday, Dec. 5, 2013 at Greenville Memorial Hospital.

Born in Pickens County, a son of the late Thurston Leon and Annie Lee Barkley, Mr. Barkley was employed with Cook Equipment and a member of Fairview Baptist Church.

Surviving are three sons, Jeffrey and Justin Barkley, and Jamie Robinson; two daughters, Misty A. Todd and Heather N. Barkley; two brothers, Larry and Tim Barkley; one sister, Cheryl Watson; the mothers of his children, Linda Champion and Tommie Barkley; and nine grandchildren, Levi Todd, Stephen Barkley, Brandon Barkley, Austin Barkley, Mackenzie Barkley, Ryleigh Grace Barkley, Jazmyn Durham, Ashten Durham, and Robert Robinson. Mr. Barkley was predeceased by a daughter, Charity Barkley.

Funeral services will be 3 p.m. Friday, Dec. 13 in the chapel of Robinson Funeral Home-Downtown. Burial will follow in Hillcrest Memorial Park.

Visitation will be from 1 p.m. until 2:45 p.m. Friday, prior to the service, at the funeral home.

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