Category Archives: Obituaries
Courier Obituaries 1-27-21
BOBBY GARLAND SIMMONS
EASLEY — Bobby Garland Simmons, 62, went to be with his Lord and Savior on Jan. 24, 2021.
Mr. Simmons was born in Pickens County and was the son of the late Garland Hudson Simmons and Lucille Parsons Simmons.
Survivors include his wife of 14 years, Lynn Garrett Simmons of Easley; and daughters, Amy Britz (Luke) of Fort Mill and Jennifer Ables (Ross) of Anderson. Surviving are three grandchildren, Clayton, Carsyn and Connor; and aunts Doris Childs and Gertrude Hughes of Pickens.
Mr. Simmons was of the Baptist faith. He was the owner and operator of the Music Maker in Easley, having operated that business since 2009. He was a keyboard player, having played with several local bands throughout the Southeast. Mr. Simmons was an avid outdoorsman and had turned his home with Lynn into a hunting lodge. He was a member of the Anderson Electric City Shag Club and was known for his steps
Courier Obituaries 1-20-21
MARSHALL ELLSWORTH COBUN JR.
PICKENS — Marshall Ellsworth Cobun Jr., 89, passed away on Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2021, at his home after a long life.
Marshall is survived by four children, Alice Sines, Rosa Stangeman, Theressa Pelfrey and Ray Cobun, and was predeceased by a daughter, Diane Freeman Sites, and a son, Marshall E. Cobun III. He also leaves behind 13 grandchildren, Angie Sines, Kenny Sines, Patty Sines, Eric Sines, Robbie Turner, Chris Turner, Tim Pelfrey, Katie Pelfrey, Davie Culpepper, Karen Dunbar, Cherie Toney, Stephen Cobun and Rayna Cobun; along with 44 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.
Marshall was a veteran of the Korean and Vietnam War, where he earned several medals, including the National
Courier Obituaries 1-13-21
True public servant Oliver Nealy passes away at age 85
OLIVER A. NEALY
PICKENS — Oliver A. Nealy, 85, husband of Dianne Essig Nealy, went home to be with his Lord and Savior on Saturday, Jan. 9, 2021.
Oliver was born in Pickens, a son of the late J.A. “Bunk” and Nathalee Sammons Nealy. He was a 1954 graduate of Pickens High School, where he played on the 1952 state championship football team. After graduation from Toccoa Falls College and his marriage to Dianne, he stayed in Toccoa and took over facilities management of the college and even served as fire chief of the college.
In 1969, the Nealys returned to Pickens and he joined the Pickens County Sheriff’s Office when Sheriff David Stone was
Courier Obituaries 1-6-21
Carolyn Virginia Youngblood Cooper
GREENWOOD — Carolyn Virginia Youngblood Cooper, 88, formerly of Garner Heights Road, widow of Rev. E.A. Cooper, died Tuesday, Dec. 29, 2020, at Bellevue Skilled Nursing Center in Oklahoma City, Okla.
Born in Westminster, she was a daughter of the late Joseph “Buster” and Lila Walt Youngblood. Mrs. Cooper served along the side her husband as he pastored Glassy Mt. Baptist Church in Pickens and East Side Baptist Church in Greenwood for many years. Rev. Cooper founded East Side Christian School, where Mrs. Cooper taught preschool children. She was a member of Calvary Baptist Church in Greenwood.
She is survived by her son, Skeets R. Cooper (Judy) of Pickens; her daughter, Jacqueline Cooper Young (Ken) of
Courier Obituaries 12-30-20
AILEEN L. GILBERT
EASLEY — Aileen L. Gilbert, 86, wife of the late Weldon Gilbert Jr., passed away on Monday, Dec. 21, 2020, at West End Retirement Center.
Mrs. Gilbert is survived by her children, Ricky Gilbert, Dwayne Gilbert, Karon Hickey (Johnny) and Sharon Whitworth (Victor); grandchildren, Michelle Gilstrap (Steve), Logan Hickey, Gil Whitworth (Colby) and Luke Whitworth (Kelsey); great-grandchildren, Bo and Colt Gilstrap and Judah Whitworth; and honorary family, which includes her wonderful caregivers at West End Retirement Center in Easley.
Aileen was a devoted wife and mother who loved her family and above all loved the Lord.
A memorial service will be held at a later date. Memorials may
Courier Obituaries 12-23-20
ELLA MAE POPHAM HOLLIDAY
PICKENS — Mrs. Ella Mae Popham Holliday, 90, of Pickens, passed away on Friday, Dec. 18, 2020, in Easley.
Mrs. Holliday was born in Pickens County on May 8, 1930, to the late Lewis and Florence Searcy Mauldin. She was twice married, first to the late Lloyd Popham and then to the late Bill Holliday. She spent her life as a seamstress and was a member of Bethany Church of God. Mrs. Holliday was a woman who was loved by all — the epitome of unconditional love. Her faith and family were most important to her, and she was truly the example of a Godly woman and
Courier Obituaries 12-16-20
ANNIE CHRISTINE COX
PICKENS — Annie Christine Cox, 92, wife of the late Alfred L Cox, passed away on Saturday, Dec. 5, 2020, at Rainey Hospice House in Anderson.
Mrs. Cox was born Dec. 14, 1927, in Oconee County, a daughter of the late Jules Henderson and Ethel Carpenter Henderson.
Annie was a member of Red Hill Baptist Church in Pickens. She was a loyal employee of Sangamo
Courier Obituaries 12-9-20
GLORIA JEAN SMITH
EASLEY — Mrs. Gloria Jean Smith, 87, went to be with her Lord and Savior on Friday, Nov. 27, 2020.
Gloria was born in Canyon, Texas, and was the daughter of the late Roy Samuel Franklin and Merle Tucker Franklin and loving wife to Dr. Lowell W. Smith, DDS.
Survivors include her husband of nearly 70 years, Dr. Lowell W. Smith, DDS, Captain (Ret.), United States Public Health Service.; two sons, Randy Smith (Melanie) of Germantown, Md., and Rick Smith of Smithsburg, Md.; three daughters, Patti Floyd (Peter) of Maryland, Cheryl Watson (Neil) of Central and Carol Wright (Rick) of Simpsonville; two brothers, Kerry Franklin of Euless, Texas, and Roy Franklin of Tucson, Ariz.; and two sisters, Carolyn Baker of Fort Collins, Colo., and Sharon Levin of Tucson, Arizona. Gloria leaves behind 13 grandchildren, Daniel Floyd (Sarah), Mark Floyd, Stephen Floyd (Olivia), Jessica Spangenthal (Joel), Hannah Herwig (Max), Jennifer Delianides (Andrew), Ryan Watson (Meghan), Alyssa Rock (Alex), Drew Watson, Marie Baez (Robert), Aubrey Smith (John Hungerford), Chris Olguin and Carson Wright; and 11 precious and loving
Courier Obituaries 11-25-20
FURMAN SHEDD
CENTRAL — Furman Shedd, 82, the son of the late Ollie Lee Shedd and late Lawrence Shedd, passed away on Saturday, Nov. 21, 2020, peacefully at home surrounded by family.
He is now in heaven with his son, Jeffrey Furman Shedd.
Furman was a remarkable person. He retired from Clemson University after working there for 22
Courier Obituaries 11-18-20
MELINDA R. MANLEY
CENTRAL — Melinda Roper Manley, 51, wife of William Richard Manley, passed away on Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2020, at St. Francis Hospital in Greenville.
Mendi was born in Easley, a daughter of Bennie and Pat Campbell Roper of Pickens. She was a graduate of Easley High School and was a former respiratory specialist with AnMed Health. She was a member of Mountain View Baptist Church.
Surviving, in addition to her husband and parents, are a son, Jonathan Roper Manley of the home;