BERNICE “COUTE” SMITH

Liberty — Bernice Crowe “Coute” Smith, 95, of 105 Five Forks Road, passed away peacefully Monday, Aug. 31, 2015, at Pruitt House of Pickens.

A lifelong resident of Liberty, she was a daughter of the late Benjamin Harrison Crowe Sr. and Maggie Janie Patterson Crowe and the widow of Mack Smith. She was retired from American Enka and enjoyed reading and doing crafts such as ceramics, needlework and sewing. She was a volunteer at Baptist Easley Hospital and a member of Calumet Baptist Church.

Surviving are a daughter, Donna Harris (Thomas) of Liberty; a son, David Smith (Sybil) of Belton; a sister, Joyce Crowe of Easley; a brother, B.H. Crowe of Liberty; and numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.

In addition to her husband and parents, she was predeceased by a son, Tony Max Smith; and two sisters, Lillian Crowe Stewart and Mildred Crowe Thrasher; and two brothers, Doyle and Horace Crowe.

Funeral services to honor the life of Mrs. Smith were held Sept. 3 in the Liberty Mortuary Chapel, with burial following at Abbott Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Calumet Baptist Church, 400 S. Peachtree St. Liberty, SC 29657 or the charity of one’s choice.

Liberty Mortuary is handling arrangements.

BOBBY JOE ABERCROMBIE

CENTRAL — Bobby Joe Abercrombie, 76, of Central, husband of Willene Grant Abercrombie, died Monday, Aug. 31, 2015, at his home.

Born in Six Mile, he was son of the late Robert H. and Cora Tompkins Abercrombie. Joe was the former owner and operator of Joe’s Body Shop and was a retired member of the Central Volunteer Fire Department and the Central Rescue Squad. He was a member of Cannon Memorial Baptist Church for 42 years.

Surviving in addition to his wife, are his son, Keith (Susan) Abercrombie of Central; grandson, Kyle Joseph Abercrombie of Central; brothers Gene (Pauline) Abercrombie and Charles (Shirley) Abercrombie, all of Pickens; and numerous nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by a brother, Fred Elton Abercrombie; and a sister, Martha Stone.

Funeral services were Sept. 5 in the chapel of Duckett-Robinson Funeral Home, with burial following in Mt. Zion Cemetery. Officiating ministers were the Rev. Randall Perry, the Rev. Darren Rood and the Rev. William Fendley.

The family would like to extend their appreciation to Joe’s caregivers, Sue Jones, Helen McCall, Annette Holder and Hospice of the Upstate for all their love and kindness.

Condolences may be expressed online at www.robinsonfuneralhomes.com or at the funeral home.

GRACE C. LACKEY

EASLEY — Grace Crum Lackey, 88, of Easley, passed away Wednesday Sept. 3, 2015, at her home.

Born in Greenville County and raised in the Arial community of Easley, she was the daughter of the late James Edgar and Georgia Ellen Ross Crum.

Mrs. Lackey dedicated her life to serving God and caring for others. She was a member of Arial United Methodist Church and former member of Red Hill Baptist Church.

Surviving are her daughters, Nita Stephens, Kay Cooper and her husband, Greg, and Tammy Lackey, all of Pickens; grandchildren, Andy Stephens, Amanda Grace Cooper and Ryan Cooper; a great-granddaughter, Lily Grace Stephens; a son of the heart, Mike; a brother, Ross Crum (Peggy) and a sister, Lucile Lesley, all of Easley.

In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by brothers, Richard Crum and Leonard Crum; and sisters, Elizabeth Greer and Evelyn Bagwell.

A service to celebrate Mrs. Lackey’s life was held on Sept. 6 in the chapel of Robinson funeral Home-Downtown. Burial followed in Hillcrest Memorial Park in Pickens.

Flowers accepted or memorials may be made to Country Santa, P.O. Box 856 Pickens, SC 29671.

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

MARK DAVIS

Liberty — Mark Allen Davis, 52, of 707 Anderson Drive, passed away peacefully on Saturday, Sept. 5, 2015, at the Hospice House in Anderson.

He loved to fish and had previously worked several years as a truck driver.

Surviving are his parents, Rev. Larry and Mary “Bo” Gillespie Davis of Liberty; a sister, Amy Bott (Jeff) of Easley; two nieces, Chelsea and Kenley Knott; two uncles and an aunt, Rev. Charlie and Alta Mae Bowen, and Rev. Norman Gillespie.

Funeral services to celebrate Mark’s life were Sept. 8 at East Side Baptist Church. Burial was at Flat Rock Baptist Church Cemetery.

The family requests memorials be made to East Side Baptist Church, 920 Anderson Drive, Liberty SC 29657. Liberty Mortuary is handling arrangements.

TOMMY “CHARLES” STEWART

PICKENS — Tommy “Charles” Stewart, 66, of Pickens, passed peacefully on Friday, Sept. 4, at Manna Health and Rehab.

He was born in Pickens on May 5, 1949, the son of the late Tommy and Frances Ellenburg Stewart. Charles was a member of Mountain Grove Baptist Church. He was an avid bear hunter and fisherman. He was a retired mechanic from the South Carolina Department of Transportation. Charles was also a loyal volunteer to the city of Pickens and its surrounding community.

He also served on the Pickens rescue squad for many years. Prior to retiring with 25 years of service, he served as a volunteer firefighter for the city of Pickens and enjoyed helping others in their time of need. Charles was a member of several volunteer organizations, including South Carolina Forestry Strike Team and the South Carolina Disaster Relief Team. He also served as the “Santa” for the Pickens Christmas parade for many years.

Surviving, in addition to his wife of 45 years, Helen Renee Cassell Stewart, are his daughters, Missy Stewart Nicholson (Gary) of Pickens and Crystal Stewart Stone (Bradley) of Sunset, and four grandchildren, Seth and Colby Nicholson, and Emmalee and Ivey Grace Stone.

A funeral service will be held Wednesday, Sept. 9, at 1 p.m. in the Chapel of Dillard Funeral Home. Memorials may be made to Mountain Grove Baptist Church Children’s and Youth fund, 644 E. Preston McDaniel Road, Pickens, SC 29671.

The family will be at the home of Missy Nicholson.

The family would like to express their heartfelt thanks to family, friends and the doctors and staff at Manna Health and Rehab.

**JAMES DELBERT GARDNER**

Pickens — James D. Gardner, 81, husband of the late Eunice Ray Tyler Gardner, passed from this life Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2015, at Greenville Memorial Hospital.

Born in Albany, Mo., a son of the late Charles James and Inez Bell Gardner, he was a member of Westview Baptist Church and was a retired United States Air Force veteran with 20 years of service, having served in Japan, Korea and Turkey.

Survivors include two daughters, Debra Link and her husband, Rev. Paul Link of Greenville, and Kathy Street and her husband, Michael Street of Pickens; five grandchildren; Jonathon Link, Andrew Link, Robert Dobbins, Samantha Dobbins and Alex Street; two great-grandchildren, Levi Link and Caleb Link; a sister, Annie Hughes of Albany, Mo.; and two brothers, Charles W. Gardner of Albany, Mo., and Lawrence Gardner of Milwaukee, Wis.

Mr. Gardner was predeceased by his wife, parents and three sisters.

A graveside funeral service was held Sept. 5 at Mountain View Memorial Park in Travelers Rest, officiated by Rev. Paul Link.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Westview Baptist Church, 616 Cherokee Drive, Greenville, SC 29615.

Condolences may be expressed by visiting www.dillardfunerals.com Dillard Funeral Home is assisting the Gardner family.

EVELYN MARCELLE MCGAHA BROOKS

Pickens — Evelyn M. McGaha Brooks, 88, wife of the late J.C. Brooks, passed from this life Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2015.

Born in Easley, a daughter of the late Colonel Benton McGaha and Sadie Brown McGaha. Mrs. Brooks has been a member of East Pickens Baptist Church since 1956, where she enjoyed knitting sweaters so the children on the church bus would stay warm.

Survivors include a daughter-in-law, Carol James Brooks of Liberty; two grandchildren, Angela Galloway (Michael) of Seneca, and Crista Massie (Jeff) of Liberty; four great-grandchildren, Tori and Madi Galloway, and Nathan and Payton Massie; as well as several nieces and nephews.

Mrs. Brooks was predeceased by her parents, her husband, a son, Roger Charles Brooks, seven sisters and three brothers.

Funeral services were held Sept. 5 at Dillard Funeral Home Chapel. Entombment followed at Hillcrest Memorial Park and Gardens Mausoleum.

Special thank you to April Medgyesy, Hospice Care of South Carolina, Chaplain Albert, Vivian, Belinda, Madison and Shelli for their kind and compassionate care to our family.

In lieu of flowers. memorials may be made to Hospice Care of South Carolina, 900 East Main Street, Easley, SC 29640 or Alzheimer’s Association, 301 University Ridge, No. 5000, Greenville, SC 29601.

Condolences may be expressed by visiting www.dillardfunerals.com.

Dillard Funeral Home is assisting the Brooks family.