The Pickens County Courier runs In-County Obituaries free of charge. Please ask your funeral home about this service. Click Read More to read Obituaries at no cost.

Dorothy Willis

Six Mile — Dorothy Lee Howard Willis, 88, of 112 Mt. Olivet Drive, passed away peacefully Sunday, Jan. 1, 2017, at Pruitt Health & Rehab in Six Mile.

Born in Anderson, she was the widow of James Franklin Willis and the daughter of the late Clyde T. Howard and Vertie McGaha Howard Price. She was a “Prayer Warrior” and a retired minister, starting her ministry at Six Mile Church of God of Prophecy and then pastoring many other churches through the years. After retirement, she continued to minister to others through her phone ministry. She was a member of Midway-The Church of God.

Surviving are two daughters, Doris Gilstrap (Ronnie) of Pickens and Deloris Hughes; two sons, Dewaine Willis (Sue) of Norris and Ron (Theresa) Willis of Six Mile; a daughter in law, Faye Willis of Seneca; a brother, Ray Howard of Keysville, Ga.; 12 grandchildren; and numerous great and great-great grandchildren.

In addition to her husband and parents, she was predeceased by two sons, James Franklin Willis and Rev. Michael Willis; and two brothers, James and Horace Howard.

Funeral services to honor the life of Mrs. Willis will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 4, in the Liberty Mortuary chapel. Visitation will be held prior to the service from noon-2 p.m. at the mortuary. Burial will follow at Six Mile Church of God of Prophecy.

The family will be at the home.

Flowers will be accepted or memorials may be made to Midway-The Church of God: 1203 Simms School Road Central, SC 29630. Liberty Mortuary is handling arrangements. www.libertymortuary.com

Dorothy Ann Chapman Porter

Easley — Mrs. Dorothy Ann Chapman Porter, 70, of Easley, wife of James Edward Porter, passed peacefully Friday, Dec. 30, at her residence surrounded by her family.

She was born in Pickens to the late Fred H. and Grace B. Dodgens Chapman. She was one of 12 children.

Mrs. Porter was a member of Maranatha Baptist Church. She was an avid follower of Evangelist Brother David Terrell Ministries. She was an avid shopper, wonderful wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother to her family.

Left to cherish her memory are her loving husband, Ed Porter, of 53 years; children, Randy Porter (Cindy), Shiela Gibson (Dale) and Tasha Kummer (Jeffrey); grandchildren, Corey, Trey, Luke and Dillon; great-grandchild, Kylan; two brothers and three sisters.

Funeral services were held Jan. 3 at Robinson Funeral Home in Easley, with Pastor Sister Gloria Gillespie officiating and burial following in Robinson Memorial Gardens.

Flowers are encouraged by the family at the funeral home.

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

Jeannette Coyle

Liberty — Jeannette Reuter Coyle, 89, of 5 Calhoun Street, passed away peacefully Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2017, surrounded by her family.

Born in Milan, Ind., she was the widow of Wilgus Edmond Coyle and a daughter of the late William Julius and Luva Louisianna Bohlke Reuter. She was a registered nurse and a graduate of Deaconess Hospital School of Nursing. She later retired from Booth Memorial Hospital in Covington, Ky., as well as Booth, Poore & Baird Family Medicine in Florence, Ky. She was a member of Kentoboo Baptist Church in Florence, Ky. for 53 years before moving to Liberty where she became a member of Calumet Baptist Church.

Surviving are two daughters, Gloria Harris and her husband, Rev. Jeffrey Harris of Liberty and Irene Makras of Cincinnati, Ohio; a son, Richard Edmund “Rick” Coyle and his wife Geralyn of Nancy, Ky.; 7 grandchildren, Beth and Brian Coyle, Jeffrey and David Harris, Lisa Makras, Nicole Towe and Landen Goad; and eight great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren

In addition to her husband and parents she was predeceased by two sisters, Wilma Price and Marian Gleason; and two brothers, Floyd and Glenn Reuter; and a special granddaughter, Ambry Grace Goad.

Funeral services to honor the life of Mrs. Coyle were held Jan. 16 at Calumet Baptist Church with burial following at Liberty Memorial Gardens.

Flowers will be accepted or memorials may be made to Calumet Baptist Church: 400 S. Peachtree Street Liberty, SC 29657. Liberty Mortuary is handling arrangements. www.libertymortuary.com.

Katherine Artie Mae Riggins Grant

Pickens — Katherine Artie Mae Riggins Grant, 73, wife of Joseph Walter Grant, passed from this life Friday, Jan. 13, 2017, at her home.

Born in Pickens County she was a daughter of the late Lloyd Riggins and Easter Southerland Riggins. Mrs. Grant was a member of Bethany Church of God and was retired from Kent Wool.

Survivors include her husband of the home, a daughter, Tammy Mae Grant Davis; three grandchildren, Katlyn Olivia Grant, Leon Thomas Walter Davis, and Nathaniel Josiah Ephraim Lawton Davis all of Pickens; a brother, Donald Riggins (Barbara) of Dacusville; and a sister, Pawnee Moore of Pickens.

Mrs. Grant was preceded in death by her parents and a sister Viola Riggins Hayes.

Funeral services were held Jan. 17 at Bethany Church of God with Reverend Roger Stephens, Reverend Burch Kelly, and Reverend Douglas Saylors officiating, and burial following at Hillcrest Memorial Park and Gardens with Reverend Ronnie Grant officiating.

Flowers will be accepted or memorials may be made to Bethany Church of God Building Fund, 428 Hagood Mill Rd, Pickens, South Carolina 29671.

Olen Talmadge Hamlin

Easley— Mr. Olen Talmadge Hamlin, 82, husband of Carolyn Gillespie Hamlin, went home to be with his Lord and Savior, Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2017.

Born in Liberty, a son of the late Harlow Judson and Mary Alice Tinsley Hamlin, Mr. Hamlin was a graduate of Liberty High School, attended North Greenville College where he played football, and was the founder and retired owner of Hamlin Piping Company for 50 years. He was a member of Easley First Baptist Church, where he served many years as deacon, church trustee, Deacon Emeritus and faithfully taught Sunday school, and was a member of the E.R. Eller Sunday school class. Mr. Hamlin served on nine mission trips in which he built and started churches all over the country. He helped build a home at Ridgecrest which was named “The Tuesday House”, where he and members of Easley First Baptist Church traveled weekly until completion. Mr. Hamlin was a U.S. Army veteran.

Surviving, in addition to his wife of 59 years, are three daughters, Tammy Hamlin Day (David) , Tracy Hamlin Redmon (Rick), and Terry Hamlin Batson (Keith), all of Easley; an adopted daughter, Julia Ellenberg (Doug) of Easley; a brother, Wayne Hamlin (Brenda) of Liberty; six sisters, Lois Hamlin Hayes, Dot Sargent McCall, Mary Hamlin Hester (Carroll), Janet Hamlin Wilson (Herb), Shirley Hamlin Stephens (Doug) and Antha Hamlin James; 10 grandchildren, Lauren Redmon Ely (Blaine), Brandt Talmadge Redmon, Daniel Judson Redmon, David Marion Day, Jr., Talmadge Hamlin Day, Mary Margaret Batson, Ellison Grace Batson, Joshua Hamlin Batson and adopted grandchildren, Jason Douglas Ellenberg and Jordan Samuel Ellenberg (Tori); and two adopted great-grandchildren, Addison Grace Ellenberg and Ella Marie Ellenberg.

In addition to his parents, Mr. Hamlin was predeceased by a brother, Fred Hamlin; and three sisters, Grace Hamlin, Nell H. Gibson and Donnie Hamlin Hughes.

Funeral services were held Jan. 13 at Easley First Baptist Church with Rev. Dr. John Adams officiating and burial following in Robinson Memorial Gardens with military honors.

Active pallbearers will be grandsons, and nephews, Olen and Dell Hamlin. The E.R. Eller Sunday school class will serve as the escort of honor.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Easley First Baptist Generations to Come, 300 East 1st Avenue, 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.

Lounelle P. Crumpton

Easley — Bernice Lounelle Patton Crumpton, 87, of Poinsett Circle, wife of the late Sterling Edward “Pee Wee” Crumpton, passed away Monday, Jan. 9, 2017, at her home.

Born in Madison County, Ga., she was a daughter of the late John Chaney Patton and Savannah Stowe Patton.

Mrs. Crumpton was retired from Alice Manufacturing. She was a member of Elljean Baptist Church and the T.E.L Sunday School Class. She loved her family, quilting, puzzles and gardening.

Surviving are her children, Dennis Crumpton (Tina), Linda Reid (Mike) and Evelyn Harper (Stanley) all of Easley; a daughter-in-law, Jane Ooten; grandchildren, Nikki Miller (Chris), Brent Wood (Amanda), Tracy Gaunt (Jesse), Tiffany Wynn (Joel), Charlie Crumpton (Jessica), Matthew Harper, Candice Heatherly (Andrew), Cody Crumpton, and Haley Crumpton; and 19 great-grandchildren.

In addition to her husband and parents, she was predeceased by a son, Dale Crumpton; a granddaughter, Tammy Lynn Wood; sisters, Maude Gambrell and Clara Crumpton; and brothers, John, Clarence, George, Joe and Ben Patton.

Funeral services were held Jan. 12 at Elljean Baptist Church, with burial following in Greenlawn Memorial Park.

Flowers will be accepted or memorials may be made to Elljean Baptist Church Building Fund, 605 Elljean Road, Easley, SC 29640.

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

Ruth Garrison

Pickens — Ruth Nealy Garrison, 80, wife of David E. Garrison passed from this life on Wednesday Jan. 11, 2017.

Mrs. Garrison was born in Pickens County a daughter of the late Austin and Pearl Pike Nealy. She was retired from the School District of Pickens County after nearly 30 years’ service serving first as a teacher and later a guidance counselor at Pickens High School. Mrs. Garrison was a graduate of Columbia College and was a lifetime member of Grace United Methodist Church where she was very active in all aspects of church life. She was a charter member of the Grace Bell Choir, took turns keeping the nursery, and she was a member of the Artie Gravely Circle and Joel Cannon Sunday School Class.

Survivors include her David Garrison and her best friend Rosa Bray.

In addition to her parents, Mrs. Garrison was predeceased by her daughter M. Lynn Garrison and her sister Martha Ann Burton.

Entombment was held Jan. 14 at Hillcrest Memorial Park and Gardens Mausoleum II with a memorial service following at Grace United Methodist Church.

The family requests flowers be omitted and memorials be made to the Joel Cannon Sunday School Scholarship Fund, Grace United Methodist Church, 309 East Cedar Rock Street, Pickens, SC 29671.

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

Robert J.C. Nix

Central — Mr. Robert J.C. Nix, 80, husband of the late Sharon Hughes Nix, passed away Monday, Jan. 9, 2017, at his home.

Born in Pickens County, a son of the late Clarence and Hattie Durham Nix, Mr. Nix retired from Central Textile and was a member of Maranatha Baptist Church.

Surviving are two sons, Franklin Nix and Edward Nix; two daughters, Glenda Harvey and Melissa Wood; a brother, Willie Nix; and numerous grandchildren. In addition to his wife and parents, Mr. Nix was predeceased by four children.

Graveside services were held Jan. 14 at Greenlawn Memorial Park.

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

Jerry Crane Lusk Sr

Travelers Rest — Jerry Crane Lusk Sr., 63, passed away at his home on Dec. 30 2016.

Born on Jan., 5 1953 he was the husband to late wife Linda Lusk and father to late son Jerry Jr. He left behind three daughters Tami Revis, Pam Newman and Donna Redding (Jessie), all of Dacusvlle; nine grandchildren; and two great-grand children.

Services were held Jan. 5 in Easley.

Veronica Green Bagwell

Pickens — Mrs. Veronica Green Bagwell, 86, affectionately known to her family as “Runtney” and to her friends as “Ronnie”, of Pickens, loving wife of the late Alvin Lee Bagwell, passed away Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2017, at Pruitt Healthcare of Pickens.

Mrs. Bagwell was born in Pickens County on Sept. 25, 1930 to the late William Roy Green and Rebecca Gerue Brown Green. She was the oldest member of her immediate family, representing five generations, and was a member of United Wesleyan Church.

Mrs. Bagwell is survived by a daughter; Martha Bagwell Heape and her husband George; a brother; Donnie Ray Green and his wife Elaine; and five sisters; Catherine Davidson (Cohen); Ethel Rochester (Jerry); Jenny Clayton (Joe); Starlena Owens; and Robin Holcombe (Gary). She is also survived by two grandchildren; Alicia Rouse and her husband Alan and G. Edward Heape and his wife Melissa; and five great-grandchildren; Karley and Gunner Rouse and Hannah, Savannah, and Austin Heape.

In addition to her loving husband and her parents, she was preceded in death by a brother; Charlie Green.

Funeral Services were conducted Jan. 14 in the Chapel of Robinson Funeral Home – Downtown. Interment followed at Hillcrest Memorial Park in Pickens.

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

Ovaline Bryant Nimmons

SENECA — Ovaline Bryant Nimmons, 87, wife of the late Wilton Dendy Nimmons of Seneca, passed away Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2017, at Seneca Health and Rehab.

A native of Pickens, Mrs. Nimmons was the daughter of the late Fred Americas and Gladys Ellenburg Bryant.

Mrs. Nimmons is survived by her daughters, Ann Leopard (Jerry) of Westminster, Gwen Pelfrey of Seneca, Lynda Partin (Andrew) of Walhalla, and Pam Partin (Ernie) of Walhalla; seven grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.

In addition to her parents and husband, Mrs. Nimmons was preceded in death by her brothers, Ray, Patrick, Douglas, and Wallace Bryant and sisters, Ruby Nimmons and Bonnie Smith.

Graveside services were held Jan. 14 at Oconee Memorial Park.

Flowers are accepted.

Graziella B. Griffin

Clemson — Graziella Buzzi-Cantone Griffin, 99, formerly of Clemson, widow of James Leroy Griffin of Six Mile, passed peacefully on Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2017.

Born in Peru, she was a daughter of the late Dr. Arnaldo and Maria Cristina Matteoda Buzzi-Cantone and was predeceased by her sister, Valentina Bonardi. Mrs. Griffin was a wife, mother, grandmother, aunt and great-grandmother. In addition, she was a music composer, homemaker and a member of St. Andrew Catholic Church of Clemson.

Surviving are sons, James Robert Griffin, Henry Arnold Griffin, and Alan Darryl Griffin ; grandchildren, Elizabeth, Kathyrn, Corin, Valentina, Charlotte, Yvonne and Adriana; and great grandchildren, Ella, Oscar, Morite, Julia, Carlotta and Bruno.

Condolences may be expressed online at www.robinsonfuneralhomes.com or Duckett-Robinson Funeral Home, Central.

Peggy Loretta Grey Hedden

Central — Peggy Loretta Grey Hedden, 78, of Sims School Road, Central, passed into Heaven on Saturday, Jan. 14, 2017.

She was a recent resident of Seneca Health & Rehabilitation Center. The daughter of the late John Clark Grey Sr. and Dessie Cleo Moore, she was predeceased by her husband, Gene Nathaniel Hedden, and a son, Valdean F. Hedden.

She was the beloved mother to six children, the five surviving are Clyde Hedden (Leigh) of Central, Sybil Capps (Coles) of Seneca, Jeff Hedden (Pam) of Central, Marcus Hedden (Lisa) of Salem, and Opal Crocker (Mark) of West Union. She was a beloved grandmother to 15: Julie Hedden Perry, Neil Hedden, Gunner Hedden, Augustus Hedden, Russell Capps, Riley Capps, Ezra Hedden, Emily Hedden, Crystal Hedden Hernandez, Zachary Cain Hedden, Christopher Hedden, Destiny Hedden, Matthew Crocker, Bethany Crocker and Aaron Crocker, and many great-grandchildren as well. She is also survived by two brothers, John Clark Grey, Jr., (Earlline) of Anderson and Charles Grey (Mary) of Dalton, Ga.

Born in Fla., Peggy moved to Central when she was 15 and enrolled in Central Wesleyan High School and then Daniel High School. She married in 1955 and was married until her husband’s death in 2007.

A member of Miracle Way Ministries, Peggy was a very gentle woman with a sweet spirit and very kind heart. She was a talented singer and artist. She also played the piano, and was known for generously preparing delicious food for family and friends. She grew beautiful flowers, and deeply loved her family, church, and Jesus Christ.

Services were held Jan. 16 in the chapel of Duckett Robinson Funeral Home in Central with graveside gathering following at Mt. Zion Cemetery in Central.

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