Courier Obituaries 2-27-19
ADDIE LEE COLLINS
PICKENS — Addie Lee Massingill Collins, 97, of Pickens, wife of the late Ernest Thelmer Collins, went home to be with her Lord and Savior on Thursday, Feb. 21, 2019.
Born on July 29, 1921, in Pickens County, she was the daughter of the late James Randolph and Mamie Irene Lark Massingill. For many years, Addie co-owned and operated A and T Outlet in Pickens. She enjoyed being a homemaker, cooking for her family every possible moment. She was a member of Elljean Baptist Church.
Surviving are her two children, the Rev. Ken Collins (Lib) and Helen Simmons; one sister, Ruby Stancil; seven grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren and 11 great-great-grandchildren.
Addie was also predeceased by one daughter, Sue Granger and her husband Gene Granger, one sister, Edna Ellenburg, and one brother, J.P. Massingill.
Funeral services were held on Feb. 25 in the Dillard Funeral Home chapel, with the Rev. Brandon Wimpey, the Rev. Ken Collins, and the Rev. Rex Simmons officiating.
A committal service followed at Hillcrest Memorial Park, with Dr. Boyce Whitman officiating.
Memorials may be made to Elljean Baptist Church at 605 Elljean Road, Easley, SC 29640.
Online condolences may be expressed to the Collins family by visiting DillardFunerals.com.
JOANN SIMMONS KOONCE
LEXINGTON, Ky. — JoAnn Simmons Koonce, age 80, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2019.
She was born on Jan. 7, 1939, in Kinston, N.C., to Bruce Heritage Simmons and Sudie Harriett Simmons.
She met her college sweetheart and lifetime love, Roger William Koonce, at UNC Chapel Hill, and they spent 55 happy years together. While at UNC, Roger and his fraternity brothers gathered below her dorm window and serenaded her — pinning her the “1959 Sweetheart of Theta Chi.” The following year, she married Roger at her hometown church, Pollocksville United Methodist. Roger preceded her in death in 2015.
JoAnn attended the UNC School of nursing and also studied business at Peace College in Raleigh, N.C. The family moved to Lexington, Ky., in 1968, where she managed the main offices of Dawhares Department Stores and then the Community Colleges of Kentucky. In 1984, the family moved to Clemson and attended Fort Hill Presbyterian Church. She worked for the School Nurse Practitioner Program, the Clemson Graduate School, and finally for the Provost Office before retiring in 2004. After retirement, she and Roger enjoyed traveling, auctions, painting classes, events with friends, reading, family and just being together. After a fall in 2015 that required surgery and rehabilitation, she once again moved to Lexington, Ky., to be closer to family and lived at Hartland Hills and then Brookdale Richmond Place. She was blessed with good friends in the retirement communities where she resided.
Throughout her life, JoAnn was a doer. Her hands were rarely still, and she had a servant’s heart. She strived to be Christ-like in her efforts to love others. She was honored as the Suburban Women Club’s Outstanding Woman for her volunteer efforts in Lexington, Ky., and always served the churches in the cities where she lived. She could be found teaching Bible school or Sunday school, singing in the choir, working in campus ministry or leading within the Presbyterian Women group at Fort Hill Presbyterian in Clemson.
JoAnn was an engaged parent, grandparent and great-grandparent. As a full-time working parent, she always juggled and managed to be present for her children. She was a Cub Scout leader, Girl Scout volunteer and classroom craft-maker. As a Nana to her grandchildren, she was always up for a game or a fun craft that could be done together. She just loved being surrounded by her “babies.” JoAnn treasured family. As the oldest living relative in her family, she took her role of connecting family very seriously. In the days leading up to her homecoming, she was still impressing upon younger generations the importance of preserving family ties.
She was a strong and resilient woman of faith. Her well-lived life was a living example of Proverbs 31:25-27. “She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future. When she speaks, her words are wise, and she gives instructions with kindness. She carefully watches everything in her household and suffers nothing from laziness.”
JoAnn is survived by her three children and their spouses, Janice Lynne Koonce Estes (Chuck Estes), Jeffrey Simmons Koonce (Diana Smith Koonce) and Julie Anne Koonce Morris (Lane Morris); seven grandchildren, Christopher Wade Austin NYC (Courtney), Chad Morris, Lauren Koonce Royse (Tyler), Madison Emily Cantrell Mackey (Geoff), Asher Graham Austin, Samantha Jo Cantrell McMillan (Derek) and Joseph Thomas Koonce; and four great-grandchildren, Brylee Jo McMillan, Max Royse, Adalyn Holland and Jadyn Estes, and a fifth great-grandchild is expected this summer.
Please join her family in a celebration of life service at Fort Hill Presbyterian Church in Clemson, on Saturday, March 2, at 11 a.m. Prior to this service, her family will inter her ashes alongside her husband’s in the courtyard. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Crucial Calling Capital Campaign to endow campus ministry at Fort Hill Presbyterian Church, 101 Edgewood Ave., Clemson, SC 29631. https://forthillchurch.org/
JACQUELYN CORLEY
PICKENS — Jacquelyn Lavera Infinger Corley, 72, of 810 Railroad St., died on Wednesday, Feb. 20, 2019, at her residence.
Born in Charleston, she was a daughter of the late Daniel Nathaniel Infinger, Jr. and Vera Johnson Infinger. She enjoyed reading, decorating and spending time with her grandchildren. She was of the Christian faith.
Surviving are her boyfriend of many years, Rick Chambers; two daughters, Kathy Pitts (John) of Easley and Nannette Wilkins of Winder, Ga.; a son, Nathan Lantz (Sandy) of Central; two sisters, Miriam Crain (Michael) of Interlachen, Fla., and Amanda Patterson (Bobby) of Charleston; a brother, Danny Infinger of Ladson; and four grandchildren, Jeremey Eckers, Justin Pitts, Addison Pitts and Charlie Pitts.
In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by a brother, Gene Infinger.
A memorial service to honor the life of Jackie was held on Feb. 23 at Liberty Church of God.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Liberty Church of God, PO Box 643 Liberty, SC 29657.
Online condolences may be made to the family by visiting libertymortuary.com. Liberty Mortuary and Cremation Services are handling arrangements.
MARGARET FLOYD
PICKENS — Margaret Holder Floyd, 91, wife of the late Frank Floyd passed from this life on Tuesday, Feb. 19, 2019, at the Presbyterian Community in Easley.
Mrs. Floyd was born in Pickens County, a daughter of the late Henry Furman and Daisy Shearer Holder. She was proud to be a wife, mother and homemaker. Mrs. Floyd was a member of the Pickens Presbyterian Church and for many years volunteered with the Cannon Hospital Auxiliary, along with her husband, Frank.
Survivors include her sons, Henry Floyd (Cindy) of Spartanburg and Lee Floyd of Lexington; his daughter, Jeannie Bowen (Tommy) of Pickens; and grandchildren, Hank Floyd, Betts Copenhaver, Cody Bowen and Matthew Floyd.
A graveside service was held on Feb. 23 at Hillcrest Memorial Park in Pickens.
Memorials may be made to the Foothills Presbyterian Community, 205 Bud Nalley Drive, Easley, SC 29642 or to the AnMed Health Cannon Auxiliary, 123 W.G. Acker Drive, Pickens, SC 29671.
A message of condolence may be expressed to the family by visiting dillardfunerals.com.
MELVIN “MEATBALL” BURNS
LIBERTY — Charles Melvin “Meatball” Burns, 63, of 232 Liberty Highway, died on Thursday, Feb. 21, 2019, at his residence.
Born in Lawton, Okla., he was the husband of Melissa Campbell Burns of the home and a son of the late Charles Austin and Eloise Tompkins Burns. He was a telecommunication engineer for many years and enjoyed the outdoors, hunting and fishing. He was of the Baptist faith.
Surviving in addition to his wife, is a daughter, Amanda Wood (Travis) of Liberty; two sons, Charles Austin Burns of Lafayette, La., and Ryan Burns (Alicia) of Boiling Springs; three brothers, Sammy Burns of Liberty, Phil Burns of Liberty and Mark Burns of Central; and five grandchildren, Davis and Connors Wood, Alexis and Anna Grace Barbery and Gabriel Burns.
A memorial service to honor the life of Mr. Burns was held on Feb. 23 in the Liberty Mortuary chapel.
The family will be at the home. Flowers will be accepted or memorials may be made to Shriner’s Hospital, 950 W. Faris Road, Greenville, SC 29605, or St. Jude Children’s Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.
Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting libertymortuary.com. Liberty Mortuary and Cremation Services are handling arrangements.
DANIEL WOODROW
“BOONE” ALEXANDER
PICKENS — Daniel Woodrow “Boone” Alexander, 76, husband of Sharon T. Alexander, passed from this life on Wednesday, Feb. 20, 2019, at his home.
Born in Pickens County, he was a son of the late William Talton Alexander and the late Mittie Pauline Crenshaw Alexander.
Survivors include his wife, Sharon, of 54 years of the home; a daughter, Lawana (Allan) Seigler of Six Mile; sons, Keenan (Julia) Alexander of Pickens and Jason (Paula) Alexander of Easley; grandchildren, Jordan (Brandon) DeOliveira-Wyrick, Gabbie Seigler, Jonathan Seigler, Reva Danielle Alexander and Anna Alexander; one great-grandchild; sisters, Ruth Greer, Caroline Morgan and Brenice Murphree; and brothers, Carli (Lavonne) Alexander and Dwight (Miriam) Alexander. Mr. Alexander was predeceased by his parents, four sisters and one brother.
A funeral service was held on Feb. 23 in the chapel of Mountain View Funeral Home.
Burial was held at Hillcrest Memorial Park and Gardens. Memorials may be made to the Pickens County Humane Society, 500 Five Forks Road, Liberty, SC 29657.
Mountain View Funeral Home is serving the Alexander family.
REBECCA “BECKY” WHITTEN HAULTER
TRAVELERS REST — Rebecca “Becky” Whitten Haulter, 68, wife of the late Larry Haulter, passed from this life on Wednesday, Feb. 20, 2019.
Becky was born in Greenwood, a daughter of the late James Ellison and Doris Bagwell Whitten. She was a member of St. Andrews Presbyterian Church in Taylors.
She had many hobbies, but was known to be a wonderful artist and avid reader, and enjoyed working crossword puzzles and home decorating.
Survivors include a daughter, Summer Haulter of Greenville; a son, Jimmy (Kim) Haulter of Greenville; sisters, Brenda (Dave) Wood of Travelers Rest and Faye (Mike) Hilliard of Greenwood; and grandsons, Jay and Braydon Bost of Travelers Rest.
Becky was predeceased by her husband, Larry Haulter, and a daughter, Melanie Haulter.
A memorial service was held on Feb. 23 at Marietta First Baptist Church.
A special thanks to the staff at Montrose Manor for the care that was given to Becky.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Regency Southern Care, 880 South Pleasantburg Drive, Suite 1A, Greenville, SC 29607 or Montrose Manor, 80 Medical Center Drive, Woodruff, SC 29388.
Mountain View Funeral Home is serving the Haulter family.
GLADYS F. SPEARMAN
EASLEY — Gladys Foster Spearman, 91, of Cedar Rock Church Road, wife of the late Julius C. Spearman, went home to be with her Lord and Savior on Friday, Feb. 22, 2019.
Born in Oconee County, she was a daughter of the late John Washington Foster and Effie Sloan McKern Foster.
Mrs. Spearman was retired from Mayfair Mills, Glenwood Plant. She was a member of Cedar Rock Baptist Church and the Melissa Sunday School Class. She loved her family dearly and enjoyed baking, cooking and helping in her community.
Surviving are a daughter, Judy S. Nietz (Vernon “Red”) of Easley; a grandson, Cory Finley (Amanda) of Liberty; and a great-grandson, whom she adored, Kyler Finley.
Mrs. Spearman was the last surviving member of her immediate family. In addition to her husband and parents, she was predeceased by brothers, Clyde E. Foster (Emily) and James Foster (Beuna Mae); and sisters, Edna Harbin (Frank), Eva Watson (Marion) and Martha Burdette.
Funeral services were held on Feb. 26 at Cedar Rock Baptist Church, with burial to follow in the church cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Cedar Rock Baptist Church, 1667 Cedar Rock Church Road, Easley, SC 29640.
Condolences may be expressed online by visiting robinsonfuneralhomes.com or in person at Robinson Funeral Home-Downtown, which is assisting the family.
DONNIE R. RIDER
EASLEY — Mr. Donnie Ray Rider, 64, husband of Betty Jean Manley Rider, passed away on Tuesday, Feb. 19, 2019.
Born in Greenville County, a son of the late Dean Alvin Rider and Bessie Blanton Rider, Mr. Rider retired from Greenville Roofing and was of the Baptist faith.
Surviving, in addition to his wife of 43 years, are two brothers, David B. Rider of Marietta and James D. Rider of Travelers Rest; and one sister, Christina Rider of Greenville. In addition to his parents, Mr. Rider was predeceased by four brothers.
No services will be held at this time.
Condolences may be expressed online at robinsonfuneralhomes.com or in person at Robinson Funeral Home-Downtown, Easley, which is assisting the family.
CHARLES LEE REEVES
EASLEY — Charles “Lee” Reeves, 61, husband of the late Teresa Reeves, passed from this life on Tuesday, Feb. 19, 2019, at Fleetwood Health and Rehab.
Charles was born in Greenville County, a son of the late John Charles Reeves and Shelby Jean Roper Reeves.
Survivors include daughters, Jeannie Marie Dunn (Leigh) of Pickens and Michelle Gonzalez (Roberto) of Easley; grandchildren, Savannah Holden, MaryBeth Dunn and Kimberly Gonzalez; and sisters, Pamela Hall (David), Teresa Richards (Robbie) and Jeannie Davis (Bill).
Charles was predeceased by his parents; wife, Teresa Reeves; a sister, Deborah Ann Hembree; and two brothers, Carl David Reeves and Ricky Harrison Reeves.
A graveside service was held on Feb. 22 at Hillcrest Memorial Park and Gardens.
Mountain View Funeral Home is serving the Reeves family.
TERESA WATT
MONROE, Ga. — Teresa Kitchens Watt, 49, of Windfield Drive, formerly of Liberty, passed away on Saturday, Feb. 16, 201,9 at her home.
Born in Zion, Ill., she was the wife of Barry Ray Watt of the home and a daughter of Marge Kitchens Harrison and her husband, Rex, of Easley, and the late James Elvis Kitchens. She was a hair stylist at J. Case Salon in Monroe, Ga., and was an avid reader. She was a member of The Order of The Eastern Star at Roberta, Chapter No.. 275 and a member of Jones Avenue Baptist Church.
Surviving, in addition to her husband and parents, are three daughters, Amber Watt (Brian Adkins) of Pendleton, Haley Baldwin (Eric) of Greenville, and Tia Watt of the home; a sister, Mitzi Dawkins (Chris) of Easley; two brothers, Steve Kitchens of Liberty and Tim Kitchens (Leisa) of Easley; and two grandchildren, Kadence Wilson and Greyson Watt, both of Pendleton.
Memorial services to honor the life of Mrs. Watt were held on Feb. 21 in the Liberty Mortuary chapel.
Memorials in her memory may be made to Miracle Hill Ministries, 490 S. Pleasantburg Drive, Greenville, SC 29602 or Mary’s House, PO Box 132, Pickens, SC 29671.
Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting libertymortuary.com. Liberty Mortuary and Cremation Services are handling arrangements.
REV. ORION LOFTIS
NORRIS — Rev. Orion Loftis, 81, husband of the late Jacquline “Jackie” Faye Loftis, passed into eternity on Monday, Feb. 18, 2019.
Born in Lavonia, Ga., he was a son of the late Henry Cromer Loftis and Reidi Revina Loftis.
Orion found great pleasure in his ministry to many prisons and nursing homes throughout the upstate of South Carolina. Rev. Loftis was a member of Cedar Hill Holiness Church in Six Mile.
Survivors include one daughter, Tammy Greene (Jesse) of Six Mile; three sons, Paul Loftis (Debbie) of Pickens, Dwayne Loftis of Pickens and Victor Loftis of Norris; six grandchildren, Jason Collins (Julie), Jamie Collins, Zachery Loftis, Hannah Durham (Ashten) and Josh Roper (McKayla); five great-grandchildren; two sisters and two brothers.
Funeral services were held on Feb. 21 at Cedar Hill Holiness Church.
Memorials may be made to Interim Healthcare Hospice, 16 Hyland Road, Greenville, SC, 29615. Mountain View Funeral Home is serving the Loftis family.
STANLEY A. MORGAN
PICKENS — Stanley Alton Morgan, 88, passed away Feb. 25, 2019.
He was born in Pickens on Oct. 12, 1930, the son of Stanley and Mary Emily (Lawrence) Morgan.
After high school, Stanley joined the U.S. Navy, where he served in the Philippines and the Aleutian Islands with the Seabees. He later went to work at the Judson Plant of the Milliken Company, where he retired after 46 years of service. Stanley loved spending time in his garden, and he enjoyed playing bingo and dominoes at the Senior Center in Pickens.
Stanley is survived by sons, Stanley (Sandra) and Steven Morgan, both of Pickens; daughter Susan Morgan (Leon), of Albuquerque, N.M.; two grandchildren, LaKay Blakely (David) and Matt Morgan; and four great-grandchildren, Kayla and Colby Blakely and Jaymee and Austin Morgan.
In addition to his parents, Stanley was predeceased by his beloved wife, Ary; daughter-in-law, Gloria Morgan; and sister, Alice Talley.
A funeral service will be held at 3 p.m. Friday, March 1, at Lawrence Chapel United Methodist Church, 2101 Six Mile Highway, Central. Interment will be in the church cemetery.
The family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 28, at Duckett-Robinson Funeral Home, 108 Cross Creek Road, Central.
Condolences may be expressed at RobinsonFuneralHomes.com or in person at the funeral home.
LOUISE LUSK
PICKENS — Louise Lay Lusk, 89, passed from this life on Saturday, Feb. 16, 2019, at the home of her daughter.
Mrs. Lusk was born in Oconee County, a daughter of the late Louie F. and Jane Cantrell Lay. She was retired from Cornell Dubilier and she was a member of Northside Baptist Church.
Survivors include her daughter, Renee Gray (Leonard) of Augusta, Ga.; grandchildren, Rebecca Gray Lynn (Jason) and Candace Gray Doyle (Tim); and great-grandchildren, Annabelle Doyle and John Doyle.
In addition to her parents, Mrs. Lusk was preceded in death by her son, Ricky “Porky” Lusk, and brothers, James Lay, Jack Lay, and Roy Lay.
At the request of Mrs. Lusk, funeral services will be private.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Pickens County Humane Society, PO Box 83, Liberty, SC 29657 at pchumanesociety.org or to Alzheimer’s Foundation of America at alzfdn.org.