BRUCE GRIFFIN

PICKENS — Mr. Bruce White Griffin, 67, of Pickens went to be with his Lord and Savior surrounded by his loving family on Friday, Feb. 28, 2020.

Born in Pickens, he was the son of the late Columbus Griffin and Sarah Stegall Griffin, and husband of Betty Jean Grant Griffin.

Bruce enjoyed coin collecting and watching his son’s dirt track races, but most of all enjoyed his loving and precious family.

Bruce is survived by his loving wife Betty of 47 years; two sons, Barry Griffin (Jennifer) of Pickens and Benji Griffin (Stacey) of Liberty; a daughter, Barbara Pilgrim (Tony) of Liberty; three brothers, Kenneth Griffin (Karen) of Easley, Gerald Griffin of Liberty and Terry Griffin (Janet) of Easley. Bruce also leaves two precious grandchildren to share in his memory, Payton Griffin and Kole Griffin.

He was predeceased by his parents, Columbus and Sarah; three brothers, Jimmy Griffin, Joe Frank Griffin and Columbus Griffin Jr.; and a sister, Pat Pace.

Memorial services were held on Mar. 2 at Dillard Funeral Home officiated by Pastor Kenny Griffin and Chaplin Jeff Doughty. Burial followed at Hillcrest Memorial Park in Pickens.

Online condolences may be sent to dillardfunerals.com.

Dillard Funeral Home is assisting the Griffin family.

EDDIE JOHNSON

EASLEY — Mr. Edgar Bolt “Eddie” Johnson Jr., 70, husband of Judy Smith Johnson, went to be with his Lord and Savior on Sunday, March 1, 2020.

Born in Greenville County, a son of the late Edgar Bolt Johnson Sr. and the late Velma Wyatt Johnson, Mr. Johnson was a graduate of Wren High School and later graduated from Clemson University, where he received his master’s degree in agricultural education. He retired from the B.J. Skelton Career Center with 22 years of service, where he taught agricultural mechanics, and later retired as the owner and operator of Johnson Landscaping. He served with the Three and Twenty Fire Department for 32 years, was a member of Corinth Baptist Church, and was a U.S. Army Reserve veteran.

Eddie was an avid Clemson fan and loved woodworking and camping, but his passion was helping others in need. He will be dearly missed by all who loved and knew him.

Surviving, in addition to his wife of 50 years, are three sons, Steve Johnson (Hope), Keith Johnson (Shannon) and Tim Johnson (Melanie), all of Easley; two brothers, John M. Johnson (Sherry) and David B. Johnson, both of Easley; two sisters, Emily J. East (Jerry) of Seneca and Margaret Ann Almond (Mike) of Columbus, Ga.; three grandchildren, Tiffany Lesley (Greg), Sarah Beth Johnson and Chloe Johnson; and two great-grandchildren, Kyleigh and Eden Lesley.

In addition to his parents, Mr. Johnson was predeceased by a sister-in-law, Mary W. Johnson.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, March 4, at Corinth Baptist Church. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.

Flowers will be accepted and memorials may be made to United Christian Ministries, P.O. Box 1774, Easley, SC 29641; or to the Three and Twenty Fire Department, 832 Three and Twenty Road, Easley, SC 29642.

Visit robinsonfuneralhomes.com or Robinson Funeral Home and Crematory-Downtown, Easley.

CANDICE LOUCKS

LIBERTY — Candice Virginia Burns Loucks, 64, of 423 Liberty Highway, passed away peacefully on Friday, Feb. 28, 2020, after several years of declining health with VCP Disease at Capstone Health and Rehab in Easley.

She was born in Greenville on Jan. 16, 1956, to the late Stiles Dendy Burns Jr. and Dorothy Virginia Thomas Burns. Her brother, Monte Richard Burns, predeceased her on May 17, 2010, at the age of 51 (June 12, 1958). She was the last surviving member of her immediate family.

A 1974 graduate of Liberty High School and a retired secretary having worked at NTB Greenville Inc. in Greenville, she also worked at Pickens County Probate Court in Pickens, Texas Instruments Inc. in Lubbock, Texas, and Lewisville, Texas, and also the School District of Pickens County.

She was a member of Park Street Baptist Church in Easley and a faithful viewer of the television ministry of First Baptist Church of Spartanburg. She enjoyed spending time with her family, reading and genealogy research.

Surviving are a son, Jared Joseph Loucks and his wife Kayla Marie Field Loucks of Greer; a daughter, Lindsey Virginia Loucks Campbell and her husband Kevin Douglas Campbell of Liberty; six grandchildren, Joseph Tyler Holder, Ragen Renee Loucks, McKenzie Virginia Campbell, Landen Walker Campbell, Logan Robert Campbell and Colton Samuel Loucks; a very special cousin, Debra Regina Thomas Youngblood (Mark) of White Rock, N.M.; and her ex-husband and friend, Randy Phillip Loucks of Liberty. She is also survived by her “adopted” family, Melany Wilkins (Aric) and their children, Carroline, Eli, Gabe, and Isaiah.

The family expresses a special thank you to all her personal caregivers.

Memorial services were conducted on March 2 in the Liberty Mortuary chapel. Private burial was held at Abbott Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests donations be made to curevcp.org.

Online condolences may be left for the family by visiting libertymortuary.com. Liberty Mortuary and Cremation Services is handling arrangements.

KATHERINE A. HUDSON

EASLEY — Mrs. Katherine Alexander Hudson, 85, wife of the late William Franklin “Frankie” Hudson, went to be with her Lord and Savior on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020.

Born in Pickens County, the daughter of the late James Leonard Alexander and the late Elise Jones Alexander, Mrs. Hudson was a graduate of Easley High School and the former co-owner of Handy Stop Grocery for 31 years. She was a member of United Wesleyan Church.

Surviving are her daughter, Teresa Hudson Whitmire (Mike) of Easley; three grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.

Funeral services were held on March 1 in the chapel of Robinson Funeral Home-Downtown, with Rev. Lawrence Keever officiating. Burial followed in Greenlawn Memorial Park.

Memorials may be made to United Wesleyan Church, 738 Rice Road, Easley, SC 29640.

Visit robinsonfuneralhomes.com or Robinson Funeral Home and Crematory-Downtown, Easley.

STEPHEN LEWIS, PH.D.

SIX MILE — Dr. Stephen Lewis, 77, of Six Mile, passed away peacefully Sunday, March 1, 2020 at his home.

Born in Sodus, N.Y., he was the husband of Julie Stewart Lewis and a son of the late Fred Herbert and Elizabeth Staves Lewis.

Dr. Lewis attended Penn State University, where he received his bachelor’s degree, and Rutgers University, where he received his master’s degree, and he received his Ph.D. at the University of Arizona. He was a celebrated soy bean researcher and a past president of the Society of Nematologists. He was also elected a fellow of the society. A professor emeritus, he had retired from Clemson University as the department chair for Plant Pathology and Physiology. Dr. Lewis had many hobbies and interests, including cars, travel, film art, classical music, photography and food, but his main focus was always his family. He was a member of Holy Trinity Episcopal Church.

Surviving in addition to his wife of 52 years are two daughters, Stephanie Shelton (Roger) of Greenville and Joanna Mitchell of Houston, Texas; a son, Michael Stewart Lewis of Redding, Conn.; a sister, Betty St. Cyr of Va.; a brother, Robert Lewis of Six Mile; and two grandchildren, Roger Blake Shelton and Riley Stuart Mitchell.

A memorial service for Dr. Stephen Albert Lewis will be held at 3:30 p.m., Sunday, March 8, at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in Clemson. A reception will be held prior to the service in the Parrish Hall from 2:30-3:30 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Holy Trinity Episcopal Church Nave Enhancement Fund, 193 Old Greenville Highway, Clemson, SC 29631.

The family will be at the residence. Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting libertymortuary.com. Liberty Mortuary and Cremation Services are handling arrangements.

MARILYN MERCK SWORDS

LIBERTY — Marilyn Merck Swords, 68, of 811 Slab Bridge Road, passed away peacefully on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020, at Prisma Baptist Easley Hospital.

Born in Greenville, she was the daughter of the late Julius Clarence and Margaret Byrd Merck.

Mrs. Swords was a 1969 graduate of D.W. Daniel High School. She was retired from the School District of Pickens County, where she worked in accounting. She was also a longtime member of Flat Rock Baptist Church, where she was a former Sunday school teacher for the children’s class.

Surviving are her husband, Mike Swords of the home; a brother, Roger Merck (Linda) of Central; and several nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her brother, Phil Merck.

Funeral services to honor Mrs. Swords’ life were conducted on Feb. 29 in the Liberty Mortuary chapel.

Burial was held at the Flat Rock Baptist Church cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are requested to Flat Rock Baptist Church, 115 Slab Bridge Road, Liberty SC 29657.

Online condolences may be left for the family by visiting libertymortuary.com.

Liberty Mortuary is handling arrangements.

RUTH B. DICKERSON

EASLEY — Mrs. Ruth Boaz Dickerson, 91, wife of the late James Wesley Dickerson, went to be with her Lord and Savior on Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2020.

Born in Fulton, Ky., the daughter of the late Ernest Hugh and Mary Cheatham Boaz, Mrs. Dickerson retired from Platt Saco-Lowell with more than 20 years of service. A member of Rock Springs Baptist Church since 1959, she belonged to the Prayer Warriors Bible Fellowship Class.

Surviving are her three children, Mary Dickerson Curtis of Easley, John William Dickerson of Augusta, Ga., and Rita Dickerson Hummel (John Huber) of Sarasota, Fla.; 10 grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, seven great-great-grandchildren, four great-great-great-grandchildren and one on the way.

In addition to her husband and parents, Mrs. Dickerson was predeceased by a son, James Arthur Dickerson, and a daughter-in-law, Patsy Ann Perdue Dickerson.

Funeral services were held on Feb. 29 at Rock Spring Baptist Church, with Rev. Dr. David Gallamore officiating. Burial followed in the church cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Open Arms Hospice, 1836 W. Georgia Road, Simpsonville, SC 29680.

Visit robinsonfuneralhomes.com or Robinson Funeral Home and Crematory-Downtown, Easley.

JAMES DANIEL MOSS

EASLEY — James Daniel Moss, 65, passed away on February 29, 2020.

Survivors include his daughters, Brandi (Eddie) Moser of Central and Jammi Moss (Devin Hedlund) of Seneca; grandchildren, Kaitlynn (Mark) Gowan, Bayleigh, Khloe, Madison, Peyton, Cole, Jaxon and Jazmyne; a great-grandchild, Joanna; and sisters, Della Moss, Charlotte Sheppard and Christa (Daniel) Hendrix.

James was predeceased by his parents, James Derrill Moss and Velma Elizabeth Bass Moss.

James loved spending time with his grandchildren and Clemson Tiger football.

A memorial service will be held on Friday, May 1, 2020 at the Dacusville Community Center (2671 Earls Bridge Highway, Easley SC 29640) from 4-8 p.m.

Mountain View Funeral Home is serving the Moss family.

JIMMY LEE BURNS SR.

PICKENS — Jimmy Lee Burns Sr., 73, passed away at his home on Friday, Feb. 28, 2020.

Born in Minot Ward, N.D., he was the son of the late Sarah Hall Burns and Albert Frank Burns from Summaron, Kan.

Surviving are his wife Janice Taylor Burns of the home; sons, Troy (Diane) Burns of Lubbock, Texas, Trevor (Amanda) Burns of Norton, Kan., and Jimmy (Patricia) Burns Jr. of Auburn, Neb.; daughters, Linda (Tom) Steele of Royce City, Texas, and Velver Hallmark of Pickens; stepdaughters, Sabrina (Joseph) Masters of Liberty and Nikki (Bill) Keatts of Clemson; brothers, Jr. (Jackie) Burns of Wichita, Kan., Mike Burns of Garden City, Kan., and William Hallmark of Leon, Iowa; seven grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, 10 stepchildren, four step-great-grandchildren and 12 step-grandchildren.

Jimmy was predeceased by his mother and a brother, Jack Burns.

Jimmy worked for 21 years for Kansas Nebraska Natural Gas. His hobbies were playing golf with his buddies, painting, drawing pictures and going to flea markets and yard sales.

A memorial service will be held at 5 p.m. on Thursday, March 5, in the chapel of Mountain View Funeral Home, officiated by Chaplain Todd Johnson. There will be a visitation an hour prior to the memorial service starting at 4 p.m. in the chapel.

The family would like to thank Wren Hospice for their exceptional care for Mr Burns. Mountain View Funeral Home is serving the Burns family

JONATHAN FRED RIDDLE

LIBERTY — Jonathan F. Riddle, 66, of Liberty passed away on Monday, Feb. 24, 2020.

Born in North Carolina, he was the son of the late Tony and Lavinia Riddle. Jonathan enjoyed going to the mountains, going to the beach, camping, riding his motorcycle and spending time outdoors trout fishing, and he loved spending time with his boys and grandchildren.

Surviving are his sons, Jonathan C. Riddle and his wife Amy Riddle of Liberty and Timothy D Riddle and his wife Tiffany Riddle of Easley; grandchildren, Darien Painter, Alyssa Riddle and Alex Riddle; sisters, Wanda Owens and her husband Dilly Owens of Liberty, Colleen Sprouse and her husband Lee Sprouse of Liberty, Angie Riddle of Liberty and Elaine Pilgrim of Six Mile; and his brother Russell “Rusty” Riddle and his wife Brenda Riddle of Six Mile.

In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his brother Don Riddle and a sister Sharon Evett.

Mountain View Funeral Home is serving the Riddle family.