Lucille S. Mason

Easley — Mrs. Helen “Lucille” Smith Mason, 85, wife of O’dell Mason, passed away Monday, Aug. 1, 2016, at her home.

Born in Pickens County, a daughter of the late William Elmer and Mary Ina Nix Smith, Mrs. Mason retired from Materials Management and was a member of Crosswell Apostolic Church, where she taught Sunday school for more than 15 years.

Surviving, in addition to her husband of 46 years, are a son, Chris Tant of Pickens; a brother, Grover Smith (Jimmie Ruth) of Easley; a sister, Rev. Ann Smith of Easley; a daughter-in-law, Kate Tant of Maryland; a step-son, Billy Mason of Blue Ridge; three grandchildren, four great-grandchildren and three step-grandchildren. In addition to her parents, Mrs. Mason was predeceased by a son, Terry Tant; two sisters, Frances Delozier and Bessie Mae Bloodworth; and a daughter-in-law, Kim Tant.

Funeral services were Friday, Aug. 5, in the chapel of Robinson Funeral Home-Downtown. Burial followed in 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.

Dr. Herbert P. Cooper Jr.

Clemson — Dr. Herbert Press Cooper Jr., 75, passed away on Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2016, after a long battle with cancer.

He was born in Anderson, the son of the late Sara Louise McCrary and Dr. Herbert Press Cooper Sr. Dr. Cooper was a lifetime resident of Clemson and a 1959 graduate of Daniel High School. After graduating from Clemson University with a B.S. degree, Dr. Cooper then graduated from the Medical University of South Carolina with a M.D. degree. After a one-year internship at Greenville Memorial Hospital, he spent more than four years in the U.S. Army Medical Corps, with one year in Vietnam, where he received a Bronze Star. He also spent more than three years in Berchtesgaden, Germany, where he met and married his wife, Traudl.

In 1973, he returned to Clemson and served as a family practice physician in the Clemson and Pendleton area until his retirement in June 2015. In 2013, he was selected to be a member of the inaugural class of the D.W. Daniel Athletic Hall of Fame. He had served on the School District of Pickens County Board of Trustees since 1992.

“The news of Dr. Cooper’s passing is very saddening for all of us who had the pleasure to know and work with him,” said Dr. Danny Merck, School District of Pickens County superintendent. “He has served on our board of trustees for 24 years, and he has left a legacy of supporting education that will have an impact on generations of students. His experience, insight, love for students, and love for his community will never be surpassed. I’m very grateful to have worked with him to build success for our students.”

Dr. Cooper is survived by his wife, Traudl, and two children, Herbie and Heidi, who are both physicians and who were both valedictorians at Daniel High School; brother, Tommy Cooper of Clemson; and sister, Mary Acock of Six Mile.

In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by a sister, Sara Louise Shigley.

A memorial service for Dr. Cooper was held at the D.W. Daniel High School auditorium on Saturday, Aug. 6.

There was a private burial for Dr. Cooper at Woodland Cemetery on the campus of Clemson University.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Dr. Herb Cooper Scholarship Fund in care of the Daniel Foundation, 140 Blue and Gold Blvd, Central, SC 29630.

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

Genelle Pirnes

Liberty — Genelle Robinson Pirnes, 89, of 341 Slab Bridge Road, Liberty, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, August 3, 2016, at the Hospice House in Anderson.

Born in Anderson, she was a daughter of the late Samuel T. and Alma Richey Robinson.

She retired from Singer and was a member of Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church. She loved flowers and her church, but the most important thing in her life was her family.

Surviving are her husband, Stanley C. Pirnes of the home; two daughters, Patti Shirley (George) of Townville and Lori Dent (Michael) of Easley; a sister, Marie Newell of Pickens; a brother, Terry Robinson (Faye) of Lilburn, Ga.; and three grandchildren, Ethan and Andrew Dent and Katie Shirley.

In addition to her mother and father, she was preceded in death by a sister, Patricia R. Kay.

Funeral services to honor the life of Mrs. Pirnes were held Saturday, Aug. 2, in the Liberty Mortuary Chapel, with burial following at Liberty Memorial Gardens.

Flowers will be accepted, or memorials may be made to Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church, Building Fund, 101 Pisgah Road, Easley SC 29642.

Liberty Mortuary is handling arrangements.

Dennis Broom

Easley — Dennis Broom, 75, passed away on Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2016.

A native of Transylvania County, N.C., he was the son of the late Kermit Henry Broom and Eva Mae Queen Broom. He was also preceded in death by a son, Jimmy Dean Broom, and sisters, Frances Parker and Vergie Broom.

Mr. Broom was of the Baptist faith and he loved hunting, fishing and softball.

Surviving are his children, Teresa Kelley of Six Mile; Sandra Dunn and husband Ray of Easley, and Dennis L. Broom and wife Michelle of Pickens; brother, Clifton Broom and wife Betty of Pickens; nine grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.

A graveside service was held on Friday, Aug. 5, at Woods Cemetery in Balsam Grove, N.C.

Online condolences may be left at www.moodyconnollyfuneralhome.com. Moody-Connolly Funeral Home and Crematory is in charge of the arrangements.

Keith James

Easley — Keith James, 70, of 135 Benton Park Drive, went home to be with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2016.

Born in Anderson County, he was the son of the late Willie and Gertrude Williamson James.

Keith was a humble man who dearly loved his Lord and family. He retired as a project manager with General Electric. He was a member of Rock Springs Baptist Church, where he was a member of the In His Steps Sunday School Class, former deacon, Sunday School teacher, money counter, usher and served on the Finance and Personnel Committees. He also was a U.S. Army veteran of the Vietnam War where he was awarded the Purple Heart and Bronze Star with V Device for Valor, and was a lifetime member of the Bates Masonic Lodge No. 189.

Surviving are his loving wife of 49 years, Janie Summey James; a son, Brian James and his wife, Julie, of Easley; his precious granddaughter, Elise James; a brother, Joe E. James and his wife, Carol, of Piedmont; and two nephews and three nieces.

In addition to his parents, Keith was predeceased by a granddaughter, Grace James, and a sister and brother-in-law, Wilola J. Stargel and Jerry Stargel.

A celebration of Keith’s life was held on Friday, Aug. 5, at Rock Springs Baptist Church, with burial following in the church cemetery.

Honorary pallbearers were the In His Steps Sunday School Class, the money counters of the church, GE retirees and past and present church ushers.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Widow’s Ministries of Rock Springs Baptist Church, 201 Rock Springs Road Easley, SC 29642 or to Paws 4 Liberty, 8939 Palomino Drive, Lake Worth, FL 33467, or paws4liberty.org.

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

CARL E. WILLIAMS

LIBERTY — Carl Edward Williams, 69, of Liberty, went home to be with the Lord on Saturday, July 30, 2016.

Born in Germany on Nov. 3, 1946, he was the son of the late Roy Edward and Helen Mueller Williams. Mr. Williams was an active member of Pickens First Baptist Church and was employed through BASF Corporation for more than 45 years. He attended Blanton’s Business College and was previously involved in NC/MI High School Athletic Association’s Sports Official Association. Mr. Williams was an avid golfer and outdoorsman, and served in Vietnam as a sergeant in the U.S. Marine Corps.

Surviving are his wife of 28 years, Lynn Williams; two sons, Jacob and Chase Williams; mother and fathers-in-law, Betty and Henry Dendy and Win Powell; two brothers-in-law, Eric Powell (Samantha) and Robert Powell; five nephews, Matthew, Jackson, Timothy and Benjamin Powell, and Bryan Williams; and one niece, Jennifer Williams.

Mr. Williams was also predeceased by one brother, Terry Gene Williams.

Funeral services were held on Aug. 3 at Pickens First Baptist Church. Burial followed at Hillcrest Memorial Park.

The family will be at the home.

Memorials may be made to Pickens First Baptist Church Building Fund at 406 E. Main Street, Pickens, SC 29671.

Dillard Funeral Home is assisting the Williams family.

LUCILLE GARRETT

SIX MILE — Lucille Cook Garrett, 100, wife of the late James Milford Garrett Sr., passed away peacefully, surrounded by her family, on Sunday, July 31, 2016, at her home.

Born in Six Mile on July 11, 1916, she was the daughter of the late Claude and Minnie Cook. Mrs. Garrett was a member of Six Mile Baptist Church. She was a homemaker who enjoyed family gatherings, reading, quilting and gardening.

She is survived by her five children, James Garrett Jr. (Betty), Sherry Cox, Tom Garrett, Dale Garrett, and Allan Garrett (Tricia); one daughter-in-law, Karen Garrett; two siblings, Lillian Stewart and Claude Cook Jr.; 13 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.

Mrs. Garrett was also predeceased by one son, Donald Garrett; one son-in-law, Ron Cox; and two grandsons, Ben Boggs and Billy Ray Cox.

Funeral services were held on Aug. 4 at Six Mile Baptist Church, with burial following in the church cemetery.

The family will be at the home.

In lieu of flowers, please make memorials to the Pickens County Meals on Wheels, 704 S. Pendleton St., Easley, SC 29640, or to the Hospice Care of South Carolina, 900 E. Main St., Easley, SC 29640.

Online condolences may be expressed to the family by visiting www.DillardFunerals.com.

Matthew Lee Brooks Sr.

SIX MILE — Matthew Lee Brooks Sr., 24, of Six Mile, went to be with the Lord on Sunday, Aug. 7, 2016.

He is survived by his children, MJ Brooks, Bella Brooks and Allen Brooks; his brother, Justin Brooks; his parents, Tim and Janet Brooks; his grandparents, Junior and Louise Pilgrim; his wife, Elizabeth Brooks; his uncles, Dallas Pilgrim, Tommy Pilgrim and Carl Brooks; and his aunts, Andrea Pilgrim and Shelba Brooks.

He was preceded in death by his uncle, Allen Pilgrim; and his grandparents, Grace and Sam Brooks.

The visitation will be held on Friday, Aug. 12, at Faith Baptist Church in Norris from 1:30 to 3 p.m. The funeral service will follow immediately after at 3 p.m.

Interment will be at Faith Baptist Church – Norris Cemetery.

Margaret A. Roush

Liberty — Margaret Ann Wood Roush, 58, passed away Friday, Aug. 5, 2016, at Baptist Easley Hospital.

Born in Oconee County, a daughter of the late Walter and Bertha Louise Dill Wood, Margaret was a homemaker and of the Baptist faith.

Surviving are three sons, Thomas Roush, Donnie Roush and Brandon Browning; three daughters, Mary Roush, Jennifer Bice and Crystal Garcia; one brother, Carl Wood; five sisters, Mildred Lee, Doris Hannah, Audrey Goss, Jeanette Gallamore and Linda Porter; and seven grandchildren. In addition to her parents, Margaret was predeceased by two sisters, Beatrice Rogers and Dorothy Lauderdale.

Memorial services will be hosted by the family at a later date.

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

Judy Gray Pinkston

Pickens — Judy Gray Pinkston, R.N., 65, wife of Robert V. Pinkston Jr., died Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2016, at St. Francis Hospital in Greenville.

Judy was born in Summerville, a daughter of Juanita McKay Gray of Beaufort and the late Allen Thomas Gray. She devoted her life to nursing, which she started at a young age as a candy striper while in high school. She was retired from Greenville Hospital System and was employed with The Presbyterian Communities of Easley, where she worked part-time because for her, sitting at home was not an option. Judy was a graduate of the Walterboro School of Practical Nursing and later Greenville Technical College, where she received an AS degree in nursing. She was a communicant of St. Michael’s Episcopal Church in Easley, and she was a member of The Cindy Parrott Chapter of The Daughters of the King.

Judy learned to cook at an early age and fancied herself as a specialist in good old-fashioned home country cooking. Her major hobby was going on adventures with her grandson Aiden to the library, parks, shopping and anywhere else he wanted to go. She took a great deal of pride in being Aiden’s “Granny Judy,” a role she truly and dearly loved.

Survivors include her husband, Robert, her daughter, Heidi M. Robinson and her husband Stephen of Liberty and grandson, Aiden Robinson. Also surviving are her mother, Nita Gray of Beaufort, and her sister, Pamela Thompson and her husband Steve of Beaufort, her father-in-law, Bob Pinkston, and sister-in-law, Mary Donna Pinkston, both of Beaufort, and her furry babies, Jack, Mikey and Baby Girl Kitty.

Funeral services were Aug. 6, 2016, at St. Michael’s Episcopal Church in Easley. A reception followrf in the church parish hall. Entombment will be at a later date.

The family asks that flowers be omitted and those desiring make memorials to St. Michael’s Episcopal Church, 1200 Powdersville Road, Easley, SC 29642 or to Foothills Presbyterian Community, 205 Bud Nalley Drive, Easley, SC 29642.

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

The family would like to extend a special thanks to the CCU staff of St. Francis-Downtown, especially her nurses who cared for her during her last hours, namely Leigh Anne, Pat, Ann, Jordan and Strad, wonderful caregivers all.

Dillard Funeral Home is assisting the Pinkston family.

Bette Jean Murrow

GREENVILE — Proverbs 31:28: “Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her.” Although they will miss her greatly, the family of Bette Jean Murrow Whitley is grateful she has arrived into eternal life on Aug. 1, 2016. She possessed a wonderful, spunky sense of humor and an unmatched love of family. She forged loyal friendships that lasted a lifetime and treasured the times she spent with them dining out and shopping.

Her life was celebrated on Aug. 4, 2016, at Mt. Pisgah United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Donald Thomas officiating. The family greeted friends in the fellowship hall during a reception following the service. Interment will be private.

Bette was born in Savannah, Ga., and was lovingly raised by Roy and Etta Murrow, and following Etta passing’s when Bette was 13, at the age of 15 she became part of the family of Dave and Lucille Bolman. She graduated from Curry High School, where she met her sweetheart and love of her life, Robert E. Whitley. They were married in 1950 and celebrated 57 years of marriage. After Bob’s retirement, they were quite successful for more than 30 years with a craft and basket-making business and enjoyed traveling to different craft fairs around the Southeast. She was a talented craftsman and could see the possibility of beautiful art in items that others could not. While raising four children, Bette was also a successful administrator over the years while Blue Bell transitioned to VF. Bette had a green thumb and treasured time in her yard tending to flowers and her garden. She was a life-long member of Mt. Pisgah UMC, where she participated in the Women’s Circle.

She was a supportive and loving wife and a shoulder to lean upon for her children. She remained in her home after Bob’s passing, because when her home was filled with family her heart was filled with joy. She adored her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She will be missed by her children and their spouses, David Whitley of Burlington, N.C., Dawn Whitley of Greensboro, N.C., Paige and Randy Jones of Boone, N.C., and Karen and Terry Grant of Pickens and former daughter-in-law, Melinda Whitley; grandchildren and spouses, Justin and Hannah Whitley, Sarah and Daniel Thomas, Abbey Powers, Brian Moore, Lauren and Christopher Prentice, Kaylie Jones, Kristen Jones, Annie and Ryan Lee and Matthew and Nicole Owens; and great-grandchildren, Ethan, Hayden, Joshua, Bridgette, Gage and Cooper. In addition to her parents and spouse, she was preceded in death by two grandsons, Brandon and Kyle Whitley.

The family would like to thank the wonderful care Bette received at Hospice Home of High Point during her brief stay. Floral tributes are welcome, or memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of the Piedmont, 1801 Westchester Dr., High Point, NC 27262 or Mt. Pisgah UMC, 2600 Pisgah Church Rd, Greensboro, NC 27455. Online condolences may be made at www.haneslineberryfuneralhomes.com. Hanes-Lineberry N. Elm chapel is assisting the Whitley family.

Alton “Neal” O’Neal Dillashaw, Sr.

Easley — Mr. Alton “Neal” O’Neal Dillashaw Sr., 82, of Easley, husband to the late Mrs. Dorothy Jean Gray Dillashaw, passed away Sunday, Aug. 7, 2016, at Baptist Easley Hospital.

Born in Greenwood County, the son of the late Jack Bruce Dillashaw and Onie Farmer Dillashaw, Mr. Dillashaw was a U.S. Navy veteran, serving during the Korean War. He was a claims adjuster with Nationwide Insurance for 20 years, owner and operator of Smith and Chiles Auto Body Inc. for 23 years before retiring, and was a member of Mt. Carmel Baptist Church.

In addition to his parents and loving wife of 61 years, he was preceded in death by his brothers, Wallace Dillashaw and Jack Bruce “Junior” Dillashaw.

Surviving are two sons, Alton O’Neal Dillashaw Jr. (Debra), and Todd Dillashaw (Pam), all of Easley; five grandchildren, Bethany Holder (Adam), Derrick (Megan), Devon, Katelyn, and Brandon Dillashaw; and one great-grandchild, Maebry Dillashaw.

Funeral services will be Wednesday, Aug. 10, at noon in the chapel of Robinson Funeral Home-Powdersville Road, 1425 Powdersville Road, Easley. Burial will follow in Robinson Memorial Gardens.

The family will receive friends from 10:30-11:45 a.m. prior to the service 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.