RICHARD HENRY REECE

PICKENS — Mr. Richard Henry Reece, 85, went to be with his Lord and Savior on Wednesday, July 28, 2021.

Mr. Reece was born in Pickens and was the son of the late Jesse Reece and Edna Dillard Riggins Reece. He was a loving husband to Nancy Brown Reece.

Survivors include his wife of 59 years, Nancy; a daughter, Edna Bowers (Randy) of McColl; a son, Olin Reece (Laura Bartoloni) pf Chapin; and his loving and precious grandchildren, Kahlea and Kasper. Also surviving is one sister, Anne Pace of Brevard, N.C., and many loving nieces and nephews.

Mr. Reece was predeceased by two brothers, Gerald and Jack Reece.

Mr. Reece was a member at Grace United Methodist Church. He was a graduate of Pickens High School, Greenville Technical College and USC Spartanburg. Mr. Reece served our country in the United States Air Force during the Korean Conflict. He worked most of his career as a cost accountant for several large companies. After retiring in 2013, he never stopped working by volunteering at food banks, American Legion Post 11, his church, Grace United Methodist Church and the Honor Flight of Upstate South Carolina, and serving as a board member of the Registration and Election Commission of Pickens County. At the time of his death, he was serving as the financial officer of American Legion Post 11 in Pickens and as treasurer of the UMM of Grace United Methodist Church. As a member of Grace UMC, Mr. Reece served on numerous committees.

A memorial service was held on Aug. 1 at 4 p.m. at Grace United Methodist Church. Memorial service was officiated by the Rev. Valerie Mireb.

In lieu of flowers, please honor his memory by donating to American Legion Post 11 at 185 Hagood St., Pickens, SC, 29671 or to Grace United Methodist Church UMM at 309 E. Cedar Rock St., Pickens, SC 29671.

Dillard Funeral Home is assisting the Reece family.

Online condolences may be sent to dillardfunerals.com.

 

 

VIRGINIA BEATRICE DURHAM HAYES

LIBERTY — Mrs. Virginia Beatrice Durham Hayes, 94, went to be with her Lord and Savior on Sunday, July 25, 2021.

Mrs. Hayes was born in Walhalla and was the daughter of the late Plumer Pascal “Gabe” Durham and Julia Cora Satterfield Durham. She was the loving wife of the late Grover Hayes for 50 years.

Survivors include one son, Don Richard Hayes (Lillie) of Liberty and one daughter, Lucy Gillespie of Easley. Surviving are four grandchildren, Paula Pace (Jamie) of Pickens, Eva Venable (Jeff) of Easley, Keri Hayes Stewart (Chad) of Liberty and Justin Corey Hayes of Liberty. Also surviving are eight most precious and loving great-grandchildren, McKala, Zane, C.J., Tyne, Zoey, Blythe, Kinsley and Cambree. Great-great-grandchild Samual Roach Jr. will be a fall arrival.

Mrs. Hayes was predeceased by her husband, Grover, two brothers and three sisters. She was the last of her siblings.

Mrs. Hayes was the sweetest woman in the world. She loved her family deeply and she loved children. She was of the Baptist faith. She was multi-talented — she sewed, she farmed and she loved growing flowers and working in her vegetable garden. She had her claim to fame when her sunflower garden got featured in the local newspaper. She was known for her hard work and being knowledgeable in the old ways and traditions. Mrs. Hayes was loved by all and will be missed dearly by her family.

A funeral service was held on July 29 at the Dillard Funeral Home chapel. Burial followed the service at Hillcrest Memorial Park.

Dillard Funeral Home is assisting the Hayes family.

Online condolences may be sent to dillardfunerals.com.

 

 

CHRISTINE LYNN PITTMAN

PICKENS — Christine Lynn Pittman, 69, passed away holding the hand of her beloved husband of 16 years, Mr. Robert Wayne Pittman.

She will be truly missed and fondly remembered by her family, including her daughter, Lisa Bradley of Palm Harbor, Fla.; her granddaughter, Jordan Bradley of Savannah, Ga.; and her siblings, Dennis Johnson, Patti Gray and Sharon Fakiah, all of Detroit, Mich., and Lori Bealle of Marietta.

She was retired from Precision Valve after 27 years of service. She had an eye for the value of antiques, as well as precious stones. She collected many items of personal value.

She was predeceased by her daughter, Carrie Walden.

 

FLOYD CLIFTON LEROY

SENECA — Floyd Clifton Leroy, 68, husband of Carolyn Welborn, passed away on Monday, July 26, 2021, at Prisma Health Oconee Memorial Hospital.

Born in Oconee County on July 30, 1952, he was the son of the late Floyd Clifton Sr. and Ema Viola Crimes Leroy.

Mr. Leroy worked in manufacturing in textiles and had a love for Harley-Davidson motorcycles.

Left to share in his loving memory along with his wife, Carolyn, are a daughter, Lexie Leroy; son, Harley Leroy (Jessica); one grandchild, Emilee Moss-Leroy; sisters, Sara Broun (Andrew) and Betty Jo Johnson; and brothers, Donnie Leroy (Diane) and Ricky Leroy.

In addition to his parents, Mr. Leroy was predeceased by a brother, Billy Leroy.

A graveside service was held on July 28 at Dodd Cemetery in Seneca.

 

ALICE PORTER TURNER

EASLEY — Mrs. Alice Porter Turner, 99, of Easley, went home to be with her Lord on Saturday, July 31, 2021.

She was the widow of the late Yancey Milledge Turner, and a faithful member of Easley First Assembly of God.

Alice was born Dec. 12, 1921, in Pickens County, the oldest of 12 children of the late John Walter Porter and Jessie Meadows Porter. She loved caring and cooking for her family.

Alice leaves behind to cherish her memory one son, David Turner (Toni); three daughters, Carolyn Kaye (Roy), Martha Henderson (Ronnie) and Rebecca Merck (David); six grandchildren, Scott Kaye, Chad Henderson, Matthew Kaye, Mark Kaye, Chris Henderson and Leia Hamilton; and 11 great-grandchildren. Alice also leaves behind four sisters, Margaret Cochran, Dorothy Ann Mitchum, Betty Dorsey and Lillie Mae Merck, and one brother, Carl Porter.

Alice was also preceded in death by three sisters, Essie Whitmire, Frances Collins and Louise Porter; and three brothers, Buddy Porter, James Porter and Jerry Porter.

The family will receive friends on Saturday, Aug. 7, from 2-2:45 p.m. at Dillard Funeral Home. Funeral services will follow at 3 p.m. in the Dillard Funeral Home chapel, with Chad Henderson officiating. Committal services will be private.

The family will be at the home of Carolyn Kaye following the services.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at dillardfunerals.com for the Turner family.

 

 

BF MILLER

PICKENS — BF Miller of Pickens, loving father and grandfather, passed away at the age of 75 on Thursday, July 22, 2021.

BF was born June 26, 1946, in Oconee to Dee Miller and Oler Smith Miller. He worked in logging and construction for many years.

BF was preceded in death by his father and mother; two sons, Danny Miller and Tracy Miller; brothers, DL Miller and Charles Miller; and five sisters, Ella Mae Bryce, Eloise Grant, Emily Fisher, Helen Galloway and Ruby A. Lusk.

He is survived by two sons, Frank and Allen; a daughter, Lisa; 13 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. Graveside services were held on Aug. 2 at the Holly Springs Baptist Church cemetery.

 

CYNDI THREATT

LIBERTY — On July 31, 2021, Cynthia (Cyndi) Day Threatt, 60, spent her final day doing what she loved most.

Born in Easley, she was a daughter of the late Walter Earl and Jeanette Smith Day.

Cyndi’s career spanned over 20 years at Byars Insurance Agency in Easley. She always put others first and made sure she put others’ needs before her own.

Surviving are her loving and devoted husband of 30 years, Harry Threatt of the home; two sons, Josh Watson of Liberty and Alex Threatt of Liberty; her brother and best friend, Chat Cuddy (Tammy) of Dacusville; and a sister, Betty Perry of Anderson. Also surviving are numerous in-laws, nieces, nephews and friends.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by a sister, Marty Gilliam.

Memorial services to honor Cyndi’s life will be conducted at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 4, in the Liberty Mortuary chapel by Rev. Clark Ford. The family will receive friends Wednesday prior to the service from 3-4:15 p.m. at the mortuary.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are requested to Hope Women’s Center, PO Box 255, Easley SC 29641.

Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting libertymortuary.com. Liberty Mortuary is handling arrangements.

 

SHEILA H. COLEMAN

EASLEY — Mrs. Sheila Hudson Coleman, 64, wife of the late Don Thomas Coleman, passed away on Thursday, July 29, 2021.

Born in Greenville County, a daughter of Carolyn Lark Hudson of Easley and the late Joe Tom Hudson, Mrs. Coleman retired from Dunean Mills and was a member of Monaghan Baptist Church. Sheila was a loving and caring person, but her greatest love was for her family. She will be dearly missed by all who loved and knew her.

Surviving, in addition to her mother, are her daughter, Donna Michelle Cobb; her three sisters, Kimberly Washburn (Larry), Renee Revis (Keith) and Jody Morgan (Frank); and her two grandchildren, Bryson Thomas Cobb and Brantley Cobb.

Graveside services were held on Aug. 3 at Greenlawn Memorial Park.

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

 

VIVIAN WARDLAW

CENTRAL — Vivian Viola Bryant Wardlaw went to be with Jesus on Friday, July 30, 2021, at her home.

Born in Easley, she was a daughter of the late Lanford V. and Lila Evett Bryant. She retired from the Clemson Police Department after many years of serving in law enforcement in Pickens County.

She loved her family, singing, playing music, working in her yard and caring for animals.

Mrs. Wardlaw was of the Baptist faith, serving many years as a Sunday school teacher and pianist at her church.

Surviving are two sons, Doyle Thomas “Tommy” Crawford of Norris and Johnny Ray Crawford (Teresa) of Central; two daughters, Rita Morgan (Phil) of Easley and Elizabeth “Libby” Smith (Nathan) of Easley; a brother, Ernest Bryant of Six Mile; nine grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Horace Paul Wardlaw; a daughter, Sharon Gay Crawford; a brother, Virgil Bryant; a sister, Nancy Kelly; and two grandchildren, Katie Lynn Crawford and Dixie Jean Morgan.

Private graveside services will be held at Hillcrest Memorial Park. No visitation is planned.

Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting libertymortuary.com. Liberty Mortuary is handling arrangements.

 

 

KENNETH DARRYL BEARDEN

 

EASLEY — Kenneth Darryl Bearden, 59, passed away on Wednesday, July 28, 2021, at his home.

A native of Pickens County, Darryl was born April 4, 1962, a son of the late Kenneth Bearden and Ina Imogene Galloway Bearden of Easley. Mr. Bearden served in the Army National Guard and held his private pilot license. He loved his houseboat, the Florida Keys, the 18th green, drinking a cold one and listening to Jimmy Buffett’s “It’s Five O’clock Somewhere.”

Darryl is loved by his children, Tonya Hendricks of Pickens, Melissa Coleman of Dallas, Texas, and JC Foreman (Brandon) of Easley; stepdaughter, Mabry Thompson (Jesse) of Easley; grandchildren, Landon Coleman, Reese and Brady Hendricks, Jade Summersill and William and Eli Foreman; sister, Terri Haley (Jeff); stepbrother, Billy Hayes (Linda); and niece, Jennifer Owens.

In addition to his parents, Mr. Bearden was predeceased by his sister, Dale Hardin, and stepmother, Shirley Bearden, both of Easley.

“Your wings already exist. All you have to do is fly.”

Mountain View Funeral Home is serving the Bearden family.

 

RETHA G. ‘PETE’ ANDERSON WILSON

LIBERTY — Retha G. “Pete” Anderson Wilson, 89, loving wife of 44 years to the late Edgar Lee Wilson, passed from this life on Wednesday, July 28, 2021, at her home surrounded by her family.

A native of Oconee County, Retha was born June 16, 1932, daughter of the late Eddie Andrew and Bertha Hann Anderson. Mrs. Wilson was an employee of ECP in Easley before her retirement. She enjoyed fishing and loved her family dearly.

Survivors include her son, Reginald Dale Anderson of Pickens; stepdaughter, Jean Wilson of Fountain Inn; granddaughter, Angela D. Cooper (Jeff); great-grandchildren, Casey Waters, Cynthia Nedwards (Tee) and Austin Smith; and great-great-grandchildren, Collin Waters and Layne Nedwards.

In addition to her husband and parents, Mrs. Wilson was predeceased by two stepchildren, Julian Wilson of Clinton and Gail Wilson of Anderson; a grandchild, Rebecca Anderson of Pickens; two brothers; and four sisters.

A graveside service was held on July 31 at Hillcrest Memorial Park, officiated by Rev. Bryan Holder.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Retha’s honor may be made to Agape Hospice Care of South Carolina, by mailing 400 Pelham Road #100, Greenville, SC 29615, by calling (800) 932-2738 or by visiting agapecaregroup.com.

Mountain View Funeral Home is serving the Wilson family.