Dr. Donna Faye Haynes

PICKENS — Dr. Donna Faye Haynes, 54, transitioned to her heavenly home on Oct. 20, 2014, after a valiant battle with illness. Her devotion to her family and her firm belief in God supported both her and all those who loved her in her struggle and ultimately gives them peace.

Donna was born to Dr. Harvey and the late Billie Faye Gray Haynes, a respected educator and a blessed homemaker respectively, in Asheville, NC on August 29, 1960. She was immersed in the Christian community that would be her lifelong support from an early age. She was a Lay Servant for the United Methodist Church, was a Lay Leader educator who taught classes in prayer, taught Sunday School, played the keyboard, and shared her beautiful high soprano voice in the choir and for worship.

She too was a gifted educator, and an advanced practice nurse with an extraordinary ability to bring healing to mind, body, and souls of those she touched. She graduated from AB Tech, Mountain Area Health Education Center, Clemson University, and held a doctorate in Natural Healing.

Donna was blessed in her life with a son, Gray Lee Haynes, a true blessing to his mother, his family, and to a large village of people that are his extended family. She taught him to love God, love family and friends, and love a good trout stream. He taught many what it really means to live in village.

Through her talents, Donna touched many lives, whether in private practice, teaching nursing students at Greenville Tech, or Clemson University. Her most cherished memories were of taking care of medically underserved people in the upstate of South Carolina, leading mobile operations until her retirement. Her exceptional medical care was full of people that cared deeply. The Greenville Hospital System Oncology floor were her second family who took extra effort to make her life comfortable. Dr. Deborah Meadows, Dr. Lucy Davis, and Dr. Kathy Christman gave her hope, quality of life, and for their efforts we are extremely grateful.

Donna loved to laugh, and hated to cry. She loved her family, and thought her brothers were her world. She was kind, and always had time to help anyone, even offering to pray for others, when she no longer had the strength to physically help. She is dearly missed by her loved ones, and all those who celebrate the fact that she touched their lives. We rejoice that she is at peace with her creator.

She is survived by her son Gray Lee Haynes, her father Harvey Haynes, her brothers Keith Gray Haynes, and Scott Lee Haynes. She was preceded in death by her grandparents O.C. and Thelma Gray, and Dan and Lou Haynes.

Visitation will be Thursday from 2 to 4 p.m. at Dillard Funeral Home in Pickens, SC with a Celebration of her life and memorial service following in the funeral home chapel at 4 pm. The Porter’s Chapel United Methodist Church Reverend Dick Waldrep will officiate the service. The family gratefully requests any memorials be sent to the Joseph F. Sullivan Center to establish a fund in her honor to care for the medically underserved in the community that she so passionately cared about.

Dillard Funeral Home is assisting the Haynes family.

Butch Futrell

Six Mile — Alton Lee “Butch” Futrell, 65, of 554 Gap Hill Road, died Saturday, Oct. 25, 2014, at his home.

Born in Greenville County, a son of the late Edward Lee Futrell and the late Ruby Cisson Gilreath, Butch retired from Pace Electric and was of the Methodist faith.

Surviving are a brother, Raymond Edward “Buster” Futrell (Bobbie) of Greenville; two sisters, Shirley Crittenden (Ralph) of Easley and Ellen Watson (Don) of Archdale, NC; and his step-father, Clinton A. “Whitey” Gilreath of Easley. In addition to his parents, Butch was predeceased by a brother, Lewis Futrell.

Memorial services were at 2 p.m. Tuesday at St. Andrew United Methodist Church with the Rev. Cynthia Taylor officiating.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Andrew United Methodist Church, 309 Pelzer Highway, Easley, SC 29642.

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

Thomas Simmons, Sr.

Easley — Thomas Gary Simmons, Sr., 62, of 136 Dearborn Lane, died Saturday, Oct. 25, 2014, at his home.

Born in Pickens County, a son of the late Paul E. and Thelma Louise Murphy Simmons, Mr. Simmons was formerly employed with the Glenwood Plant of Mayfair Mills and a member of Galilee Baptist Church.

Surviving are three sons, Thomas Gary Simmons, II., of Spartanburg, Thomas Chadwick Simmons of Easley and John Paul Simmons of Walhalla; two daughters, Krystal Simmons of Liberty and Daphne Morgan of Walhalla; a brother, David Eugene Simmons (Louise) of Liberty; two sisters, Mary Ann Porter (Cecil) and of Easley, and Patsy Raines (Fred) of Pickens; his ex-wife and caregiver, Nancy Hodge of Easley; a step-son, Phillip Hodge, Jr., of Clemson; an adopted daughter, Tara Arledge of Liberty and nine grandchildren. In addition to his parents, Mr. Simmons was predeceased by two sisters, Jonnie Louise Collins Cooper and Linda Joyce Nix.

Graveside Services will be 3 p.m. Wednesday at Hillcrest Memorial Park.

Visitation will be from 1 p.m. until 2:30 p.m. Wednesday at Robinson Funeral Home- Downtown prior to the service.

The family is at the residence.

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

Sarah Gilstrap

Pickens — Sarah Stone Gilstrap, 83, formerly of Massingill Road, wife of the late James W. Gilstrap, died Sunday, Oct. 26, 2014, in Hendersonville, N.C.

Born in Anderson County, a daughter of the late Joe Stone, Mrs. Gilstrap retired from as a supervisor with Swirl, Inc. and was a member of Rock Springs Baptist Church.

Surviving are two sons, Rick Gilstrap (Joan) of Taylors and Ron Gilstrap (Jan) of Marietta; a brother, Ray Stone of Coco, FL; two sisters, Evelyn Miller of Greenville and Myrtle Stockton of Woodruff; nine grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

Memorial graveside services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday, at Greenlawn Memorial Park.

The family will receive friends at the graveside immediately following the service.

Family members are at their respective homes.

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

Sean Lendon

Greenville — Sean Cory Lendon, 24, of 49 Orchard Park Drive, died Monday, Oct. 20, 2014. Born in Naples, Italy, he was a graduate of the University of North Florida.

He enjoyed computers and computer gaming.

Surviving are his mother, Von Rae Alvarez of Liberty; a sister, Tabitha Lendon of California; a stepsister, Hope Alvarez of the home; grandparents, Robert & Julie Lendon, Alan Ayres, and Connie Mills; great grandparents, Robert Garner and Eva Lendon.

Memorial services to honor Sean’s life will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at First Baptist Church, Norris. No visitation is planned.

The family will be at 171 Freedom Forest Drive, Liberty.

Memorial messages may be sent to the family by visiting www.libertymortuary.com. Liberty Mortuary is handling arrangements.

Carl Atkins

Easley — Chester Carl Atkins, 67, of 150 Polly Drive, died Saturday, Oct. 18, 2014 at his home. Born in Easley he was a son of the late Oscar and Alice Ellenburg Atkins.

He retired after working many years as a mechanic at Durham’s Service Station in Six Mile. He was a member of Gap Hill Baptist Church, and was a United States Army Veteran of the Korean War.

During his free time he loved working on computers and tinkering with cars.

Surviving are his wife, Ruth Marie Kelley Atkins of the home; a daughter, Tammy Atkins (Terry) of the home; three sisters, Allene Owens and Avanell Rowland both of Pickens, and Alicia York of Easley; a brother, Clyde Atkins of Piedmont; two grandchildren, Angel Atkins and Scott Marcus; three great grandchildren, Nicholas Atkins, Jayce Cox, and Matthew Atkins, Jr.

He was predeceased by a sister, Annette Rosenberg.

Graveside services to honor the life of Mr. Atkins will be at noon on Wednesday, Oct. 22, at Gap Hill Baptist Church Cemetery. The family will receive friends prior to the service from 10 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. at the Liberty Mortuary.

The family will be at the home. Memorial messages may be sent to the family by visiting www.libertymortuary.com. Liberty Mortuary is handling arrangements.