Obituaries

Billy Ray Martin

Owner/operator of Martin’s

Jewelers for many years

Billy Ray Martin, 72, formerly of 916 Swofford Drive, Cowpens, died Friday, Dec. 10, 2004, at Brookview HealthCare Center.

A native of Cherokee County, he was the son of the late Merrill Ethel and Katie Pansy White Martin. He was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

Mr. Martin was a jeweler and owned and operated Martin’s Jewelers on East Frederick Street in Gaffney for many years.

Surviving are five sisters, Ellen March, Verrill Spate, Dawn Cerny, Ann Elliott and June DeVaney, all of Cowpens; two brothers, Timothy F. Martin of Inman and Stephen A. Martin Sr. of Cowpens; and several nephews and nieces.

In addition to his parents, Mr. Martin was preceded in death by two brothers, Harold Lee Martin and Stanley LeGrand Martin.

Services will be held Tuesday at 11 a.m. at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, conducted by Bishop Manfred Martin. Burial will be in Frederick Memorial Gardens. Body will be placed in the church at 10 a.m.

The family will receive friends tonight from 6-7:30 at White Columns of Gaffney and at other times they will be at their respective homes.

The nephews of Mr. Martin will serve as pallbearers.

Memorials may be made to the Missionary Fund, c/o The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, 702 W. Buford St., Gaffney, S.C. 29341.

Irene M. Lydia

Homemaker

Irene Mullinax Lydia, 55, of 401 Killion Drive, died Friday, Dec. 10, 2004, at her home.

A native of Cherokee County, she was the wife of Howard Lydia of the home and daughter of the late Connie and Winnie A. Martin Mullinax. She was a homemaker and member of the Church of God of Prophecy in Pacolet.

Surviving in addition to her husband are a son, Eddie D. Lydia of Pacolet; a niece raised in the home as a daughter, Heather Mullinax of the home; two brothers, Ben L. Mullinax and Perry Mullinax, both of Gaffney; and a sister, Shirley Harvey of Gaffney.

In addition to her parents, Mrs. Lydia was preceded in death by a sister, Vivian Whiting.

Services will be held today at 1 p.m. at the Church of God of Prophecy, Pacolet, conducted by the Revs. Paul Tessnear and William Blanton. Burial will be in Frederick Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends at the church for one hour prior to the service and at other times they will be at the home.

Members of the church will serve as pallbearers.

Arrangements by White Columns of Gaffney.

Ruby M. Ross

Homemaker

Ruby Moss Ross, 94, of 122 Crestview Drive died Friday, Dec. 10, 2004, in Upstate Carolina Medical Center.

A native of Cherokee County, she was the widow of James (Jim) Gary Ross and daughter of the late Joseph H. Moss and the late Lula Fowler Moss. She was a homemaker and member of Buffalo Baptist Church. Her hobbies were cooking and sewing.

Surviving are a daughter, Joann Ross Stephens and husband, D.L. Stephens, of Gaffney; two grandsons, Chris Stephens and wife, Jesse, of Blacksburg and Eric Stephens and wife, Tammy, of Spartanburg; two great-granddaughters, Hannah Stephens and Ashton Stephens, both of Spartanburg; a brother, Jack Moss of Gaffney; a sister, Ann Clary of Spartanburg; many nieces and nephews; and three loving caregivers, Lottie Mayberry, Marilyn Littlejohn and Malene Rodriques.

Graveside services will be held today at 11 a.m. at Buffalo Baptist Church Cemetery, conducted by the Rev. Bruce Price.

Pallbearers will be Chris Stephens, Eric Stephens, Tom Moss, Frank Parker Jr., Ricky Moss and Mike Melton.

The family is at the home.

Memorials may be made to Buffalo Baptist Church, 618 Old Buffalo Church Road, Blacksburg, S.C. 29702.

Arrangements by Shuford-Hatcher Funeral Home.

Ernest “Bit” Sparks

Retired brick mason

Ernest C. “Bit” Sparks, 76, of 843 Ellis Ferry Road, died Saturday, Dec. 11, 2004, in Upstate Carolina Medical Center.

A native of Gaffney, he was the son of the late William Douglas Sparks and the late Nettie Hames Sparks. He was a retired brick mason and for many years he worked for Cherokee Masonry. Mr. Sparks served as a military policeman in the U.S. Army during World War II and received the Army of Occupation Medal and the World War II Victory Medal. He was of the Baptist faith.

Surviving are three daughters, Traci Durham of Gaffney, Elizabeth Pierce of Ringgold, Ga. and Vicki Richardson of Gaffney; five grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and a sister, Dorothy Clary of Shelby.

In addition to his parents, Mr. Sparks was preceded in death by four brothers, W.D. Sparks Jr., Harold Sparks, Lionel “Pie” Sparks and Ming Sparks; and two sisters, Iris Turner and Jean Sparks.

Services will be held Tuesday at 2 p.m. at Northside Baptist Church, conducted by Dr. Edward McAbee. Burial will be in Frederick Memorial Gardens. Body will be placed in the church at 1:30 p.m.

Pallbearers will be Arthur Frady, Orville Durham, Alvin Durham, Wayne Durham, Keith Sparks and Ned Phillips.

The family will receive friends tonight from 7-9 at Shuford-Hatcher Funeral Home and at other times they will be at the home of his daughter, Traci, at 148 River Tree Road.

Memorials may be made to Northside Baptist Church, P.O. Box 508, Gaffney, S.C. 29342.

Randy J. Fowler

Auto body technician

Randy Joe Fowler, 48, of 3219 Wilkinsville Hwy., died Thursday, Dec. 9, 2004, in Gaffney.

A native of Gaffney, he was the husband of Lisa Foy Fowler and son of the late Ralph Thomas Fowler and the late Betty Mullinax Fowler. He was an automotive body technician and attended Cherokee Gospel Tabernacle. Mr. Fowler was a Mason and member of Gaffney Lodge 186.

Surviving in addition to his wife are two sons, Joe Fowler and wife, Tiffany, and Benjamin Fowler of Gaffney; a stepson, Brandon Gregory of Pacolet; a stepdaughter, Crystal Gregory of the home; a half-brother, Rick Long of Gaffney; and three grandchildren.

Services will be held today at 3 p.m. at Shuford-Hatcher Funeral Home Chapel, conducted by the Rev. Brian Harris. Burial will be in Pacolet Methodist Cemetery.

Pallbearers will be Robbie Stanford, Cory Reynolds, Brian Norton, Jimmy Fowler, Danny Carter and Richard Horne.

The family is at the residence.

Mark Kirby

Gaffney native

Mark Kirby, 34, of 202 Oak St., died Saturday, Dec. 11, 2004, in Winston-Salem, N.C.

A native of Gaffney, he was the son of Charlie R. and Wanda Mayes Kirby of Pilot Mountain, N.C., and Patricia Guyton Corder of Myrtle Beach.

Also surviving are a daughter, Jessica Louise Kirby of Sumter; two sisters, Angela George of Lincolnton, N.C., and Kristie Hall of Pilot Mountain; maternal grandparents, John and Ruth Pennington of Gaffney; and maternal great-grandmother, Inez Crow of Gaffney.

Mr. Kirby was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, John and Claudis Kirby; and maternal great-grandfather, Jess Crow.

Services will be held Wednesday at 1 p.m. at Cornerstone Church, conducted by the Rev. Bruce Kanipe. Burial will be in Frederick Memorial Gardens.

Pallbearers will be Michael George, Rocky Carpenter, Terry Hall and Keith Gibbons.

The family will receive friends Tuesday from 6-7:30 p.m. at White Columns of Gaffney and at other times they will be at the home.

Clara V. McMakin

Retired private duty nurse

SPARTANBURG – Clara Virginia McMakin, 86, of 400 Webber Road, died Friday, Dec. 10, 2004, at White Oak Estates.

Miss McMakin was formerly of Cowpens and was the daughter of the late Carl J. McMakin Sr. and Vinnie Raines McMakin. She was a retired self-employed private duty nurse and was a member of Mt. View Baptist Church in Cowpens, where she was a member of the Friendship Sunday School Class.

Surviving family are a brother and sister-in-law, Leroy and Brenda McMakin of Boiling Springs; a sister and brother-in-law, Helen and Charles Herald of Gaffney; three nieces and four nephews.

In addition to her parents, Miss McMakin was preceded in death by two brothers, Carl J. McMakin Jr. and Frank McMakin.

Services will be held today at 3 p.m. at Mt. View Baptist Church, conducted by the Revs. Steve Griffith and Jimmy Robbins. Burial will be in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends at the church from 1-3 p.m. prior to the service.

Memorial contributions may be made to Mobile Meals, 419 E. Main St., Spartanburg, S.C. 29302.

Arrangements by Bobo Funeral Chapel, 1850 Cannons Campground Road.

Reba P. McMahan

Homemaker

CROSS HILL – Reba Joyce Patterson McMahan, 66, of 684 Pittmans Landing, died Sunday, Dec. 12, 2004, in Laurens County Hospital.

Born in Laurens County, she was the wife of Richard R. McMahan and daughter of the late James and Rose Belle Grant Patterson. She was a homemaker.

Also surviving are sons, James Robert Dunaway of Green Sea and Thomas Michael Dunaway of Clinton; stepson, Richard R. McMahan Jr. of Joanna; stepdaughters, Sherry McMahan Wilson of Joanna and Shanon McMahan Bright of Gaffney; sisters, Linda Morgan of Enoree, Dian McClintock of Clinton and Callie James of Greenville; two brothers, Jimmy Patterson of Laurens and Robert Patterson of Greenville; two grandchildren; one great-grandchild; seven step-grandchildren; and five step-great-grandchildren.

Services will be Wednesday at 2 p.m. at Gray Funeral Home Chapel, Clinton, with entombment in Forest Lawn Cemetery.

The family will receive friends Wednesday from noon until 2 p.m. at the funeral home and at other times they will be at their respective homes.

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