Mary J. Sumner

Union County native

GAFFNEY – Loving mother, Mary Janice Sumner, 75, of 816 Potter Road, died Friday, Feb. 25, 2005, at her home.

A native of Union County, she was the widow of Sonny Sumner and daughter of the late Leroy and Lillie Vassey Spelts. She was a faithful Christian who served God by singing, preaching and living her beliefs daily. Along with her son, Edward Lee, she founded Faith Ministries, which ministered to nursing homes and shut-ins. She was a member of Faith Fellowship Church of God in Chesnee.

She is survived by two daughters, Irene Blackwell of Chesnee and Kathy Hayes of Gaffney; two sons, Edward Lee Puckett and Harold Steven Puckett, both of Chesnee; two sisters, Elsie Barnes of Buffalo and Savannah Sumner of Newberry; a brother, Homer Lee West of Union; 16 grandchildren, 39 great-grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren.

She was predeceased by a son, Larry Puckett.

Services will be held today at 3 p.m. at Faith Fellowship Church of God, with Revs. Robert Carnes, Larry McKee and Allen Dean Blanton officiating. Burial will be in Springhill Memorial Gardens.

Memorials may be made to Interim Hospice, 775 Spartan Blvd., Spartanburg, S.C.

The family is at the home.

Arrangements by Eggers Funeral Home, Chesnee.

Vera Scruggs

Retired from Tusacora Mills

SPARTANBURG – Vera Scruggs, 81, died Friday, Feb. 25, 2005, at Spartanburg Regional Medical Center.

Born Feb. 2, 1924 in Cherokee County, she was the daughter of the late Sullivan and Fannie Earls Scruggs. She was retired from Tusacora Mills and was a member of Oakdale Baptist Church, where she was a member of Helping Hands.

She was the loving mother of two sons, Dennis Lee Scruggs and his wife, Connie, of Gaffney and Steve Scruggs of the home; and a son-in-law, Surven Spencer of Cowpens.

Other survivors include four brothers, Charles, Glenn, Willard, and Sullivan Scruggs, Jr., all of Cowpens; two sisters, Eunice Jones of Spartanburg and Amelia Newton of Boiling Springs; two grandsons, Tim Spencer and his wife Wendy of Chesnee and Matthew Scruggs of Gaffney; a granddaughter, Kim Spencer Riddle and her husband Tony of Cowpens; two great-grandsons, Rusty and Nick Riddle; and a great-granddaughter, Stacy Spencer.

Mrs. Scruggs was predeceased by a son, Larry Dean Scruggs; a daughter, Joyce Spencer; a brother, Henry Scruggs; and four sisters, Daisey Rhinehart, Dollie Scruggs, Maggie Addis, and Virginia Jones.

Visitation will be from 2-3 p.m. today at Oakdale Baptist Church. Services will follow at 3 p.m., conducted by the Revs. Dennis D. Spencer and Benny Davis. Burial will be in High Point Baptist Church Cemetery in Gaffney.

Memorials may be made to the Oakdale Baptist Church Youth Program, 225 Oakdale Road, Cowpens, S.C. 29330.

The family is at the home.

An online guest register is available at www.floydmortuary.com.

Arrangements by Floyd's North Church Street Chapel.

Virgie M. Dover

Former employee of

by Southeastern Kusan

GAFFNEY – Virgie K. Martin Dover, 92, of Peachtree Centre, Gaffney, died Friday, Feb. 25, 2005, at her residence.

A native of Cherokee County, she was the widow of General Jackson Dover and the daughter of the late Luke Martin and the late Fritz Martin Dover. She was formerly employed by Southeastern Kusan and was of the Baptist faith.

Surviving are sons, David Dover of Gaffney, James Daniel Dover of Blacksburg, and Marvin Dover of Gaffney; 26 grandchildren; 31 great-grandchildren; and several great-great-grandchildren.

Graveside services will be held at 2 p.m. today at Frederick Memorial Gardens, conducted by Rev. Sidney Norton

Pallbearers will be David E. Dover, Joey L. Dover, Bobby Dover, Sammy Dover, James F. Dover, and Wayne McDaniel.

The family is at the home of David Dover, 602 10th Street, Gaffney.

Arrangements by Shuford-Hatcher Funeral Home.

Rachel H. Jones

Retired school teacher

SENECA – Rachel Ann Hicks Jones, 91, of 1308 Juniper Court, widow of Howard Randolph Jones, died Thursday, Feb. 24, 2005, at Oconee Memorial Hospital after a period of declining health.

Mrs. Jones was born in Cherokee County, daughter of the late Robert Z. and Minnie Justice Hicks. She was a retired schoolteacher from the Cherokee County School District after 45 years of service, and was a member of the Delta Kappa Gamma Sorority. Mrs. Jones was a member of St. Mark United Methodist Church, the Lydia Bible Class, and No. 2 Circle of the United Methodist Women.

Surviving are one daughter and son-in-law, Beverly and Scott Wylie of Seneca; two grandsons, Kevin Wylie and his wife, Alison, of Anderson and Ben Wylie of Seneca; one granddaughter, Catherine Wylie of Montreat College, Montreat, NC; and one sister, Frances Sill of Camden.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; four brothers; and one sister.

Services were held at 4 p.m. Sunday at St. Mark United Methodist Church, conducted by Dr. Steven Morgan, Rev. Jeff Childress and Rev. John Evatt. Interment will be held today at 2 p.m. at Frederick Memorial Gardens in Gaffney.

The family will be at the home of Beverly and Scott Wylie, 1103 Cane Creek Drive, Seneca, S.C. 29672.

Flowers will be accepted or memorials may be made to the Caring Ministry of St. Mark United Methodist Church, 616 Quincy Road, Seneca, S.C. 29678.

Arrangements by Seneca Mortuary Funerals and Cremations.

"Cleve" Elder

Retired textile employee

CHESNEE – Joseph Cleveland Elder, 86, of 1514 Fish Camp Road, died Sunday, Feb. 27, 2005.

A native of Spartanburg County, he was the husband of Annette Cash Elder and son of the late John Smith Elder and Frazier Cash Elder. He was first married to the late Lucinda Fowler Elder and was a U.S. Army veteran, having served during World War II. He was a retired textile employee and member of Lighthouse Baptist Church.

Surviving are a daughter, Jan Moffitt of Chesnee; a son, Joe Elder of Inman; a stepdaughter, Patricia Weathers of Fairforest; two stepsons, Glenn and Ronnie Cash, both of Chesnee; a brother, Oree Elder of Chesnee; three grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; six step-grandchildren; five step-great-grandchildren; and one step-great-great-grandchild.

Services will be held Tuesday at 2 p.m. at Eggers Funeral Chapel, conducted by the Revs. Billy Henderson and Monty Kling. Burial will be in Springhill Memorial Gardens.

The family will receive friends tonight from 6-8 at Eggers Funeral Home in Chesnee and at other times they will be at the home.

Virginia M. Bridges

Retired from Tuscarora Yarns

CONVERSE – Virginia Mullinax Bridges, 88, of 285 Main St., died Saturday, Feb. 26, 2005, in Spartanburg Regional Medical Center.

A native of Spartanburg, she was the widow of Little Bridges and daughter of the late William S. and Lillie Hammett Mullinax. She retired from Tuscarora Yarns and was a member of Mt. Olive Baptist Church, Cowpens.

Surviving are two grandchildren, Dr. E. Van Bridges of Roebuck and Jennifer Nix of Gaffney; a daughter-in-law, Tillie Bridges of Blacksburg; one great-granddaughter; and a brother, Wilburn Mullinax of Cowpens.

Services will be held Tuesday at 11 a.m. at Mt. Olive Baptist Church, conducted by Dr. Robert W. Kirby Jr. and the Rev. Billy Millwood. Burial will be in Mountain View Baptist Church Cemetery, Cowpens.

The family will receive friends at the church from 10-11 a.m. prior to the services and at other times they will be at the home of Dr. Bridges, 544 Asbury Neeley Way, Roebuck.

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

Arrangements by White Columns of Gaffney.

Selma G. Cash

Retired from Oxford

Selma Gordon Cash, 84, of 217 Maple Dr., died Sunday, Feb. 27, 2005, at her residence.

A native of Cherokee County, she was the widow of James Arthur Cash and daughter of the late Albert Gordon and the late Martha Smith Gordon. She was a member of West End Baptist Church and a retired seamstress from Oxford Industries. She also worked at Wal-Mart in Gaffney for several years.

Surviving are a daughter, Brenda Albertson of Gaffney; two grandsons, Marvin Wayne Jones and Allen Todd Jones; four great-grandchildren; and a half-sister, Inez Phillips.

Arrangements are incomplete. Shuford-Hatcher Funeral Home is in charge.

Mary W. Mullinax

Services for Mary Elizabeth Wilson Mullinax, 81, of 128 Camps Drive, were held Sunday at 4 p.m. at Blue Branch Baptist Church, conducted by the Rev. Eddie Smith and Mr. Edward Erwin. Burial was in Frederick Memorial Gardens.

Pallbearers were Tommy Turner, Scottie Turner, Kenny Mullinax, Alan Mullinax, Tommy Dean Turner, Butch Nance and Wayne Sellars.

The family is at the home.

Arrangements by Shuford-Hatcher Funeral Home.

Artie H. Owens

Retired from Gaffney Mfg.

Artie Hambright Owens, 88, of 1363 N. Limestone St., died Sunday, Feb. 27, 2005, in Upstate Carolina Medical Center.

A native of Cherokee County, her first husband was the late H.L. Barrett and her second husband was the late Lloyd Owens. She was the daughter of the late James A. Hambright and the late Ora Peeler Hambright. She was retired from Gaffney Manufacturing Company and was a lifetime member of Cherokee Avenue Baptist Church.

Surviving are a daughter, Lena Barrett of Hemingford, Neb.; four grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; three sisters, Ruth DeStaffano of Gaffney, Pearl Hughey and Irene Gold, both of Blacksburg; and a brother, Davis Hambright of Blacksburg.

Memorials may be made to Shuford-Hatcher Funeral Home, c/o Artie Owens Funeral Fund, P.O. Box 307, Gaffney, S.C. 29342.

The family is at the residence.

Arrangements are incomplete. Shuford-Hatcher Funeral Home is in charge.

Megan M. Yopp

Meagan Marie Yopp, 12, of Lynchburg, Va., died Friday, Feb. 25, 2005, at her home after a long and courageous battle with various illnesses.

Meagan, daughter of Laurie Epperson, was born Sept. 5, 1992, in Greenville Memorial Hospital in Greenville, S.C.

In addition to her mother she is survived by her maternal grandparents, Jenny Epperson of Lynchburg, Dan and Judith Epperson of Forest, and paternal grandparents, Walter and Theresa Yopp of Vinton; a great-grandmother, Louise H. Epperson of Lynchburg; an uncle, Danny Epperson and his wife, Cory, of Herndon; and four cousins, Justin, Dylan, Bailey and Christian; an uncle, Kevin Frady and his wife, Mitzi, of Forest; two cousins, Jon-Michael and Nicholas; Laurie and Meagan's special friend, Larry Spencer of West Virginia; godparents, Jan and Rodney Rakes of Blue Ridge; two unique nurses, Denise Doss and Tina Gilliam, angels sent by God to care for Meagan and her mom; and a special friend, Loretta Bell of Greenville.

Services will be held today at 10 a.m. at Tharps Funeral Home, conducted by the Rev. Susan A. Campbell.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial contribution in her memory may be made to University of Virginia Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, P.O. Box 801431 Charlottesville, Va. 22908-1431.

Arrangements by Tharp Funeral Home & Crematory, Lynchburg.

C.D. Cox

Decorated WWII veteran

Charles Darald "C.D." Cox, 82, of Peachtree Centre, formerly of 125 Chandler Drive, died Sunday, Feb. 27, 2005, at Peachtree Centre.

A native of Easley, he was the husband of Mary Elizabeth Carter Cox and son of the late Meredith Donald Cox and the late Ora Anna Waldrop Cox. He was employed by Southern Bell from 1945 until his retirement in 1983 and was a member of the Telephone Pioneers. He was a member of Cherokee Avenue Baptist Church, where he was a former deacon, member of the Andrew Club and the Millwood Smith Sunday School Class.

Mr. Cox was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II, his last rank as sergeant in the Army 1st Infantry – "Big Red One." He received the Purple Heart in North Africa in March 1943, the Distinguished Service Cross in Tunisia in October 1943, and the Bronze Star in the D-Day Invasion at Omaha Beach at Normandy, France, on June 6, 1944. His tour of duty lasted from Jan. 27, 1942, until Oct. 2, 1945, the final six months spent as a member of the Occupation Forces in Prague, the Czech Republic.

For over 20 years, Mr. Cox delivered meals for Meals on Wheels.

Survivors include his wife, Mary Carter Cox of the home; daughters, Beverly Cox Bradley and Deborah Cox Mack and husband, Maj. Thomas Mack, all of Charleston; son, William-Darald Cox and wife, Josephine Norwood Cox, of Greenville; grandchildren, John Daniel-Bradley IV, David Charles Bradley and wife, Lauren Burkhart Bradley, Michael Edwin Bradley, Paul William Bradley, Laura Anne Mack, Brian Hutchinson Mack, Jennifer Elizabeth Mack, Timothy Allen Mack, Josephine Reid Cox and Mary Connor Cox; a brother, Ralph Smith Cox and wife, Violet, of Greenville; a sister, Frances Ann Booth of Florida; and a number of nieces and nephews.

Mr. Cox was preceded in death by his son-in-law, John D. Bradley III; brothers, T.C. Cox, Frank Cox and M.D. Cox; and sisters, Kirby Lee Miller and Blanche Cunningham.

Services will be held Wednesday at 2 p.m. at Cherokee Avenue Baptist Church, with burial in Corinth Baptist Church Cemetery. Body will be placed in the church at 1:30 p.m.

Pallbearers will be his grandsons.

Honorary pallbearers will be the Millwood Smith Sunday School Class, members of the Andrew Club and retired Southern Bell employees.

The family will receive friends Tuesday from 6-8 p.m. at Shuford-Hatcher Funeral Home and at other times they will be at the home.

Memorials may be made to Cherokee Avenue Baptist Church, 805 Cherokee Ave., Gaffney, S.C. 29340; or to Meals on Wheels, P.O. Box 1886, Gaffney, S.C. 29342.

W.C. Davis Jr.

Retired from Wendell Fabrics

BLACKSBURG – W.C. Davis Jr., 79, of 123 Old Factory Road, died Sunday, Feb. 27, 2005, in Upstate Carolina Medical Center.

A native of Cherokee County, he was the husband of Beatrice Parker Davis of the home and retired from Wendell Fabrics. He was a member of Hopewell Baptist Church.

The family is at the home.

Arrangements are incomplete. White Columns of Blacksburg is in charge.

Ruth J. Steagall

Retired co-owner of

Steagall Auto Electric

Ruth Jones Steagall, 84, of 402 Buck Shoals Road, died today, Monday, Feb. 28, 2005, at her residence.

A native of Gaffney, she was the widow of W.W. Steagall and daughter of the late Horace Jones and the late Rosa Parker Jones. She was retired co-owner of Steagall Auto Electric and retired pianist for The Crusaders Quartet. She was a member of Chesnee Free Will Baptist Church.

Surviving are a daughter, Myram Jackson of Gaffney; four sons, Frank E. Jones of Auburndale, Fla., Ben Steagall of Union, James Steagall of Shelby and William Steagall Sr. of La Paz, Mexico; 12 grandchildren; 29 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.

The family is at the residence.

Arrangements are incomplete. Shuford-Hatcher Funeral Home is in charge.

Johnnie Thackston

CHARLOTTE – Graveside services for Johnnie Louise Tate Thackston, 79, of 4315 Major St., formerly of Gaffney, Graveside services were held Saturday at 11 a.m. at Oakland Cemetery, conducted by the Rev. Mick Hinson.

Family members are at their respective homes.

Memorials may be made to Shuford-Hatcher Funeral Home, c/o Johnnie Louise Thackston, P.O. Box 307, Gaffney, S.C. 29342.

Arrangements by Shuford-Hatcher Funeral Home is in charge.

Margie M. Harwell

Worked for Gastonia

Brush Company

GASTONIA – Margie McKenzie Harwell, 87, of 1916 Graham St., died Sunday, Feb. 27, 2005, at her residence.

A native of Gaston County, she was the widow of Kruger Albert Harwell and daughter of the ale Joseph Franklin and Viola Pearl Kinley McKenzie. She worked for Gastonia Brush Company.

Surviving are two daughters, Linda L. Beaver of Gastonia and Reba Ann Cordell of Lincolnton; two sisters, Dorothy Hickman of Maiden and Stella Kirby of Gaffney; five grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.

Services will be held Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. at The Colonial Chapel of Carothers Funeral Home, conducted by the Revs. Troy Beaver and Y.Z. Isaacs. Graveside services will be Wednesday at 10 a.m. at Oakwood Cemetery.

The family will receive friends Tuesday from 6-7:30 p.m. at Carothers Funeral Home, Gastonia.

Memorials may be made to Gaston Hospice, P.O. Box 3984, Gastonia, N.c. 28054.