James (Jim) Lavender

James (Jim) Albert Lavender, 88, of 304 Pleasant Meadows Drive, went home to be with the Lord on Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2008, at Upstate Carolina Medical Center.

Born in Cherokee County, he was the husband of Alice Moss Lavender and son of the late Thomas Albert Lavender and Sadie Bridges Lavender. Mr. Lavender was retired from Cherokee Finishing and was a member of Cherokee Avenue Baptist Church, where

he served as a Sunday

School teacher

and deacon. He also was a lifetime Mason with Granard Lodge 186 and was a United States Army veteran.

Surviving in addition to his wife are three sons, Dave Lavender and wife, Margaret, of Columbus, N.C., Eric Lavender and wife, Sabrina, of Isle of Palms and Tony Lavender and wife, Sharon, of Gaffney; four grandchildren, Katherine (Kit) Wiggins and husband, Michael, Devin Lavender, Ariel Lavender and Emily Lavender; and two great-grandchildren, Anthony Wiggins and Eric Wiggins.

Mr. Lavender was preceded in death by two brothers, Billy Lavender and Jack Lavender. and five sisters, Texana Miller, Ruth Smith, Eloise Lavender, Clara Lavender and Annie Parker.

Services will be held Friday, Aug. 15, at 11 a.m. at Cherokee Avenue Baptist Church with Dr. Clyde Thomas and the Rev. Stuart Kersey officiating. Interment will be in Frederick Memorial Gardens.

Visitation was held Thursday, Aug. 14, from 6-8 p.m. at Blakely Funeral Home.

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

The family is at the home.

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