Lance Corporal Christopher Scott Fowlkes, 20, of Camp LeJeune, N.C., formerly of Gaffney, went home to be with the Lord on Thursday, Sept. 10, 2009, in the U.S. medical facility in Landstuhl, Germany.

Born in Gaffney, he was the son of Steve and Donna Fowlkes and the late Faye Benge Fowlkes. He was a member of the 2nd Marine Division, 2nd

LAR, Delta Company

at Camp

LeJeune and was the recipient of the Enduring Freedom Medal, Purple Heart Medal, Combat Action Ribbon, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal and SMCR Medal. He was the first Cherokee County native to die in the line of duty since the Vietnam War.

Mr. Fowlkes was a 2007 graduate of Gaffney High School, where he was involved in wrestling and football. He was a member of First Baptist Church in Gaffney.

In addition to his parents, he is survived by paternal grandparents, John and Ruth Ann Fowlkes of Gaffney; maternal grandmother, Mae Benge of Tucker, Ga.; an uncle, Mike Fowlkes and wife, Missy, of Gaffney; an aunt, Susan Witherel and husband, Brian, of Fort Mill; two step-brothers, Kyle Galosi and Dominick Galosi of the home; and a step-sister, Leigha Galosi of the home.

He was preceded in death by his maternal grandfather, James Benge.

The family will receive friends Thursday, Sept. 17, from 6-9 p.m. at Blakely Funeral Home.

Services will be held Friday, Sept. 18, at 4 p.m. at First Baptist Church with the Rev. Joseph James and the Rev. David Kite officiating. Interment will be in Frederick Memorial Gardens with full military honors.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Wounded Warrior Regiment (WWR), 3025 John Quick Road, Quantico, VA 22134-5103; or to Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund, 825 College Blvd., Suite 102, PMB 609, Oceanside, CA 92057.

The family will be at the residence of John and Ruth Ann Fowlkes, 206 York Drive, Gaffney, SC 29340.

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