Mildred Thomas Foster of 125 N. Logan St., wife of Rufus H. Foster Jr., answered the Master’s call on Thursday, Sept. 15, 2005, at 1:30 a.m. at her home.
Daughter of the late Jack Thomas and the late Corine Ray Thomas, she was a native of Pottsville, Pa., and was reared in Spartanburg by her uncle and aunt, Deacon Shep Richards and Bessie Richards. She was a member of Bethel Baptist Church, where she was a former member of the choir, YPA advisor, Den Mother for the Cub Scouts, and chairperson of the educational committee.
Mrs. Foster was a graduate of Carver High School in Spartanburg. She received a B.S. degree in 1949 from S.C. State College, M.S. degree in 1958 from Indiana University, Bloomington, Ind., and Ed.S. degree in 1975 from Clemson University.
She served as an elementary teacher for 15 years in Spartanburg and Cherokee counties, teaching the first, third, fourth, sixth and seventh grades. In 1968, she was elected principal of Granard and Southside schools. She was the first black person in Cherokee County to serve as principal of an integrated school. She served as principal for 15 years. In July, 1981, she was promoted to Student Personnel Services Director of Cherokee County Schools, retiring in 1984 after 35 years of service in the field of education.
In the summer of 1970, Mrs. Foster was appointed Staff Trainer for Head Start personnel in Cherokee, Union and Spartanburg counties. This appointment was made by the Special Service Department of the University of South Carolina, making her the first and only black person to serve in this position.
Mrs. Foster served for three years as a judge for Gaffney’s annual Christmas parade. In 1976, she was a judge for the Miss Black South Carolina Pageant. For three consecutive years, she was a judge for the Miss Limestone College Pageant.
Mrs. Foster was a member of the National Association of Elementary School Administrators; S.C. Association of Elementary School Principals, serving as secretary/treasurer for 19751976; S.C. Association of School Administrators; United Teaching Profession; secretary/treasurer of the Cherokee County School Administrators; and secretary for the Agenda Committee of the Cherokee County Elementary Principals.
She was a member of the South Carolina Appalachian Health Council, the Association for Retarded Citizens, Board of Directors of the Cherokee County United Way, membership chairman for the Board of Directors of the Cherokee County Mental Health Association, and organizer and secretary of the Ladies’ Progressive Club.
Among her many civic endeavors, she was a member of the Health and Planning Executive Committee for Cherokee County; and charter member of Spartanburg Chapter of Links Inc., serving on the membership committee, program, by-laws, social and scholarship committees. She was a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. and organizer of the Lambda Rho Omega chapter of Gaffney, serving as the group’s Past Basileus and Ways and Means chairman. She was a past secretary of the American Cancer Society, Cherokee County Unit; charter member and past chairman of the Board of Directors for Habilitation Services; past member of the S.C. Appalachian Health Council; past member of the S.C. Peach Festival Board; Association for Retarded Citizens; Cherokee County Services for the Aging Inc. Board of Directors; past member of the Board of Directors for the Cherokee County United Way, serving for three years as chairman of Education Division.
Mrs. Foster was a member of the Task Force for Abused and Neglected Children of Cherokee County; secretary for the Advisory Council of Limestone College; past member of the Cherokee County Hospital Board; Cherokee County Health Foundation Inc.; organizer and president of the Ladies’ Progressive Club of Gaffney; and member of the Board of Directors of the Cherokee County Mental Health Association, serving as past president and secretary.
She was appointed by Gov. Edwards to serve on the Cherokee County Commission on Alcohol and Drugs Abuse, 1975-1981; appointed by Gov. Riley to the Board of S.C. Economic Recovery Program, serving as group leader in Rock Hill in 1981; appointed by Gov. Edwards to the State Library Board for the term 19771981; former member of the Private Industry Council for Spartanburg, Union and Cherokee counties; and member of Great Towns Community Appearance and Quality of Life of Cherokee County.
Mrs. Foster was selected as “Woman of the Year” by the Spartanburg Chapter of Links in 1979. She was the guest speaker for the spring festivities of the Gala Day of the Shriners and the Daughters of the Isis of South Carolina at Myrtle Beach for the three-day convention on May 4-6, 1973. She was listed in “Who’s Who Among Black Americans,” having been recommended by Dr. Jack J. Early, former president of Limestone College.
She is survived by her husband, Rufus H. Foster Jr. of the home; son, Vincente Leon Foster of Gaffney; daughter, Kathy Maree Foster of the home; a granddaughter, T.G. Foster, who was reared in the home for 21 years as a daughter; and four other grandchildren: twins Bianca Foster and Briana Foster, Kiana Foster and Markee Guest of Gaffney; and a sister, Catherine Thomas Duncan, of the home.
Funeral services will be held Tuesday at 3 p.m. at Bethel Baptist Church, conducted by Dr. J.W. Sanders Sr., Dr. J.W. Sanders Jr., the Rev. John Wesley Evans, Dr. A.L. Brackett, Dr. Michael Bridges and the Rev. Tony Macomson. Burial will follow in Oakland Cemetery.
Arrangements by Foster Funeral Home.
Mark G. Gauthier
Mark Gerard Gauthier, 93, of 110 Sunset Drive, died today, Sept. 16, 2005, in Upstate Carolina Medical Center.
Born in Southbridge, Mass., he was the husband of Bess Blanton Gauthier of the home and son of the late Joseph Osias Gauthier and the late Eliza Cournoyer Gauthier.
He was a retired salesman, member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church, a veteran of the U.S. Army Air Corp and a former choir member and altar boy at Sacred Heart.
Surviving in addition to his wife are sons, Gerry and wife, Elaine, Gauthier of Spartanburg, Billy and wife, Linda, Gauthier of Simpsonville and Mickey and wife, Debbie, Gauthier of Cowpens; a daughter, Betsy and husband, Keffer Hugh, Humphries of Gaffney; a sister, Palma Carragher of Gaffney; 12 grandchildren and 12 greatgrandchildren.
Memorials may be made to Hospice Care of South Carolina, 1612 N. Limestone St., Gaffney, S.C. 29340; or to Alzheimer’s Association, Upstate Chapter, 521 N. McDuffie St., Anderson, S.C. 29621.
The family is at the residence.
Funeral arrangements will be announced by Blakely Funeral Home.
Alma P. Wilborn
Former textile employee
BLACKSBURG – Alma Price Wilborn, 59, of 167 Becky’s Blvd., died Thursday, Sept. 15, 2005, at her home.
A native of Gaffney, she was the wife of Charles Wilborn and daughter of the late Albert Price and the late Janie Blanton Price. She was a former textile employee, a homemaker and member of Meeting Place Church.
Surviving in addition to her husband are two sons, the Rev. Charlie D. Wilborn and wife, Sharon, of Moore and Steven L. Wilborn and wife, Angie, of Gaffney; daughter, Cindy L. Alge of Blacksburg; grandchildren, April Secrest, Brandon Harris, Drew Wilborn, Matt Wilborn, Erin Wilborn, Candice Alge, Stephanie Wilborn and Sierra Wilborn; a great-grandchild, Addison Secrest; a sister, Frances Bolin of Shelby; and a half-sister, Myrtle Jones of Canton, N.C.
The family is at the home.
Arrangements are incomplete. Shuford-Hatcher Funeral Home is in charge.
Jeffrey S. Upchurch
Employed by
Preferred Finishing
Jeffrey Scott Upchurch, 29, of 106 Harrison St., died Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2005, at his home.
A native of Gaffney, he was the husband of Jennifer Nicole Powers Upchurch, son of Bill Eugene Upchurch of Chesnee and Kathy Elaine Teague Upchurch of Gaffney, and stepson of Jerry Blaine Byars Sr. He was a textile employee of Preferred Finishing of Blacksburg and a member of Gospel Light Christian Fellowship.
Surviving in addition to his wife, parents and stepfather are a daughter, Emily Madison Upchurch of Blacksburg; two brothers, Steven Eugene Upchurch of Gaffney and Brian Upchurch of Blacksburg; two sisters, Tina Charlene Upchurch of Gaffney and Kylie Upchurch Pennington of Blacksburg; maternal grandmother, Altie Teague of Gaffney; and paternal grandparents, Arthur and Moree Upchurch of Chesnee.
Mr. Upchurch was preceded in death by his maternal grandfather, the Rev. Forest Teague, and uncle, Ronnie Wayne Teague.
Graveside services will be held today at 3 p.m. at Oakland Cemetery, conducted by the Rev. Dean Painter.
Pallbearers will be Gary Teague Jr., Brad Teague, Billy Crow, Steven Upchurch, Jerry Byars Sr. and Kirk Reeves.
The family is at the home of his maternal grandmother, Altie Teague, 301 Osment St., Gaffney.
Memorials may be made to Shuford-Hatcher Funeral Home, c/o Scott Upchurch Funeral Fund, P.O. Box 307, Gaffney, S.C. 29342.
Arrangements by ShufordHatcher Funeral Home.
Albert E. Peterson
Auto electrical
systems electrician
Albert Eugene Peterson, 51, of 121 Jason Owensby Drive, died Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2005, at his home.
A native of Gaffney, he was the son of the late Gordon Peterson Sr. and the late Annie Mae Donaldson Peterson. He was an auto electrical systems electrician and a member of the Salvation Army Church.
Mr. Peterson loved his children and grandchildren and loved helping people if he could. He gave his life to the Lord. He passed away after a long battle with lung cancer.
Surviving are two sons, Everette E. Peterson and Adam D. Peterson, both of Gaffney; a daughter, Priscilla T. Peterson of Blacksburg; a brother, Gordon “Shorty” Peterson Jr. of Gaffney; and six grandchildren.
Graveside services will be held today at 4 p.m. at Oakland Cemetery, conducted by the Revs. Everette Peterson and Mickey Mullinax. The family will receive friends today from 2:45-3:45 p.m. at ShufordHatcher Funeral Home – Downtown.
The family is at the home of his son, Everette Peterson, 2225 Old Georgia Hwy., Gaffney.
Memorials may be made to Shuford-Hatcher Funeral Home, c/o Albert Peterson Funeral Fund, P.O. Box 307, Gaffney, S.C. 29341.
Arrangements by ShufordHatcher Funeral Home.
James L. Parker
Textile employee
James Lee Parker, 49, of Lot No. 6, Peeler Trailer Park, Wilcox Avenue, died Thursday, Sept. 15, 2005, in Gaffney.
A native of Rock Hill, he was the son of Mabel Furr Moore and a textile employee. He was of the Baptist faith and enjoyed fishing and spending time with his family.
Surviving are two sons, Shane Ruppe and Jason Parker, both of Gaffney; a brother, Ronnie Downey of Gaffney; a sister, Linda George of Gaffney; and three grandchildren.
Graveside services will be held Saturday at 11 a.m. at Oakland Cemetery, conducted by the Rev. Dewitt Clyde.
The family will receive friends tonight from 7-9 at the residence.
Memorials may be made to Shuford-Hatcher Funeral Home, c/o James Lee Parker Funeral Fund, P.O. Box 307, Gaffney, S.C. 29342.
Arrangements by ShufordHatcher Funeral Home.
Dollie M. Batchler
Textile spinner
BLACKSBURG – Dollie Mae Moss Batchler, 85, of 383 Batchelor Drive, died Thursday, Sept. 15, 2005, at 180 Bee’s Branch Road, Blacksburg.
A native of Cherokee Falls, she was the widow of Roland Leon Batchler and daughter of the late Roland Moss Sr. and the late Wilma Parker Moss. She was a member of Eastside Baptist Church and a spinner in a textile mill.
Surviving are a son, Leon Jacob Batchler of Spartanburg; a daughter, Linda Batchler Bolin of Blacksburg; a sister, Frone Lee Passmore of Shelby; four sisters in-love, Betty Spencer, Grace Whitten, Doris Wilkerson and Fredia Long; seven grandchildren; and 10 greatgrandchildren.
In addition to her husband and parents, Mrs. Batchler was preceded in death by brothers, Roland (Hick) Moss, Jack Moss, Bobby Moss and Palmer Gleen Moss; and sisters, Katherine McPherson and Edna Dean Jenkins.
Services will be held Sunday at 2 p.m. at Gordon Mortuary Chapel. Burial will be in Greenlawn Memorial Gardens, Spartanburg. Body will lie in state for 30 minutes prior to the service.
The family will receive friends Saturday from 5-6:30 p.m. at Gordon Mortuary and at other times they will be at the home of Linda Bolin, 180 Bee’s Branch Road.
Arrangements by Gordon Mortuary.
James O. Gordon
Retired from Fiber Ind.
BLACKSBURG – James Oscar Gordon, 83, of 1707 Blacksburg Hwy., died Thursday, Sept. 15, 2005, at Wendover Place in Shelby.
A native of Cleveland County, he was the husband of Ruth Bolin Gordon and son of the late George Washington Gordon and the late Martha Avalona
Sellars Gordon. He
was retired from Fiber
Industries and was a World War II veteran, receiving a Purple Heart. He was a member of Buffalo Baptist Church.
Surviving in addition to his wife are a daughter, Vicki Marie Gordon Banks of the home; two sisters, Aretta Ramsey and Aileen Sparks, both of Gaffney; and a granddaughter, Heather Banks Taylor of Anderson.
In addition to his parents, Mr. Gordon was preceded in death by two brothers, Winfred Gordon and Eugene Gordon, and a sister, Marie Camp.
Graveside services will be held Saturday at 11 a.m. at Buffalo Baptist Church Cemetery, conducted by the Rev. Bruce Price. The family will receive friends Saturday morning from 10-10:45 at Buffalo Baptist Church.
The family is at the residence.
Memorials may be made to Buffalo Baptist Church, 618 Old Buffalo Church Road, Blacksburg, S.C. 29702.
Arrangements by Gordon Mortuary.
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