COASTAL OBSERVER

Lawrence C. Don, 78

February 20, 2025

Lawrence Charles Don of Hagley Estates died Feb. 13 after a long battle with cancer. He was 78.

He was born July 25, 1946, the son of William and Lois Don of St. Johnsville, N.Y. After Larry graduated from high school, he went to Bradly University for graduate studies in business and accounting.

In 1967, he married Nita Ann Pinnell from Manchester, England. They went on to have two daughters, Michelle Hardt and Alexis Cook.

Mr. Don enjoyed reading and researching family genealogy, watching all sports and spending time with his family.

In addition to his wife and daughters, he is survived by three grandchildren, Kyle and Aiden Cookand and Lilly Hardt.

Services will be private.

Condolences may be sent at burroughsfh.com.

Tom Davis, 87, former insurance exec became wood carver

February 20, 2025

Thomas Davis of Pawleys Island  died Feb. 10 at Georgetown Memorial Hospital surrounded by his family. He was 87.

He was born July 23, 1937, in Clarksville, Pa., the son of Thomas and Irene Davis, a third-generation coal mining family.   

Known as “Chief” growing up, Tom attended Jefferson Morgan High School, where he ran track and field. He was known in town for the cars he drove, such as his black 1955 T-Bird convertible, and as a superb dancer. 

Following high school, he met his future wife, M. Elizabeth Davis, in 1957 at Blanche’s Dairy Bar where they danced the night away. In 1958, Tom joined the Army and proposed to Betty. They were married for 62 years until her death in 2021.

They began their journey together at Fort Riley, Kan., before Mr. Davis was stationed in Germany with the Eighth Infantry Division. They had many adventures traveling in Europe. They returned to the United States in 1961 and began to build their family. 

They moved to Arlington, Va., where Mr. Davis embarked on a 35-year career with Allstate Insurance. The family moved many times with Allstate as he climbed the corporate ladder,   living in Houston, Roswell, Ga., and Libertyville, Ill., before retiring to Pawleys Island, where they had spent many family vacations.

Mr. Davis was active in his children’s and grandchildren’s activities including education, sports, Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts, boating on the Waccamaw River and Pawleys Creek, and taking long walks on the beach. 

His own hobbies included photography. He took many outstanding wildlife photos and family portraits that he developed in his own dark room. He also enjoyed carving and painting duck decoys, seagulls and other waterfowl to sell that turned into a small business called Quackers & Cats. The exquisite birds were sought after by family and friends. 

Mr. Davis was also a master gardener, whose garden, filled with hydrangeas and azaleas and a koi pond, was a popular destination on the Heritage Garden Walk for many years. 

Mr. Davis was remembered for his dry sense of humor, but preferred to be in the background while enjoying his wife, whose nickname was “Mayor of Libertyville and Pawleys Island,” be the life of the party. He was also someone who was always willing to lend a hand.  

He converted to Catholicism in 1978, after many years of faith filled inspiration from his wife, a life-long devoted Catholic. He volunteered at Father Pat’s Kitchen and was a member of the Knights of Columbus. 

He is survived by his children, Lisa Godfrey (Michael) of Libertyville, Lauren Davis of Pawleys Island and Scotty Davis (Sydney) of Fairfax Station, Va.; his grandchildren, Morgan Davis and Hannah Davis; his sisters-in-law, Margaret Horn (Keith Gwyn) of Frederick, Md., and Evelyn Bullick of Aurora, Colo.;  and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. 

His sister Bobette Davis died before him, as did his brothers-in-law, Daniel Bullick and Robert Horn, and another  sister-in-law, Marcy Fraber. 

A funeral mass and celebration of life will be held Feb. 28 at 2 p.m. at Precious Blood of Christ Catholic Church. 

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital at  stjude.org, the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America at alzfdn.org or Wounded Warrior Project at woundedwarriorproject.org.

There is a guest book at goldfinchfuneralhome.com.

Dr. E. Benton DuBose, 84, started free dental clinic

February 20, 2025

Dr. Edward Benton DuBose of Debordieu died Feb. 12 with his wife of 60 years by his side. He was 84.

Known as Benny, he was born May 28, 1940, in Columbia, the third of five children of Carl Butler and Minnie Reynolds DuBose. After graduating from Dreher High School in 1958, he served as a corpsman in the Navy stationed in Pensacola, Fla. 

He returned to Columbia where he graduated from the University of South Carolina with a bachelor’s degree in business management. He was a member of Sigma Nu fraternity. It was at USC that he met and married another graduate, Lynn Fishburne.

In 1966, he was accepted into the School of Dentistry at the University of Louisville where he earned the degree of doctor of dental medicine with honors. 

Dr. DuBose established himself as a leader in the Class of 1970. He was a mentor to many classmates. At the same time, his sense of humor gave welcome relief and diversion from the stress and rigor of dental school. 

Upon graduation, he entered practice in Newberry, where he spent 27 years. In 1997, he relocated to Pawleys Island, where he had owned a second home for many years, and opened a dental practice. He was able to enjoy many activities that he loved, including fishing, golf and tennis. 

For many years, Dr. DuBose felt there was a need for a free dental clinic in Georgetown County. In 2013, Helping Hands of Georgetown agreed to sponsor and help fund the clinic, which was recently named in his honor.

He was also known as “the dentist’s dentist” for treating many of his fellow dentists and their families during his 47 years of practice.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by his sons, Steven Martin DuBose of Fort Worth, Texas, and Brett Benton DuBose (Jennifer) of Greenwood;  his grandchildren, Mary Clare and Alice of Forth Worth and Ellie and Jenna of Greenwood; his brothers Carl (Mary Anne) and Francis (Judy), both of Columbia, and David (Jennie) of Newberry; and many nieces and nephews. 

His sister, Patricia DuBose Logothetis, died before him.

A memorial service was held Monday at The Abbey.

Memorials may be made to the Dr. Edward Benton DuBose Dental Clinic at Helping Hands, 1813 Highmarket St., Georgetown, SC 29440 (helpinghandsofgeorgetown.org)  or The Abbey of Pawleys Island, 46 Gathering Lane, Pawleys Island, SC 29585 (theabbeypawleysisland.com).

Condolences may be sent at mayerfuneralhome.com.

Jeanette Burkett, 89

February 13, 2025

Jeanette Burkett of Georgetown died Feb. 6 at her daughter’s home. She was 89.

She was born Feb. 4, 1936, in Pawleys Island, the daughter of Mottie Moore Casselman and Lillian Carraway Casselman. She was married to the late Paul Burkett.

Mrs. Burkett was remembered for her warmth, kindness and loving spirit.

She is survived by her daughters, Paula McConnell (Roger) and Debbie Bryant of Georgetown; her grandchildren: Joey Hewitt (Renée) of Lexington, and Kevin McConnell (Casey), Dale Hewitt (Jessica) and Ian Cameron, all of Georgetown; and her great-grandchildren, Bethany Hewitt, Jayden Hewitt, Chloe McConnell and Cade Hewitt.

In addition to her husband, another daughter, Nancy Cameron, died before her.

A graveside service was Monday in Pennyroyal Memorial Gardens. 

Larry A. Elliott, 78, Murrells Inlet businessman

February 13, 2025

Larry Allen Elliott of Murrells Inlet died Feb. 5 at his home.  He was 78.

He was born June 14, 1946, in Carters Crossroads, the son of Robert and Mary Carter Elliott. He graduated from Pleasant Hill High School and attended Charleston Southern University, where he played on the golf team. After serving in the Army, he attended Midlands Technical College in Columbia. 

Mr. Elliott owned and operated We Sweep Inc. for many years before retiring in 2019. In his free time, he was an avid golfer and loved going to his farm. 

He is survived by his wife, Linda A. Elliott; his sisters, Mary Lee Phillips and Betty Sue McAllister; a brother, Bucky Wendell Elliott; and several nieces and nephews.  

Two other brothers, Charles Elliott and Bobby Elliott, died before him.

A memorial service was held  Wednesday at Lands End Marina Yacht Club in Georgetown.

There is a guest book at goldfinchfuneralhome.com. 

Charles H. Meade, 85, Air Force officer joined Defense Dept.

February 13, 2025

Charles H. Meade of Heritage Plantation died Feb. 10 at his home with his wife by his side. He was 85.

He was born May 1, 1939, in Ashland, Ky., and grew up in Durham, N.C. He earned a bachelor’s degree from North Carolina State University and a master’s degree from the University of Southern California.

Mr. Meade worked for the Department of Defense for 37 years, both as a civilian and an Air Force officer. 

As an Air Force officer, he served in aircraft operations, missile operations and industrial engineering positions at several locations in the U.S. and Germany prior to joining the Department of Defense as a civilian.

He held key civilian management positions in the Defense Contract Administration Service in Cleveland, Los Angeles, and Towson, Md.  He retired from the National Security Agency in 1997. 

Mr. Meade also worked for Lockheed Missiles and Space Co. in Sunnyvale, Calif., and served on the corporate staff of the Eaton Corp. in Cleveland, as a participant in the President’s Executive Interchange Program during the Carter administration.

He was an adjunct faculty member in the Schools of Business at the University of Baltimore; Orange Coast College in California, and Cuyahoga Community College in Cleveland, where he taught a variety of management courses.

An active member of the Anglican and Episcopal churches, Mr. Meade served as a vestry person, licensed lay reader and chalicist at churches in Ohio, California, Maryland and South Carolina for many years. He was an active member of the community including All Saints Church, where he served as a lay eucharistic minister. 

He loved golf and was a member of the Caledonia and True Blue Golf Club. He was a dedicated Corvette enthusiast who worked to support the National Corvette Museum and the Myrtle Beach and Queen City (Charlotte) Corvette Clubs.

In addition to his wife, the former Deborah Dillon, he is survived by his children,  Kristen M. Tamblyn (Charles) of Neptune Beach, Fla., Charles J. Meade (Debra) of Centerville, Va., and Michael G. Meade (Joy) of Slidell, La.; nine grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. 

Another granddaughter, Lauren Louise Tamblyn, died before him, as did a niece, Wendy Adams.

Memorial and graveside services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at All Saints Church.

Memorials may be made to the church, St Jude Children’s Research Hospital or a charity of your choice.

Condolences may be sent at mayerfuneralhome.com.

Charles B. Tharp, 95, veteran of Korean and Vietnam wars

February 13, 2025

Charles Bonner Tharp of Pawleys Plantation, a retired Army colonel, died Feb. 5 at Georgetown Memorial Hospital surrounded by his family. He was 95.

Known as Sonny, he was born Sept. 8, 1929, in Macon, Ga., the eldest of two sons of Mary Ethel Tomlinson Tharp and Chonnie Bonner Tharp. He graduated from Lanier High School, where he was a leader in the Army Junior ROTC, a manager of the baseball team and a star for the varsity tennis team. He was also a lifeguard for the city parks system. He  graduated from Mercer University in Macon in 1951. He was a member of the Army ROTC program, the tennis team and the Kappa Alpha fraternity. 

He was designated a distinguished military graduate and commissioned as a second lieutenant, beginning a 27-year career in the Army.

Col. Tharp served in combat as an artillery officer with the Third Infantry Division during the Korean War from 1952 to 1953. He completed Airborne School and, at the age of 30, completed the Army Ranger course. 

He served in various assignments across the U.S., Germany  and Korea. He was appointed as the military aide to the undersecretary of the Army at the Pentagon.

From 1969 to 1970, he again served in combat as an artillery battalion commander and division staff officer with the First Infantry Division during the Vietnam War. Promoted to full colonel, he became a key staff officer at the Pentagon, where he played an integral role in implementing the transition to an all-volunteer Army. 

He earned a master’s degree from Shippensburg State University in Pennsylvania in 1972.

After retiring from the Army in 1977, Col. Tharp worked as vice president of Hennage Creative Printers in Alexandria, Va., and later as a self-employed real estate appraiser in Northern Virginia. 

He was married for nearly 73 to the late Marlyn Jo Vaughn.

Col. Tharp was a member of Duncan Memorial United Methodist Church. He volunteered for the county development board and worked as a federal census worker. He particularly enjoyed playing golf regularly until his mid-80s, and in 2002, he shot a hole-in-one from 155 yards at Pawleys Plantation.

He  is survived by his sons, J. Gregory Tharp (Laura) of Pawleys Island and Marc Bonner Tharp of Fort Pierce, Fla.; his grandchildren, Jeff Tharp (Laura), Bryan Tharp (Anna-Marie), Kaelyn Tharp Warden (Daniel), Ashley Tharp and Courtney Tharp; his great-grandchildren, Fisher, Audrey, Emily and Sonny Tharp; his sisters-in-law, Janet Tharp and Jacquelyn McCants; and many nieces and nephews.

In addition to his wife, his youngest son, Tracy Tomlinson, died before him as did his younger brother, Thomas Eason Tharp. 

A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday at Duncan Memorial United Methodist Church by the Rev. Dr. Dora Gafford. Burial with military honors will follow at Pennyroyal Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. on Friday at the Mayer-Ethridge Funeral Home Georgetown Chapel.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Tunnel to Towers Foundation at t2t.org or Duncan Memorial United Methodist Church at duncanumcsc.com.

There is a guest book at mayerfuneralhome.com.

Gerald J. Meyer, 86, retired airline pilot

February 13, 2025

Gerald Joseph Meyer of Pawleys Plantation died Feb. 3 in the company of his family. He was 86.

Known as Jerry, he was born Nov. 25, 1938, in St. Louis, the oldest of three brothers. His father, Joe, an executive at Chicago & Southern and Delta Air Lines, and mother, Lorraine, the great-granddaughter of German-Swiss immigrants, raised the family in Memphis and then Atlanta. 

At Druid Hills High in Atlanta, Jerry played basketball, ran track and field and was a standout on the baseball team. His enthusiasm for sports continued at Georgia Tech, where he was a more distinguished athlete than student. He played basketball and excelled at varsity baseball for the Yellow Jackets. He was also noted for capturing the greased pig for the Sigma Nu fraternity.

He was commissioned in the Air Force upon graduating in 1960. While awaiting pilot training, he started dating a student at Agnes Scott, Patricia McLaurin of Columbia. 

During training at Reese Air Force Base in Texas, he coaxed a weekend pass out of the base commander so he and Patricia could be married in September 1961.

After training he was assigned to the Ninth Air Force, Tactical Air Command at Sewart Air Force Base in Tennessee. He flew the C-130 Hercules, with deployments to the Middle East and Far East. Low-level, tactical flying was his favorite. 

He was a Vietnam veteran.

Mr. Meyer joined National Airlines in 1965 and moved to Miami. He enjoyed coaching his children’s sports teams and was active in St. Andrews Episcopal Church. He began to hone his skills on the grill with fresh fish from the Florida Keys and was an avid golfer.

He started his commercial career flying the L-188 Electra and finished on the Boeing 727. In between he piloted the DC-8, DC-10, A-300 and MD-80. He was a natural, instinctive pilot. But even more than the flying, he loved the destinations; exploring interesting places, meeting new people and sampling distinctive cuisines. Pan American acquired National in 1980. It declared bankruptcy in 1991. 

On one flight for Pan Am, Mr. Meyer’s plane arrived at Guatemala City to find the airport cloaked in ground fog. He wanted to avoid diverting to San Salvedor, a dangerous place a the time, so he got permission from the tower to make a low pass over the runway.

As the plane crossed the far threshold, Mr. Meyer put it into a steep climb at full power. The blast of exhaust cleared the fog long enough for him to make a quick turn and land as scheduled.

For the last years of his flying career Mr.  Meyer was a self-described “freight dog,” working for several charter companies. He enjoyed this iteration more than expected, in particular the special skills required for flying unique cargo like thoroughbred horses.

He moved to Pawleys Island in 1997 and retired from flying in 1998.

In addition to his wife of 63 years, he is survived by his children, Jerry, Jeffrey (Kerry) and Laurin; his grandchildren Mac, Roddy, Stock, Raiden and Sengen; his brother John (Sue); and his sisters and brothers-in-law, Jane and Frank Mood, Milly and John Hart, Kay and Howard Daniel and their families.

A funeral service will be held at 11:30 a.m.  Saturday at Holy Cross Faith Memorial Episcopal Church, followed by a drop-in at the home.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Carolina LIFE at the University of South Carolina,  donate.sc.edu.

Barry A. Handleman, 84, a fan of classic movies

February 6, 2025

Barry Allan Handleman of Murrells Inlet died Jan. 28 at his home with his family by his side. He was 84.

He was born Sept. 14, 1940, in Baltimore, the son of Samuel Handleman and Jean Hess Handleman.

Mr. Handleman enjoyed golfing, cooking, playing bridge, listening to oldies music and watching classic movies and westerns. He loved anything Disney and especially cherished Christmas time.

He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Patricia Handleman; his brother, Brian Handleman (Gail) of Bradenton, Fla.; his children, Kimberly Newton (Rich) of Concord, N.C., and Craig Handleman (Holly) of Oceanside, N.Y.; his grandchildren, Ash (Jayce), Tyler, Brayden and Karley; as well as a daughter from a previous marriage, Dana Wootton (Jim) of Glen Burnie, Md., his other grandchildren, Jaime (Eric) and Paige (Michael), and great-grandchildren, Theodora and Michael.

A celebration of his life will be held at noon Saturday at his home.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Tunnels to Towers Foundation at www.t2t.org or to the Wounded Warrior Project, 1990 Fordham Drive, Suite 100, Fayetteville, NC 28304.

Condolences may be sent at burroughsfh.com.

Ricky Cornwell, 81, active in Lakes Golf Club

January 30, 2025

Richard Paul Cornwell of Murrells Inlet died Jan. 10 at his home. He was 81.

Known as Ricky, he was born Dec. 20, 1943, in Camden, N.J., the son of Herbert Leon Cornwell and Iris Margaret Cornwell.

Mr. Cornwell was an avid golfer and an active member of the Lakes Golf Group.

He is survived by his wife, Jean Cornwell; his children, Barbara, Kelly and Richard, all of Philadelphia; four grandchildren; his sister, Joan, and brother, Herb, also of Philadelphia; and several nieces and nephews.

His other brothers, Robert and Earl, died before him, as did another sister, Iris.

A celebration of his life will be held at 11 a.m. today at Burroughs Funeral Home.  The family will receive friends at the funeral home starting at 10 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Tidelands Community Hospice, 2591 North Fraser St., Georgetown, SC  29440 (tidelandshopsice.org).

Condolences may be sent at burroughsfh.com.

Jean B. Swartz, 87, owned kennel in Pa.

January 30, 2025

Jean Bartis Swartz, a former Murrells Inlet resident, died Jan. 22 in Staunton, Va.  She was 87.

She was born Feb. 23, 1937, the daughter of Henry and Helen Pinko Bartis.  She graduated from Scranton Central High School in Pennsylvania.  

Mrs. Swartz owned and operated Highland Kennels in Mill City, Pa., where  she once lived. She was also secretary for Falls Township, Pa.

In her younger years she was a competitive swimmer and used that ability to teach many to swim at Lake Winola, Pa. She was married for 65 years to the late Ray Swartz, who was known as Jim. 

She is survived by her daughter Terry (Bill); her grandsons, Phillip, Benjamin, Nathan and Elisha; and five great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.  

In addition to her husband, her son, Raymond, died before her as did her brothers, John and Michael, and her sisters, Helen and Marianne.

A memorial service will be held at a later date.

Claret M. Heider, 79, ‘beacon of light’

January 30, 2025

Claret Mary Heider of Pawleys Plantation died Jan. 17 at Georgetown Memorial Hospital. She was 79.

She was born May 16, 1945, in Chicago, the daughter of Walter and Sybil Station. 

She was remembered as  a loving daughter, wife and mother, and a beacon of light and friendship.

She is survived by her husband, Raymond A. Heider Jr., and her son, Erich B. Heider of Charleston.

The interment will be private.

Memorials may be made to All 4 Paws Animal Rescue, 708 Petigru Dr., Pawleys Island, SC 29585 (all4pawssc.org).

Condolences may be sent at mayerfuneralhome.com.

Sally Gillespie, 85, committed to city’s historic preservation

January 30, 2025

Sarah Clyde Morgan Gillespie of Georgetown died Jan. 18 at her home. She was 85. 

Known as Sally, she was born Dec. 5, 1939, in Cedartown, Ga, the daughter of Julian Hardage Morgan and Emory Clyde Morgan. 

She and her sister, Julianne, carried on their family tradition as members of the Cedartown Rod & Gun Club, swimming, fishing, berry picking, home-cooked meals, story telling, jigsaw puzzles and sing alongs on their cabin’s back porch.

Sally was baptized in the First Baptist Church of Cedartown and graduated from Cedartown High School in 1958. She studied home economics for two years at Auburn University, where she was a member of the Alpha Gamma Delta sorority.

On a blind date in Pensacola, Fla., she met Thomas Evan Gillespie Jr., a Marine lieutenant in flight training school. They were married in 1960 at McFall Memorial Chapel in Kingsville, Texas.

Mrs. Gillespie finished her Auburn bachelor’s degree through correspondence courses while living on the military base in El Toro, Calif. She was always proud to shout “War Eagle,” especially when Auburn was up against her husband’s Vanderbilt teams. They were married for 55 years until his death in 2016.

She used her discerning eye to design homes and gardens in Columbia, Statesville, N.C., Basking Ridge, N.J., and Georgetown, her home of nearly 50 years.

With her son-in-law on the crew, she built her beach house at Pawleys Island, named The Mustard Seed. The Gillespies hosted many family gatherings where all ages cast for shrimp, fished for flounder and floated in the creek.

Mrs. Gillespie taught science at Winyah Academy. She later worked as an officer at Andrews Bank and Trust and expanded her financial education in Boulder, Colo. Then, she obtained her real estate license, and became an agent for Pawleys Island Realty.

She was a member of Georgetown Presbyterian Church for nearly 50 years serving as elder, deacon, committee chair, Sunday school superintendent and teacher, community outreach supporter and chair of church improvement projects.

Mrs. Gillespie was a member of the Georgetown Architectural Review Board. She educated herself with all aspects of maintaining Georgetown’s wide collection of historic structures and was an ardent preservationist. 

She was proud to live in the downtown community and considered its diversity to be its greatest strength, her family said.

She is survived by her daughter, Emory Ann Gillespie (Bob David); her grandchildren, TomHenry (Rachel), Raina (Adam), Austin (Christene), Wesley (McKinley) and Julian; her great-granddaughter, Josephine Hays; and her niece and nephews and their children.

Another daughter, Susan Hays Gillespie Elliott, died in 2009.

A memorial service was held Saturday at Georgetown Presbyterian Church. 

Memorials may be made to the church, 558 Black River Rd., Georgetown, SC 29440;  Peacehaven Community Farm, 1458 N.C. Highway 61, Whitsett, NC 27377;  or Family of Christ Presbyterian Church, 2410 35th Ave., Greeley, CO 80634.

There is a guest book at mayerfuneralhome.com.

Sue B. Varn, 82, nurse at Tidelands Hospice

January 23, 2025

Sue Bentley Varn of Pawleys Island died Jan. 19 at Inlet Coastal Resort. She was 82.

She was born Sept. 2, 1942, in Philadelphia, the daughter of Robert Logan Bentley and Edith Hoffman Bentley. She graduated from Mary Washington College in Fredericksburg, Va., and attended the University of Virginia School of Nursing. It was in Williamsburg where she met her husband of 59 years, Dr. George Holland Varn.

The couple moved to Georgetown in 1970. Mrs. Varn worked as a hospice nurse with Tideland Community Hospice for over 15 years and volunteered for several years thereafter. She also volunteered as a Sunday school teacher at Duncan  Memorial United Methodist Church.

Mrs. Varn was remembered as talented gardener who always had fresh vegetables spread across the kitchen counters and was always willing to share with visitors. Her tomatoes were unrivaled most years in taste and quantity. She was also an excellent cook. She enjoyed cross-stitching and sailing North Inlet, Winyah Bay and the local rivers with her family.

She enjoyed travel. Williamsburg was one of her favorite places, and she loved anything involving the colonial period.

She is survived by her children, Mark H. Varn (Amanda) of Mount Pleasant, Eric B. Varn (Kate) of Pawleys Island and Sharon V. Groat (Geoff) of Charleston; and her grandchildren, Scott Varn, K. Logan Varn, William Varn, Katherine Varn, Eliza Groat and Suzanne Groat.

Her husband died before her.

The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday at the Downtown Chapel of Mayer-Ethridge Funeral Home. A graveside service for the family will be held Saturday at Union Methodist Church by the Rev. Furman Buchanan.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Duncan Methodist Church, Union Methodist Church or Tidelands Community Hospice.

Condolences may be sent at mayerfuneralhome.com.

Robin A. Thomas, 66, owned advertising agency

January 16, 2025

Robin Ann Thomas of Georgetown died Jan. 11 at her home.  She was 66.

She was born in Georgetown, a daughter of Samuel Edward and Pearl Davis Thomas. She served in the Army, where she specialized in communications. 

After her military service, she owned and operated her own advertising agency. She loved her family and friends, enjoyed cooking and, especially, loved her time fishing in the creeks of Murrells Inlet.

She is survived by her husband, Tommy Rogers; a stepson, Dylan T. Rogers (Lauren); a stepdaughter, Bianca Freeman; and her step-grandchildren, Jasper and Alaia Rogers, Sagel Springs, and Anna and Greyson Freeman.

In addition to her parents, her brother, Eddie Thomas, died before her.

A memorial service will be held at a later date.

Condolences may be sent at mayerfuneralhome.com.

Chris Pikaart, 96, ‘an adventurous spirit’

January 9, 2025

Laura Christine Pikaart of the River Club died Dec. 28 at her home surrounded by family. She was 96. 

Known as Chris, she was born on September 19, 1928, in Orange, N.J., the daughter of Christian Frederick Bernard Hagemann and Laura Ernshaw (Winston) Hagemann. After graduating from Orange Memorial Hospital as a registered nurse, she married Edward Hendrick Pikaart in 1950. Together, they raised their two children in Chatham and Basking Ridge, N.J. Following her husband’s passing after 51 years of marriage, Mrs. Pikaart relocated to River Club.

She embraced life with an adventurous spirit and boundless energy. Throughout her life she enjoyed traveling the world, piloting her own plane, biking, golfing, sailing, swimming, running, fishing and playing cards. Her dedication to service was evident through her involvement with churches, schools, and the Pawleys Island Lion’s Club.

Mrs. Pikaart cherished her role as a grandmother and great-grandmother. She found immense joy in their love and laughter and shared a deep devotion to her family and pets.

She is survived by her son. Edward Pikaart (Margaret Vaughan) of Durham, N.C.; her daughter. Laura Thomas (Kevin) of Pinehurst, N.C.; her grandchildren. Lauren Lis (James), Christian Pikaart (Cory), Mackenzie Pikaart, Elizabeth Pikaart, Peter Thomas, Charles Thomas, Scott Thomas (Amanda) and Kristine Thomas; and her great-grandchildren, Dylan Lis, Sylvia Pikaart, Marinus Pikaart, Colgan Pikaart, Margaret Pikaart, Daphne Pikaart, Decker Thomas and Leo Thomas.

A celebration of her life will be planned in 2025. Memorials may be made to All4Paws Animal Rescue, Brookgreen Gardens, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Smith Medical Clinic, Pierce Pond Watershed Trust, Doctors Without Borders, Lowcountry Food Bank or the charity of your choice.

David L. Prentice, 82, active in All Saints Church

January 2, 2025

David L. Prentice of Pawleys Island died Dec. 29 at his home with his wife by his side. He was 82.

He was born in DeKalb, Ill., the son of Donald and Alta Prentice. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Wake Forest University and a master’s degree from St. Joseph’s University in Hartford, Conn.  

Mr. Prentice was a member of All Saints Church for over 25 years. He served on the usher and audio teams, the Men’s Connection Fellowship, a Pastorate and a small group. 

He loved to build and fly model airplanes and to fly drones and kites. He also enjoyed candle making, gardening and traveling. 

He lived valiantly, in spite of the drawbacks of numerous health issues that never stopped him from trusting God, his family said.

He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Marsha Rees Prentice; his children, Andrew Prentice and Bethany Prentice; a grandson, Alex Myers; a sister, Ann Prentice Hamilton (Christopher) and her children, Stephen Hamilton (Lesley Davidson) and Elizabeth Prentice Short (Joe); his aunts, Bonnie Prentice and Lois Prentice Thorp; his great-nieces, Madeleine Short and Lillian Short; his sisters-in-law, Linda Rees (Ed Baxter) and Meredith Rees Creighton; his nieces and nephews, Christopher Wallace, Layne Creighton Cameron (Mark), Jay Creighton; and his great-nephews, Clay Cameron and Cole Cameron.

A celebration of life service will be held at 2 p.m. Friday in the Old Church at All Saints, followed by a brief committal at the cemetery and a reception in the Acts Building. 

Memorials may be made to All Saints Church, Tidelands Community Hospice, Samaritans Purse, International Fellowship of Christians and Jews, Tunnel to Towers Foundation or the charity of your choice. 

Melissa K. Maresca, architect and interior designer

January 2, 2025

Melissa K. Maresca of Charleston, a second-home owner on Pawleys Island, died Dec. 26 from unforeseen medical complications. 

Mrs. Maresca was a registered architect and certified interior designer. She worked as a mentor to her husband, Mark, of Maresca & Associate Architects. 

She survived 25 years of trigeminal neuralgia and was miraculously cured seven years ago. 

She was known by all for her honesty, straightforwardness and sensitivity to life and all its struggles.

Her passions were her family, politics and football.

In addition to her husband, she is survived by her daughters, Lauren Carlson  (Carl) of Charleston and Kathryn Faull (Chase) of Riverside, Ill.; and her granddaughters, Anna Lucian Carlson and Louise Augusta Faull.

Her parents and one brother died before her.

Memorials may be made to the Gibbes Museum of Art Building Fund, 135 Meeting St., Charleston, SC 29401.

A casual get together was held on New Year’s Day at the family home.

Condolences may be sent at jhenrystuhr.com.

Anthony F. Cavaliere, 71, retired NYC sanitation worker

January 2, 2025

Anthony Francis Cavaliere of Allston Plantatation died Dec. 27 at his home. He was 71.

He was born Oct. 2, 1953, in Brooklyn, N.Y., the son of Nancy and John Cavaliere. He was a retired sanitation worker with the N.Y. Department of Sanitation. 

Mr. Cavaliere loved to play golf and his guitars, walk the beach, swim in the ocean and create beautiful furniture in his wood shop. He took pride in being meticulous and precise in his work. He also loved listening to his favorite blues artists.

He is survived by his wife, Randy Berne Cavaliere; his daughter, Jacqueline Cavaliere Klein (Jonathan) and son, John, of Staten Island, N.Y.; his stepdaughter, Ilene Schneider Onieal (James) of Columbus, Ohio; his stepson, Avery Schneider (Christina Serio) and son, Reese, of Buffalo, N.Y.; and his sisters, Donna DeSilva of Pawleys Island, Judy Guerin of Moriches, N.Y., and Nancy Cavaliere of Brooklyn.

His son, Christopher, died before him.

A graveside funeral service and burial will be held at 2 p.m. today at Beth Elohim Cemetery in Georgetown with Richard Dimentstein and Andrew Friedman, who are family friends, officiating.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital or Make-a-Wish Foundation.

Condolences may be sent at mayerfuneralhome.com.

James P. Hart, 75, made career in golf industry

December 20, 2024

James Patrick Hart of Pawleys Island died Dec. 12 at his home with his family at his side.  He was 75.

He was born Nov. 14, 1949, in Oak Ridge, Tenn., the son of Robert and Barbara Hart. Jim was an Army ROTC commissioned officer and business administration graduate from Washington State University in Pullman, Wash. Following his Army service he went to work for the Regency division of Hyatt Hotels in Knoxville, Tenn.

Mr. Hart moved to Myrtle Beach in 1974 to manage the Yachtsman Resort Inn, becoming the first employee of Leonard, Call & Associates. Business ventures and development that followed included the Sea Crest Motor Inn, Panama Jack Enterprises and 82 Queen of Charleston.

Most of his years in Myrtle Beach and Pawleys were spent in the golf industry. Mr. Hart was the founder of  Balltec and Southern Dunes Golf & Travel, which was the originator of the National Father & Son Team Classic. With the development of the internet and golf marketing platforms, publishing became his passion. He created the Golfer’s Guide publication and website.

The Hart family moved to Pawleys Island in 1989 following Hurricane Hugo where Mr. Hart and his wife, Alicia, had opened Pawleys Island Wear at the Hammock Shops in 1987.

Mr. Hart was a founding member and first president of Pawleys Plantation Golf Club. He loved all sports, but youth sports especially, and was active in First Tee and coaching recreation baseball. In more recent years, he was (in his own words) a “would be” duplicate bridge player and an admirer of the many other fine players in the Pawleys Island area. 

He and his family were members of All Saints Episcopal Church for 31 years, where he was active in the Kairos and Cursillo ministries. More recently, he worshiped at Holy Cross Faith Memorial Episcopal Church.

He especially loved his grandchildren and was extremely proud of their accomplishments. He was also thankful for the many partners and close friends that God has poured into his life. Their passion and warmth made his life very full and exciting. Above all, he was deeply loved by his family and will be dearly missed.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by his son Ryan (Beth),  and his daughter, Lindsey Kirby (Adam); his grandsons, Tucker Hart, Connor Hart, Abel Kirby and Eli Kirby; his brother, John Hart (Francie) of Knoxville; and his sisters, Maureen Hart (Marta) of Seattle, and Margo Krakoviak (Sam) of Knoxville.

Due to the approaching holidays, the family held a small, private service. A memorial service will be scheduled at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Holy Cross Faith Memorial Episcopal Church, 88 Baskervill Dr., Pawleys Island, S.C. 29585.

Dr. Craig J. Hamilton, 77, retired from dentistry

December 20, 2024

Dr. Craig John Hamilton of Murrells Inlet died Dec. 9 at his home surrounded by his wife, Jill, and his children Lindsay and Christian. He was 77.

He was born April 30, 1947, in Minneapolis, the son of Lila Marie Herberg Hamilton and Clayton John Hamilton. Craig graduated from Mounds View High School, where he was known for his love of singing and golf. He lettered in tennis and cross country. He earned a bachelor’s degree in English and a doctor of dental surgery degree from the University of Minnesota, where he was a member of the Xi Psi Phi fraternity. 

Dr. Hamilton served in the Army with the rank of major from 1972 to 1978. He was stationed in Okinawa.

Dr. Hamilton had a private dental practice in St. Paul, Minn., and did volunteer children’s dentistry throughout South Minneapolis. He sold his private practice and worked at Metro Dental. 

He moved to Pawleys Island in 2010 and continued his dentistry work at Small Smiles in Myrtle Beach and then at the Sexton Clinic in Florence and Myrtle Beach. He retired in 2015.

Dr. Hamilton was remembered for treating each of his patients with genuine respect.

He loved to golf, read, play cajon (Peruvian slap drum), sing and watch the birds.

He is survived by his wife, Jill Trinka; his sister, Linda Marie Hamilton Senta, of Duluth, Minn.; his children, Lindsay Marie Bjorkstrand of Farmington, Minn., Christian John Hamilton of Maple Grove, Minn., and Robert Hamilton Smith of Corcoran, Minn.; and his grandchildren, Charley Ryan Bjorkstrand, Conner John Anderson, Claire Louise Bjorkstrand, Ayden Hunter Hamilton and Liam Edward Hamilton.

A celebration of his life was held Dec. 12 at Burroughs Funeral Home.

Memorials may be made to your local hospice.

Condolences may be sent at burroughsfh.com.

Elsie A. Siebert, 86, former Tradition resident

November 28, 2024

Elsie Ann Siebert, a former Tradition Club resident, died Nov. 6 at the home of her son Robert in Ocala, Fla., following a three-year battle with dementia.  She was 86. 

She was born Nov. 4, 1938, in Irvington, N.J., the daughter of Alfred and Elsie E. Nordhausen. Elsie grew up in Kearney, N.J., and graduated from Kearney High School.  She married Thomas Siebert in 1960. She lived in New Jersey, Connecticut and Georgia before retiring to Pawleys Island. She spent her final years of care in Florida. 

Mrs. Siebert was remembered as a cheerful and devoted wife and mother, known for her tuneful humming as she cared for her family. She loved to work in the yard and was an avid reader. After her children reached school age, she held several jobs, her favorites being a property manager, a secretary for a psychiatrist and a hospital volunteer. 

She was also part of a bridge club as well as a women’s investment club. She and her husband traveled widely through America and Europe and enjoyed cruising together in their later years. 

In retirement, she enjoyed long walks with her girlfriends, water aerobics, Litchfield Beach and neighborhood get-togethers. She was an active member of Pawleys Island Presbyterian Church, where she volunteered in the office.

She is survived by her sons, Thomas Siebert Jr., his children Abigail and Boyd, Robert Siebert and his children, Dillon and Connor and Mark and Sherry Siebert and their children, Elise, Aaron and Brian; her nieces, Carolyn and Jennifer Seyler; and and her brother-in-law.Jack Seyler.

 In addition to her husband, her sister, Nancy Seyler, died before her. 

Memorials may be made to the North Carolina victims of Hurricane Helene at nc.gov/donate.

Snoots Howard, 90, ran art and antiques gallery

November 21, 2024

Kathleen Green “Snoots” Howard of Pawleys Island died Nov. 11 at her home. She was 90.

She was born Jan. 6, 1934, in Bucksport, the daughter of Frederick Lafayette Green and Kathleen Gainey Green. After graduating from Columbia College in 1956, she taught elementary school for a number of years in several locations around South Carolina.  Later, she operated an antique and art gallery at Pawleys Island.  

She was married for nearly 64 years to the late Richard Grandison Howard.

She was a woman of many interests including knitting, sewing, and gardening.  There are many who recall how she could, on a moment’s notice, prepare and host an elegant dinner party for 50 of her closest friends.

She was remembered by countless friends and relatives, including those in McClellanville, her home away from home.

She is survived by her daughters, Kathleen Howard Dowis (Chip) of Charleston and Helen Elizabeth Howard of Pawleys Island; her son, Richard Grandison Howard Jr. (Martha) of Raleigh, N.C.; and her grandchildren, George Dowis, Grandison Howard and Addie Howard.

Her brothers, Frederick Lafayette Green Jr. and James Thomas Green, died before her.

A memorial service will be held at 2 today at the old All Saints Church.

Memorials may be made to Operation Sight, 1101 Clarity Rd., Suite 100, Mount Pleasant, SC 29464, or Amedisys Foundation, 3854 American Way, Suite A, Baton Rouge, LA 70816.

Marie A. DiCapua, 93, owner of Jerry’s Corner

November 21, 2024

Marie Ann DiCapua of Murrells Inlet died Nov. 1 surrounded by her daughters. She was 93.

She was born Oct. 30, 1931, in Greenwich Village in New York City, one of seven children of Marie Mulroy and Jeremiah Francis Leake. 

Marie grew up in the Bronx and Leonardo, N.J.  She met her husband, Jerry, at Middletown High School. Starting their journey in New Jersey and later moving to west New York, Mrs. DiCapua’s happiest moments were spent during the simple days of raising her seven children and making memories with her extended family.

Mr. DiCapua’s passion for the amusement industry took the family to Rhode Island and Baltimore before settling in Myrtle Beach in the late 1970s.  There they opened Jerry’s Corner, a bingo parlor and bar that became a cornerstone of Garden City. 

Mrs. DiCapua’s love for cooking was her gift to her patrons and family, with love in every dish. Her children were deeply involved in the business, with her son Kevin working alongside her and carrying forward her passion for creating a welcoming space for all.

She is survived by her sisters, Helen Matejovic and Ann McCabe; her children, Jeremiah, Maureen and Karen; her grandchildren, Kerrie, Shannon, Matthew, Maria, Anthony, Nicholas and Dylan; and her great-grandchildren, Cameron, Ava, Johnny, Joey, Elisha and Ava.

In addition to her husband, her siblings, Patsy, Frank, Michael and Jeremiah, died before her as did her children, Kevin, Brian, Kathy and Angel, and her grandchildren, Caelan and Jamie.

A funeral mass in celebration of her life will take place after the holidays at St. Ann’s Church in Keansburg, N.J.

Condolences may be sent at burroughsfh.com.

Martha W. Scott, 81, former rural mail carrier

November 14, 2024

Martha Wheeler Scott of Garden City died Nov. 10 at Georgetown Memorial Hospital. She was 81.

She was born July 9, 1943, the daughter of Willie Wheeler and Eva Player Wheeler.  She graduated from Williamsburg High School and attended beauty school.

She was married to the late Laurie L. Scott and was a former Andrews resident.

Mrs. Scott worked as a rural carrier for the U.S. Postal Service until retirement. She enjoyed traveling with her family, shopping and eating out with her friend Rose Rogers.

She is survived by her daughter, Lea Creel (Henry); her granddaughter, Caroline Judd (Steven); her brother, Tipton Wheeler (Geri); and several nieces and nephews.

Her sisters, Wynona Wildes, Wanda Yow and Rosie Thomas, died before her as did her brothers, Will Wheeler and Wayne Wheeler, and her grandson, Daniel Altman.

A graveside service was held Wednesday at Tisdale Cemetery in Kingstree.

William V. Woodson III, lawyer turned novelist

November 14, 2024

William Vannoy Woodson III of Charlotte died Oct. 30. 

He was born in Greenville, the son of William Vannoy Woodson Jr. and Dorothy Jackson Woodson. Bill attended Davidson College, the University of South Carolina School of Law, Emory School of Law and the University of North Carolina School of Business.  

Mr. Woodson had a career in law in Atlanta before moving to Pawleys Island. He was the chief advancement officer at Brookgreen Gardens and executive director of the Pawleys Island Festival of Music and Art.

He was also the first director of the Wall Fellows program for business students at Coastal Carolina University.

Mr. Woodson’s experiences led him to write a novel, “Waccamaw Gold,” in 2013.  It tells the story of a wealthy young man who is forced to find a direction for his life after his grandmother is killed under mysterious circumstances. The action moves between Pawleys Island, Atlanta and New York.

Despite the novel’s brisk pace, his goal wasn’t to write a thriller.

“What do you do with the money? What brings my life purpose and meaning and makes a contribution to society?”  he said in an interview. Those were the questions he set out to answer.

He published a sequel, “Commander Land,” last year.

He is survived by his children, Harriett Jordan Woodson and Harrison Martin Woodson; sister, Amy Woodson and brother, Tom Woodson. 

Another son, William West Woodson, died before him.

A memorial service will be held Saturday at 3 p.m. at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Charlotte.  The family will receive friends at the church an hour prior to the service.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Fund for Davidson, Davidson College, P.O.  Box 5000, Davidson, NC 28035 (community.davidson.edu/gift-form).

Condolences may be sent at kennethpoeservices.com.

Tommy Edwards, 84, county administrator created Visions plan

November 14, 2024

Thomas W. Edwards Jr. of Georgetown, the former county administrator who launched its first long-range plan, died Nov. 9 at the Lowcountry Community Hospice House with two of his children at his side. He was 84.

He was born Aug. 15, 1940, in Marion, the son of Thomas W. Edwards and Octavia Edwards. In high school, he was the captain of the basketball team, class president and president of the Beta Club. He graduated from Baptist College and earned a master’s degree in public administration from Central Michigan University. 

Mr. Edwards started his career as the Newberry city manager. In 1977, he moved to Florence, where he served as city manager for 18 years. He became Florence County administrator in 1995.

He became Georgetown County administrator in 1998. He launched the county’s first strategic planning initiative, known as Visions. It involved hundreds of residents and led to a $37 million capital projects program that was funded without a tax increase. The county received the All-America City award from the National Civic League in 2005 for the Visions program.

The capital plan grew to over $300 million in projects over 18 years before the Great Recession forced a retrenchment.

Mr. Edwards didn’t take credit for the process, which he said was born of frustration that the same issues kept being discussed, but never resolved.

“Everybody was frustrated enough that when Visions did come along they were excited enough to start addressing those issues,” he said in 2008. “I just happened to be the county administrator when it came together.”

Officials said it was his leadership that made that possible.

The county also created its own planning department and hired its first engineers during Mr. Edwards’ tenure.

He received the Order of the Palmetto, the state’s highest honor, in 1995. He was also given the key to the city by the Florence mayor. He was named a Paul Harris Fellow for his many years with the Rotary Club as member and president. He received a distinguished service award from the Jaycees and a presidential award from Chamber of Commerce. 

He  retired in 2008 after 35 years in local government. Georgetown County named its new airport terminal his honor. It was one of the projects in the Visions plan.

In his retirement, he continued to enjoy his greatest passions. An avid fisherman, he especially loved deep sea fishing with his family. He enjoyed playing golf with his friends. He loved gardening, and his dachshund, Maggie. He enjoyed seeing his 10 grandchildren at every opportunity.

He is survived by his wife, Linda Fulton Edwards; his children, Stephanie Edwards Hall (Stan) of Charleston, Brian Edwards (Jennie) of Florence, Thomas W. Edwards III (Grace) of Charleston and Karen Edwards (Rob) of Charleston; his grandchildren, Myers Horecky, Fulton Horecky, Carter Anne Hall, Mack Hall, Carlisle Edwards, Evelyn Edwards, Vivian Edwards, Eleanor Bliss Edwards, Genevieve Edwards and Caroline Rhett.

A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. today at Georgetown Presbyterian Church.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Charleston Animal Society.

Kimberly R. Reischling, 68, award-winning DOD writer

November 14, 2024

Kimberly Kaye Reischling of Murrells Inlet died Oct. 31. She was 68.

She was born July 20, 1956, the daughther of Marilyn Parsche and Roland Brendel. She graduated from Northwestern State University of Louisiana with a bachelor’s degree in English. 

Mrs. Reischling managed her educational responsibilities while raising three children and supporting a military household. Her career began at the Fort Polk Army installation newspaper, the Guardian, where she quickly ascended from a staff writer to a public affairs officer and later a command information officer for JROTC. 

Mrs. Reischling’s dedication and skill earned her multiple Thomas Jefferson Awards from the Department of Defense and many installation-wide accolades.

She retired in June 2022 after losing her husband Frank and moved to Murrells Inlet to be closer to family.

After retirement, she volunteered her time and talent to the Palmetto Literacy Council in Myrtle Beach, where she tutored children in reading while fostering a deep commitment to growing the organization’s reach and fundraising.

In addition to her father, she is survived by her daughters, Rachel Reischling and Katie Kapotsy; her son-in-law, Michael; her  siblings, Barbara Reynolds and Tom Brendel; and her grandchildren, Kaanon, Ella, Hazel and Jaxon. 

In addition to her mother and her husband, her stepson, Frankie R. Reischling, died before her.

A memorial service was held Saturday at Burroughs Funeral Home.

James L. Pomplun, 78, retired from electronics industry

November 14, 2024

James Lynn Pomplun of The Reserve died Nov. 10 following a brief illness. He was 78.

He was born March 16, 1946, in Denver, the son of Ray and Dottie Pomplun. After attending Colorado State University on a swimming scholarship, Jim qualified for the U.S. Olympic Trials. 

He started his career in the electrical products industry with Central Electric Supply Co. of Denver. He retired from the industry at Marley Engineered Products in Bennettsville. 

While on a business trip to Charlotte in 1993, he met with a business client who introduced Jim to his daughter, Kemilou. They married two years later and eventually settled in The Reserve. 

His daughters remember him singing to them in his “Elvis” voice when they were little and being an incredible dancer. He also instilled in them the desire to work hard and encouraged them at their swim meets. 

Mr. Pomplun’s love of swimming was passed down to his grandchildren. 

He was also an avid golfer. He volunteered with the Wounded Warrior Project and the Kaminski House Museum. He enjoyed sharing stories with friends and traveling the world with his wife.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by his daughters, Jennifer Pomplun (Bruce Gutherie) of Castle Rock, Colo., Kimberly Lucas-D’Neuville (Daniel) of Fort Worth, Texas, Lori Walters (Brian) of Louisville, Ohio, and Sheryl Violett (Mike) of Grand Junction, Colo.; his grandchildren, Austin Bannon, Tanner and Skyler Lucas, Justin and Jason Violett, Matthew, Caleb, Hanna (Rhinehart) and Seth Walters; his great-grandchildren: Phoenix Ivy Bannon, Amelia and Oliver Walters, and Anthony Allen; his brother- and sister-in-law, Barr  and Dolores Kennedy, and their daughter, Grace.

A celebration of his life will be held at The Reserve from 4 to 6 p.m. Saturday. 

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Kaminski House Museum at kaminskihouse.org or Good Friends at goodfriendsofgeorgetowncounty.org.

Saundra J.T. Hayden, 61, single mom earned CDL

November 14, 2024

Saundra Jean Turner Hayden of Murrells Inlet died Nov. 6 at her home with her family by her side.  She was 61,

She was born July 18, 1963, in Jacksonville, Fla., the daughter of  Robert and Shirley Hayden. Her family was her pride and joy, and she was a daddy’s girl. She was fun loving, hard-ass momma, Harley rider, stubborn, honest and had no filter. She would say what was on her mind. All the kids in the neighborhood called her mom and she was everyone’s best friend. 

She enjoyed her special brownies and Mary Jane. 

Ms. Hayden was a single mom and very proud that she earned her commercial driver’s license with a hazardous materials endorsement. She worked for Hucks Pool Co. for over 10 years. 

She is survived by her children, Sean Loatman, Melissa Kolodi  and Kandice Pickett (Derek), all of Murrells Inlet; her grandchildren, Dylan, Marley, Nevaeh and Jaylen; her  brothers, Robert Hayden of Murrells Inlet and Michael Hayden of Florida; her sisters, Linda Bowers of Virginia, Kathy Cleary of Virginia and Jennifer Dill of Ohio; her aunt, Melissa Lewis of Virginia; her nephews, Robert and Christopher, and her niece, Brittney; her great-nephew, Elijah, and great-nieces, Irie and Nova; and her husband, Roger Brian Turner. 

In addition to her parents,  another sister, Darlene Hayden Knopp, died before her.

Memorials may be made to New Directions for Woman, 805 3rd Ave. N., Myrtle Beach, SC 29577. 

A graveside service will take place in Virginia at a later date. 

Brian P. Patke, 56, avid golfer

October 31, 2024

Brian Philip Patke of Pawleys Island died Oct. 3. He was 56.

He was born July 1, 1968, in Oak Lawn, Ill., the son of Wayne and Barbara Patke, and lived in Chicago. He graduated from Purdue University.

Mr. Patke was an avid golfer and a member of True Blue and Caledonia golf clubs.  He was also a music lover. He enjoyed watching the Chicago Blackhawks, Chicago Bears, Purdue sports and cheering on his nephews and niece in all their endeavors.

He is survived by his sister, Beth Shreffler (Jonathan) of Cleveland; his nephews, Justin and Jake Shreffler, and niece, Avery Shreffler, of Cleveland; his uncle, Randy Koch, and cousins, Chris Koch (Nikki) and Greg Koch (Alyson); his aunt, Sheryl Hogan (Richard), and cousins, Kara Goodwin (Jon), Andi Lenahan, Catherine Mosher (Garrett), Stephen Hogan (Brenda) and Colin Hogan, all of Chicago.

A celebration of his life was held at Oct. 26 at Burroughs Funeral Home.  

Mr. Patke was a dog lover and memorials may be made to All4Paws Animal Rescue at all4pawssc.org.

Condolences may be sent at burroughsfh.com.

Donald P. Schwarz, 82, former NYPD detective

October 31, 2024

Donald Paul Schwarz of Murrells Inlet died Oct. 20 at Waccamaw Community Hospital. He was 82.

He was born July 15, 1942, in Queens, N.Y., the son of Edna Band Schwarz and Joseph Schwarz. He served in the Army in Vietnam.

Mr. Schwarz was a retired detective with the New York Police Department. He was a member of the NYPD Detectives Association.  

He was an avid gardener who loved to plant flowers and tomatoes.  He was quite a cook as well, reading all sorts of cookbooks and tweaking recipes.   After retiring to South Carolina, Mr. Schwarz learned to golf and loved to play nine holes with his friends.

He is survived by his wife, Barbara Foster; his stepdaughter, Kimberly Stoffers, and grandchildren, Samantha, Cassandra and Christopher Stoffers, of Jericho, N.Y.; his daughter-in-law, Ami Foster, and  grandsons, Ashton and Maxwell Foster of Merrick, N.Y. and Michael Schwarz of Charlotte; and his nephew, Sean Beddiges, of Park Ridge, N.J.

His sister Joanne Schwarz Aymar, died before him, as did his daughter, Laurie Schwarz, and his stepson, Scott Foster.

A celebration of his life will be held Nov. 23 from 2 to 6 p.m. at the family’s home in Murrells Inlet.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the North Carolina victims of Hurricane Helene at nc.gov/donate.

Condolences may be sent at  burroughsfh.com.

Anne H. Robbins, 72, journalist became school teacher

October 31, 2024

Anne H. Robbins of Pawleys Island died Oct. 19 with her life partner by her side. She was 72.

She was born April 15, 1952, in Jamestown, N.Y., the daughter of Douglas Robert and Margaret Priscilla Robbins. Anne was raised in Jamestown, where she graduated from Southwestern Central High School. She attended Green Mountain College in Vermont and Elmira College in New York, earning a bachelor’s degree in journalism. She worked at the Jamestown Post Journal and The Rutland Herald in Rutland, Vt. 

She then earned a master’s degree in education from the College of St. Joseph the Provider in Rutland. She was an elementary school teacher in several Vermont schools including Killington, Bridgewater, Wells and Wallingford before retiring to Pawleys Island.

Ms. Robbins enjoyed exercise and could frequently be found walking and running around her neighborhood in Pawleys with her faithful companion, Sammy Joe, whom she lost only 45 days prior to her passing. She shared her love of fitness with her friends, often teaching a class in her garage. She had a love of skiing as well and was a ski instructor for several years at Killington.

She also loved to read and could often be found with a book in her hands at least at some point everyday. She could never drive by Litchfield Books without stopping to peruse the latest titles. 

Ms. Robbins was a parishioner of Precious Blood of Christ Catholic Church in Pawleys Island.

She is survived by her partner of more than 30 years, Joe Frankiewicz; her brother, Charles D. Robbins Sr. (Carol) of Mendon, Vt.; her nephew, Charles D. Robbins Jr. (Shelby) of Tinmouth, Vt.; her niece, Heidi Robbins (Dana) of Waitsfield, Vt.; and several great-nieces and nephews.

Celebrations of her life will be scheduled in Pawleys Island and held next summer in Tinmouth.

Memorials may be made to All4Paws Animal Rescue at all4pawssc.org.

Online condolences may be sent at burroughsfh.com.  

Thomas M. Wilson III, 84, shipping manager at steel mill

October 31, 2024

Thomas Marion Wilson III, 84, passed away peacefully Oct. 28 at NHC of Garden City. He was 84,

 He was born Oct. 2, 1940, in Raleigh, N.C., the son of Thomas M. Wilson Jr. and  Clota Braswell Wilson. Tom graduated from University of North Carolina with a business degree. 

After moving to South Carolina in 1977, Mr. Wilson worked as the shipping manager for Georgetown Steel until his retirement in 2000. 

In his free time, he loved to travel, especially to Roatan, Honduras, where he was loved by many.

He is survived by his wife of over 21 years, Taryn Gordon Wilson; his children, Chris Wilson (Ali) and his grandson, Jennings, of Mount Pleasant, Amanda Hughes of Murrells Inlet and J. Wesley Hughes (Isla) of Murrells Inlet; his grandchildren, Bryan and Jesse; his brother, Jim Wilson (Brenda) of Greensboro, N.C., and his niece, Traci, of Las Vegas; and a large extended family.

A celebration of his life will be held today at noon at Burroughs Funeral Home. The family will greet friends from 11 a.m. until the time of the service. Burial will follow in Belin United Methodist Church cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Roatan Children’s Fund at roatanchildrensfund.org.

There is a guest book at burroughsfh.com.

James C. Sinkavich, 85, Air Force vet served in Vietnam

October 31, 2024

James C. Sinkavich of Murrells Inlet died Oct. 21 at his home. He was 85. 

He was born Sept. 10, 1939, in Du Bois, Pa., the son of Sigmund A. Sinkey and Mary T. Sinkey.  

He served in the Air Force in Vietnam and obtained the rank of staff sergeant.  He was a lifetime member of the American Legion Post 159 in Flemington, N.J., and VFW Post 10420 in Murrells Inlet. 

Mr. Sinkavich enjoyed horse racing, scratch-offs and spending time with his beloved granddaughter and her fiancé.

He is survived by his wife, Joan Sinkavich; his daughter, Cheryl Stehr (Ken) of Flemington; his granddaughter, Christa Stehr (Vincent) of Flemington; his sister, Sylvia Biggie of Du Bois; and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.

A Mass of Christian Burial was held Tuesday at St. Michael Catholic Church.

Memorials may be made to VFW Post 10420, 4359 Highway 17 Bypass, Murrells Inlet, SC 29576; Tidelands Hospice at tidelandshospice.org; or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital at stjude.org.

Eileen S. Sonderland, 86, volunteer at Father Pat’s Kitchen

October 31, 2024

Eileen Sheehan Sonderland of the Tradition Club died Oct. 23. She was 86.

She was born Aug. 10, 1938, in Jersey City, N.J., the daughter of Rose Sheehan. Eileen strongly identified with her Irish heritage and was raised a devout Catholic. 

As an Irish Catholic middle-child raised in New Jersey, she had no choice but to be a tough firecracker. 

After graduating from St. Michael’s High School, she married Arthur Sonderland in 1959. They flourished in their careers, had three children and built an amazing life together. 

They moved to Pawleys island in 1997 and joined Precious Blood of Christ Catholic Church. 

When Mr. Sonderland was diagnosed with end stage cancer, Eileen put him in the car and took him on a cross-country trip; their final adventure before his death in 2000. 

Through the church, Mrs. Sonderland volunteered at Father Pat’s Kitchen, made life-long friendships and found community support.

She is survived by her daughter, Susan; her grandchildren Jennifer (Elizabeth), Jessica and Timothy Gillies (Stephanie), Christine Hults (Nicholas) and AJ McKay; her great-grandchildren, Madelyn, Aubrey and Joshua Hults, Jack, Charlie, Benjamin and Connor Gillies; and her friends who became family, Pat Kitowicz, and her daughters Amy and Jennifer.

In addition to her husband, her son, Michael, and another daughter, Sharon, died before her. 

A funeral Mass was celebrated Monday at Precious Blood of Christ. Inurnment was in the church columbarium. 

Condolences may be set at mayerfuneralhome.com.

Anne McElheron, 81, worked at retirement center

October 31, 2024

Anne McElheron of Pawleys Island died Oct. 17. She was 81. 

She was born March 17, 1943, in Glasgow, Scotland, and moved to the United States in 1960. 

Ms. McElheron dedicated many years of her life to the Forest Manor Retirement Center in Glen Cove, N.Y., where her caring nature found a professional expression. Her commitment to caring for others extended beyond her career, as she fostered and adopted countless pets throughout her life.  

She was remembered for her dedication to her family and her community, and for leaving a lasting impact on everyone she encountered.

She was also an avid traveler, visiting countries all across the globe.

She is survived by her siblings, Margaret, Ina and Monica; her children, Thomas, Andrea, Michael (Jenni) and Paul (Kara); and her grandsons, Michael Jr., Daniel and Stuart.

Another daughter, Susan Gilroy Sweeney, died before her. 

Condolences may be sent at mayerfuneralhome.com.

Leanne White, 64, worked for S.C. Federal Credit Union

October 24, 2024

Carla Leanne White of Pawleys Island died Oct. 12 at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston. She was 64.

Known as Leanne, she was born in Banner Elk, N.C., and lived in Linville, N.C., until moving to Charlotte. Her fondest childhood memories were of peaceful summers spent with her grandmother, Annie Lee Crinkley, in Newland where they tended the garden, walked to the post office and grocery store, played rummy (so Leanne could learn her numbers), cooked, washed laundry by hand, drank Pepsi Cola, and on Saturday nights visited a neighbor with a TV so they could watch “The Lawrence Welk Show.” 

She was a graduate of Harding High in Charlotte and earned an associate degree in business from Horry-Georgetown Technical College. She worked in advertising at the Charlotte Observer, which she loved, and remained friends with many of her former co-workers. Here on the Grand Strand, she worked in newspaper advertising for many years. For the last decade, she was employed with S.C. Federal Credit Union, where she established extremely close ties.

Mrs. White was active at Pawleys Island Community Church. One of her favorite activities at the church was the annual drive to fill shoe boxes with necessities and gifts for children in other countries who otherwise would receive nothing for Christmas. She took it as a personal challenge to strategically pack as many small treasures as possible in the boxes.

She was an unapologetic Beatles fanatic and owned every note of music the band ever recorded. She also possessed enough Beatles memorabilia to open a Fab Four souvenir store, but never would part with any item, because each was precious. George was her favorite lad from Liverpool and “Revolver” was her favorite album.

She was an avid reader and traveled extensively. She enjoyed movies, especially old black and white dramas. She excelled at word games and puzzles.  She had mastered the art of relaxing by a roaring fire pit and hot Weber grill while instructing her husband on the finer points of the grilling process.

Mrs. White was a passionate and knowledgeable sports fan, often attending games dressed in her team’s gear. She especially rode the highs and lows with her University of North Carolina Tar Heels, and was quick to jeer Duke or N.C. State whenever possible.  

She was a hard-core lifetime follower of NASCAR and was a walking encyclopedia of stock car facts. She was always ready to tangle with anyone – and often did – who didn’t realize King Richard Petty is the greatest driver of all time. 

Leanne was loyal and dependable. Once you were her friend, you had a rock-solid friend for life. 

She is survived by her husband, Ray; her daughter, Rachel Clement (Tom) of Johnson City, Tenn.; her step-brothers, Alan Greene (Melanie) of Concord, N.C., and  Todd (Sarah) Greene of Concord; her grandchildren, Hudson and Ava Clement; a special niece, and nephew, Danielle Bo and Jack White; a special uncle and aunt, Paul and Linda Crinkley of Newland; and many aunts, uncles and cousins.

Her mother and step-father, Ruth and Doug Keller, and her father, Carl Greene, died before her.

A celebration of  her life will be held Saturday at 11 a.m. at the Pawleys Island Community Church chapel.

Memorials may be made to the Make Room building fund at Pawleys Island Community Church, c/o Mike Fields, P.O. Box 777, Pawleys Island, SC, 29585.

Patricia Byrd, 81, former county elections director

October 24, 2024

Patricia Byrd, a longtime resident of Pawleys Island, died Oct. 11. She was 81. 

She was born July 10, 1943, the daughter of Sadie Moore and A.V. Moore. She was a graduate of Winyah High School. 

Mrs. Byrd worked in the Georgetown County office of Civil Defense, now Emergency Management. She was also the long-time director of the county Election Commission.

She had a passion for helping people and spreading the light and love of Christ. She could often be found helping out at her church and organizing fundraisers for the Salvation Army. 

She never missed a family event or holiday. 

She is survived by her grandson, Ronald E. Moore Jr. (Stephanie) of Johns Island; her sister, Sylvia Friedner (Jerry) of Columbia; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Her daughter Melissa Byrd Moore, died before her.

Funeral services were held Oct. 18 at The Abbey at Pawleys Island. Burial was in Prince George Winyah Church Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to the Dementia Society of America.

Frances E.P. Burroughs, 80, made memories at Pawleys

October 24, 2024

Frances Elisabeth Pegues Burroughs of Conway died Oct. 19 with her children by her side after suffering a stroke. She was 80.

She was born Jan. 2, 1944, at her maternal grandparents’ home in McColl, the daughter of Victor René Pegues and Elisabeth Hamer Pegues. Fran spent her childhood at Spring Hill (Pegues Place) in upper Marlboro County.

After matriculating at public schools in Cheraw and Monroe, N.C., she graduated from high school and junior college at Saint Mary’s School in Raleigh. She earned a bachelor’s degree in English education from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She was a member of the Alpha Gamma Delta Sorority.

She taught 10th grade English for one year in Florence before moving to Columbia and working with the Richland County Department of Public Welfare. She then moved to Bennettsville and worked for the Marlboro County DPW for several years before relocating to Conway where she was employed with the Social Security Administration. 

In Conway, she was introduced to her future husband, Henry B. “Cuffy” Burroughs Jr. by his aunt. They married on Nov. 13, 1976, and were married for 32 years until Mr. Burroughs death in 2009.

Mrs. Burroughs supported her husband and children in endeavors ranging from family businesses to school activities. She was a member of the board at Waccamaw Academy. She and her family were founding members of Westminster Presbyterian Church ARP, where she assisted her husband as treasurer and kept the infant nursery during worship.

Additionally, Mrs. Burroughs was a member of the Ivy Garden Club, the Wednesday Morning Bridge Club, the Huguenot Society of South Carolina and St. David’s Society. She was also a founding member of the Kingston Junior League. She enjoyed gardening, traveling, genealogy, local history and was an avid reader. 

She helped organize community theater productions, school plays, and later, elaborate pranks on fellow Junior League members.

She and her family created many fond memories at their beach cottage, “Windfall,” at Pawleys Island.

She is survived by her son, Henry Buck Burroughs III (Julie) of Brandon, Fla.; her daughter, Victoria McNeill Burroughs of North Charleston; her grandson, Henry Buck Burroughs IV of Brandon; her niece, Elisabeth Kinney McNiel (Danny) of Bennettsville; her great-nephews and niece, Robert Leland McNiel III (Emma) of Chattanooga, Margaret Jane McNiel of Pawleys Island and William Light Kinney McNiel of Bennettsville; and great-great nephew and niece, Robert Leland McNiel IV and Rose Catherine McNiel of Chattanooga; and numerous cousins. 

Her sister, Margaret Pegues Kinney, and her brother-in-law, William Light Kinney Jr., died before her as did a nephew, William Light Kinney III.

Services will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday at Lakeside Cemetery by the Rev. Peter Foxx. The family will receive friends at the cemetery after the service.

Memorials may be sent to Westminster Presbyterian Church ARP, 1619 Park View Rd., Conway, SC 29526 or to Elisabeth K. McNiel, 937 East Main St., Bennettsville, SC 29512 for the care and maintenance of the Pegues Family Cemetery.

Condolences may be sent at goldfinchfuneralhome.com.

Bill Cooper, 65, mechanic made career in government

October 24, 2024

William Cooper of Pawleys Island died Oct. 14, in an auto accident on Highway 521 in Greeleyville. He was 65.

He was born Feb. 3, 1959, in Palo Alto, Calif., and raised in Menlo Park, the son of Roger and Pat Cooper.

 He graduated from San Jose State University with a liberal arts major, but his love of mechanics led him to a job as a bus mechanic for the city of San Jose.  

When his two little girls arrived, he decided to find a more reliable job with the state of California, as an inspector for the Bureau of Automotive Repairs, a branch of the Department of Consumer Affairs.  

He moved to Sacramento, where he met his wife of 10 years, Elaine. He put in 28 years of service, and decided a change of scenery was in order upon retirement. 

Mr. Cooper and his wife flew to Savannah and began a coastal tour in search of a retirement home.  Upon arriving in Pawleys Island, they knew they had found their new residence, where he became an avid proponent of preservation of the Waccamaw Neck. 

He enjoyed hiking in the mountains, four-wheeling in the desert, international travel, motorcycle trips,  train rides and time with his grandkids.  His love of all things mechanical made him very popular with friends in need of his expertise.  He rebuilt vintage motor bikes, kept everyone’s cars running right, kept his bicycles in tip top shape and repaired anything for anyone. 

He was well read, with a focus on the two world wars, biographies, railroads and motor vehicles.  He loved to research topics of interest, spending hours in front of the computer or with a book in hand. 

In addition to his wife, Elaine Chasse Cooper; he is survived by his younger brother, Thomas Cooper; his daughters, Megan Galyon (James) and Teresa Sawyer (Kris); his “adopted” son, Aaron; his grandchildren, Owen, Clara and Millie; and his and niece and nephew, Shannon and Michael.

A celebration of remembrance will be held at a later date.  In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Keep It Green or Wild Things Freedom Center.

Annette Zdun, 104, artist was advocate for democracy

October 10, 2024

Annette Latisha Zdun, 104, of Pawleys Island died Sept. 18.  She was 104.

She was born February 15, 1920, in Pittsville, Wisc., a daughter of John and Grace Eggen. She previous lived in Sarasota, Fla., and Wisconsin Rapids, Wisc. 

Early in her life, Mrs. Zdun was an educator and a practicing real estate agent. She was also an established artist, and her work was exhibited in local shows and galleries. She enjoyed spending time dancing and was an avid advocate for democracy.

She was a member of St. Peter’s Lutheran Church and the Georgetown Watercolor Society.

She is survived by her son, Wallace Zeddun (Suzanne) of Pawleys Island; her grandson, Steve Zeddun (Jess) of Washington, D.C.; her great-grandchildren, Carter Zeddun and Skyler Zeddun of Washington, D.C.; and several nieces and nephews.

Her husbands, Carl Boettcher, Bill Holt and Edward Zdun, and another grandson, Richard Zeddun, died before her.

A celebration of her life will be held privately at a later date.

Memorials be made to St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, 65 Crooked Oak Dr., Pawleys Island, SC 29585 or the Wounded Warriors Project, 1990 Fordham Dr., Suite 100, Fayetteville, NC 28304.

Condolences may be sent at burroughsfh.com.

James DiFazio, 86, developed patents at IBM

October 10, 2024

James Joseph DiFazio died Oct. 4 in Murrells Inlet,  where he had lived for 30 years. He was 86.

He was born in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., the son of Rosa Lanzarone and Egidio DiFazio. He graduated from Poughkeepsie High School and attended Berklee School of Music and subsequently played drums professionally. 

He served in the Army from 1959 to 1961 and was then employed at IBM, where he contributed to several patents before retiring in 1993. 

Mr. DiFazio was an accomplished photographer and enjoyed camping, fishing and the outdoors. 

He also volunteered at the Murrells Inlet VFW and American Legion.

He is survived by his daughters, Stacey DiFazio and Jocelyn Jackson; his sisters, Anne French and Vini Owsiany; several nieces and nephews; and many cousins and friends.

Funeral services will be private. 

Memorials may be made to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs at  cdceportal.va.gov.

Michael G. Getty, 81, retired from Marriott

September 26, 2024

Michael Gregory Getty of Heritage Plantation died Sept. 22 at his home. He was 81.

He was born April 16, 1943, in Meyersdale, Pa., the son of William and Jean Middleton Getty.  Mike served in the Air Force and was stationed at Tempelhof Air Force Base in Berlin from 1962 to 1965.  He graduated from Michigan State University with a degree in business in 1969. 

Mr. Getty retired as vice president of corporate development of the Marriott Corp. at its headquarters in Washington, D.C. During his career, he lived and worked in several cities across the country including Baltimore, New York and Los Angeles.

He moved to Heritage Plantation in 1994.

Mr. Getty loved travel, reading and, most of all, golf.  He was a member of The Reserve golf club since its inception.

He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Paula; his daughters, Jacqueline Walston (Greg) of Glen Burnie, Md., and Christina Hooper (Bill) of Columbus, Ohio; his grandchildren, Meghan Minor (Kody) and Shane Walston (Lauren); his great-grandchildren, Elliott Walston and Karsyn Rae Minor; his brother, Dr. Thomas Getty (Chris) of Kalamazoo, Mich., and Leslie Vincent of Fort Lauderdale, Fla. 

His sister, Linda, died before him.

A private service will be held. 

Memorials may be made to Disabled American Veterans at dav.org.

Donna K. Tidwell, 89, farm girl had love for animals

September 26, 2024

Donna Klinger Tidwell of Pawleys Island died Sept. 16 at Waccamaw Community Hospital. She was 89.

She was born March 23, 1935, in Chicago, the daughter of John and Edith Klinger. She grew up dairy farming in Wisconsin and South Carolina and spent most of her adult life in Shelby, N.C., before moving to Pawleys Island. 

From raising and showing Holsteins to her pet duck named Penny as a child, she had a love of animals that continued into her adult life. 

Mrs. Tidwell graduated from Furman University with a bachelor’s degree in business. 

She worked for Shelby City Schools in the special education department and as secretary at Calvary Baptist and Northside Baptist churches.  

She was married to the late John Thomas Tidwell.

Her many joys in life included travel, eating a good meal and adventures with family and friends. She also enjoyed nature and nature shows. 

She is survived by her sons, William Tidwell (Barbara) of Georgetown and Charles Tidwell (Sandy) of Gastonia, N.C.; her brother, Arthur Klinger (Cynthia); her grandchildren Lindy, John and Jacob Tidwell and Chris and Michael Carle; her  great-grandchildren, Connor, Autumn and August Tidwell and Catie, Jaden, Easton and Deliliah Carle; and her sister-in-law, Marion Donley. 

A grandson, Josh Carle, died before her.

A graveside service was held Sept. 20 at Sunset Cemetery in Shelby.

Memorials may be made to the ASPCA, St. Jude’s or Tideland’s Community Hospice.

Robert B. Hipp, 60, served on Belin missions committee

September 12, 2024

Robert Barnett Hipp of Murrells Inlet died Sept. 4 at the Medical University of South Carolina. He was 60.

Known as Bobby, he was born Jan. 22, 1964, in York the son of James Voight Hipp and Anne Barnett Hipp.

He was a member of Belin Memorial United Methodist Church where he sat on the missions committee. He was a member of the Golfsters and was very involved at St. James High School and the Sharks Club. 

He is survived by his wife, Marty Hipp; his sons, J.V. Hipp (Tessa) of Clemmons, N.C., and Brice Hipp of Murrells Inlet; his grandchildren, Weston Weathers and Tripp Hipp; his brothers, Jim Hipp (Edie) of Hilton Head and Bill Hipp (Jean) of Clover; his sister in law, Carol Hipp of Charleston; several nieces and nephews and his faithful dog, Hike.

In addition to his parents, his brother, John Wesley Hipp, died before him.

A celebration of his life was held Monday at Belin Memorial United Methodist Church. Interment was in the church cemetery.

Memorials may be made to his family at gofund.me/c4d021ef or to Belin Memorial UMC Missions, P.O. Box 528, Murrells Inlet, SC 29576.

Geraldine L. Jayroe, 83, owner of Swamp Fox Tours

September 12, 2024

Geraldine Long Jayroe of Georgetown died Sept. 7 surrounded by her family. She was 83.

She was born Dec. 4, 1940, in Savannah, Ga., the daughter of Early Elmer Long and Kathryn Hewett Long. Geraldine had fond memories of growing up in Georgetown, where she graduated from Winyah High School. She would share many memories of life and carried those with her, from growing up in Maryville to helping family in North Carolina on their farms and spending time on the waterways of Georgetown with her husband, Richard Olin Jayroe. 

Mrs. Jayroe attended Screven Baptist in her youth and raised her family in Herbert Memorial Methodist before becoming a member of her husband’s family church, Duncan Memorial. She sang in the choir for many years and was known for her soprano voice. 

After marriage she lived with her family at Benvenue Plantation on the Pee Dee River.

Mrs. Jayroe was the owner of Swamp Fox Tours and Bienvenue Home in Downtown Georgetown. After retirement, she took great joy in speaking to visitors and always welcoming them into the city. She would always thank those that helped her and had great love for friends and family.

She is survived by her children, Richard Olin Jayroe Jr. (Kelly), Christopher Mark Jayroe (Brigitte), Wallace Elmer Jayroe and Kevin Dean Jayroe; her siblings, Kaye McCain (Mike) of Oak Hill, Ohio, Jane Walden (Boyd) of Richmond Hill, Ga., James W. Edwards Jr. (Kitten) of Newberry and Sally Bohnstengal (Bob)of Mount Pleasant; her grandchildren; and her aunt, Helen Hewett of Summerville.

Her brother, Early Elmer Long Jr., died before her.

Funeral services were Tuesday at Duncan Memorial United Methodist Church. Burial was in Elmwood Cemetery. 

Memorials may be made to the bell fund at the church, 901 Highmarket St., Georgetown, SC 29440.

Condolences may be sent at mayerfuneralhome.com.

Walter H. Owens III, 65, work at Winyah power plant

September 5, 2024

Walter Hazard Owens III of Andrews died Sept. 1 at his home. He was 65.

He was born Feb. 14, 1959, in Georgetown, the son of Walter Hazard Owens Jr. and LaJean Barrineau Owens-Kinder. 

Walt graduated from Andrews Academy in 1977 where he was a stand-out athlete. After graduating, he devoted over 30 years of service to Santee Cooper as a unit operator at Winyah Generating Station. He served as a mentor to many co-workers at the plant.

The simplest pleasures brought him joy, his family said. He enjoyed hunting, fishing and cooking. He was an avid Gamecock and Atlanta Braves fan.

Mr. Owens spent many years coaching his sons’ Little League teams and critiquing the meals he helped teach them to prepare.

He is survived by his wife, Melissa Morris Owens, who was his childhood sweetheart; his sons, Walter Hazard Owens IV (Stacy) of Michigan City, Ind., Todd Morris Owens (Heather) of Andrews and James Philip Owens (Kate) of Pawleys Island; his grandchildren, Jackson Owens, Isaac Brzinski, Molly Brzinski, Keegan Owens, Kinley Owens, Logan Cox, Brighton Owens, Emery Owens and Flip Owens; his brother, Joey Owens (Vicki); his sisters-in-law, Vicky Martin, Rhonda Johanning (Ernest) and Joy Fulton; and a large extended family.

Visitation will be held from 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday at Mayer-Ethridge Funeral Home Andrews Chapel.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to AMI Kids at amikids.org.

Condolences may be sent at mayerfuneralhome.com.

Dianne F. Atkinson, 76, organized golf events

September 5, 2024

Dianne Ferrar Atkinson of Hagley Estates died  July 3 after a short illness. She was 76.

She was born Nov. 30, 1947, in Cheverly, Md., the daughter of Charles and Phyllis Ferrar.

She enjoyed morning coffees and dinners with her husband, Dave, Saturday golf with the ladies, organizing golf events, cooking Thanksgiving dinner for her family, and especially cherished time spent with her daughters, grandchildren and first great-grandchild.  

In addition to her husband of 36 years, she is survived by her daughters Barbara VanSchoor (Rick), Susan Milwit and Cindy Brown (Joe); her brother, Charles Ferrar (Beverly); her grandchildren Allison Bowen (Matt),  Aaron VanSchoor, Molly Milwit, Andrew Milwit, Jocelyn Brown and Olivia Brown; her great-granddaughter, Evelyn; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.  

Her sister, Phyllis Bass and her brother-in-law, James Bass, died before her.

A memorial service  will be held on Sept. 13 at 5 p.m. at St. Paul’s Waccamaw Methodist Church. 

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the First Tee Golf Program at firsttee.org. 

Rowena J. Dawson, 102, teacher was life-long educator

September 5, 2024

Rowena Johnson Dawson of Georgetown died Sept. 2 at Prince George Healthcare. She was 102.

She was born July 30, 1922, in Saluda, the daughter of Scott Holmes Johnson and Lucille Elizabeth Kirby Johnson.  Rowena graduated from Lander University with a bachelor’s degree in education and devoted her early career to teaching elementary school.  She was married to the late Calvin Conrad Dawson. 

Although she retired from traditional teaching, she never stopped embracing the role as an educator throughout her life as a mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. As a child of the Great Depression, Mrs. Dawson understood that life was full of seasons and often shared her practical wisdom with her family, reminding them that “Rome wasn’t built in a day.” She was especially proud to have met and held all seven of her great-grandchildren. 

Mrs. Dawson loved hosting family gatherings at Litchfield Beach, where Easter weekends were always busy and full of laughter. She was known for her Southern cooking, warm embrace and love of card games, particularly bridge, a game where she outplayed and outlasted more than a few of her fellow players.

She was remembered for her keen intellect, love of reading and passion for the outdoors, especially her love of garden shows.

She is survived by her children, Calvin C. Dawson Jr. (Jennifer), Clary S. Dawson (Doris) and Holly Dawson; her grandchildren, Calvin C. Dawson III, Hunter Dawson (Kirsten), Andrew Dawson (Stella), Brandon Dawson (Jessica) and Megan Dawson (Andy Zehr); and seven great-grandchildren.

In addition to her  husband, her  five brothers,  Rauton, Haskell, Bascom, Malcolm and Scott Johnson Jr., died before her.

A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. today at Georgetown Presbyterian Church by the Rev. Joel Long. Burial will follow at Pennyroyal Memorial Gardens. The family will receive visitors two hours before the service.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Georgetown Presbyterian Church Columbarium Fund.

Condolences can be sent at mayerfuneralhome.com.

Sonny Butler, 88, founded N.C. veneer company

September 5, 2024

James Butler of Thomasville, N.C., a former Pawleys Plantation resident, died Aug. 30 at the Hospice of the Piedmont in High Point, N.C., surrounded by his family. He was 88.

Known as Sonny, he was born April 1, 1936, in Meridian, Miss., the son of Sam A. Butler and Clara DeWease Butler. His family moved to High Point when he was 4. He was a standout athlete at High Point High School, earning recognition as an All-American quarterback.  Sonny continued to shine in football at Catawba College as a quarterback and safety, finishing the last year of his business degree at High Point University, before enlisting in the Marine Corps.

After his military service, he worked in the hardwood veneer industry, later establishing Butler Veneer Sales, a business that continues to thrive under the leadership of his son.  Known for his generosity, Mr. Butler often remarked, “It is not my money, but God’s money,” reflecting his commitment to helping those in need and supporting his church.

Mr. Butler was an avid golfer and a longtime member of the YMCA, working out regularly and playing racquetball.

He was a lifelong member of Green Street Baptist Church in High Point, where he served as a deacon.

His love for the beach and golf led him and his wife, Betty, to retire at Pawleys Island, where they built their dream home in Pawleys Plantation and joined First Baptist Church of Georgetown. They moved back to Thomasville to be closer to their children and returned to Green Street Baptist Church.

In addition to his wife, Betty Flintom Butler, he is survived by his daughters, Kelley Butler Griffin (John) and Sallie Butler Ledford; his son, Marc Wyatt Butler (Erin); his grandchildren, Chasity Bowles (Adam), Brittany Bullock (Clint), Nathan Nifong (fiancée Anna Blackburn), Reid Butler (Natalie) and Kendall Butler McCormick (Lawson); his great-grandchildren, Avery, Jack, Caroline, Jase, and Hudson; his brother, Roger Butler (Judy), and his sister-in-law, Susan Hines Butler.

His daughter Leigh Butler Kirk died before him as did two grandchildren, Ayden and Rylan Bullock, and a brother, Alman Butler.

A celebration of his life will be held at noon Saturday at Green Street Baptist Church by the Rev. Ted Sherrill.  A committal service will follow at Floral Garden Park Cemetery for family and close friends.

The family will receive friends at the church an hour before the service.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Hospice of the Piedmont.

Ronald K. Brodrick, 87, retired Bell Atlantic manager

September 5, 2024

Ronald Kerr Brodrick of Murrells Inlet died Aug. 29 at his home. He was 87.

He was born Sept. 2, 1936, in Camden, N.J., the son of J.F Brodrick Jr. and Josephine Kerr Brodrick. He served in the Army on active duty for two years in Germany and spent four years in the reserves. 

He then went on to work for Bell Atlantic (now Verizon), retiring in 1991 after 35 years of service as manager.  

In his younger years, Mr. Brodrick enjoyed tennis, biking, golf and bowling and was a member of Westwood Tennis and Swim Club in Easthampton, N.J. He was also  a member of Mount Holly-Vincentown Kiwanis Club in New Jersey

He was a member and deacon of the First Presbyterian Church of Mount Holly. He later became an elder member and clerk of sessions for Trinity Presbyterian Church in Surfside Beach.

He is survived by his wife, Evelyn Brodrick; his son, Ronald Kerr Brodrick II (Theresa) of Surfside Beach; his daughters, Diane E. Nelson (Douglas) of Lumberton, N.J., and Brenda Warren (Brad) of Merchantville, N.J.;  his grandchildren, Marie, Patrick, Derrick, Alec, Bradley and Andrew; his great-grandchildren, Aidan and Luke; and a large extended family.

His siblings, David Brodrick and Joanne Brodrick, died before him. 

A celebration of his life will be held Sept. 12 at 11 a.m. at Trinity Presbyterian Church.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the church at 2061 Glenns Bay Rd., Surfside Beach, SC 29575.

Condolences may be sent at burroughsfh.com.

Mary Papadea, 82, homemaker loved animals

August 22, 2024

Mary Lynn Papadea of Columbia died Aug. 15 at her home surrounded by her family. She was 82.

She was born in Columbia, the daughter of Claude McIntosh Lynn and Eloise Padget Lynn. Mary graduated from Dreher High School and the University of South Carolina (1964) with a degree in business administration. At USC she was a member of Alpha Delta Pi Sorority, the YWCA and the Wesley Foundation. She was also on the May Court. 

After graduation, she married her high school sweetheart, A. Nick Papadea, and they were together for 59 years until his death in 2023. The couple moved to San Diego where Nick was stationed in the Navy. 

After his service, they returned to Columbia where Nick continued his education at the University of South Carolina and Mary worked at the Five Points Savings and Loan. 

In 1972, their only child was born. Mrs. Papadea chose to stay at home and played an active role in many of his activities, including being a Cub Scout den mother.  

She was a member of Main Street Methodist Church.

Mrs. Papadea loved animals, especially golden retrievers, and could be found walking in the neighborhood or playing on the beach with her dogs. She played team tennis and took water aerobics classes. 

As she got older, she enjoyed her time at the Lourie Senior Center and taking strength classes with her sister.

She was remembered as a sweet lady who loved a good laugh, a good book  and a good time with friends, especially at the beach. 

She also loved to garden, growing tomatoes, citrus fruits, plums and other Southern vegetables outdoors and filling her sun room with plants, trees and African violets.

Mrs. Papadea was eternally optimistic, her family said. Even as her health declined, she never complained and held the hope that one day she would drive down to the beach again.

She is survived by her son, Dr. Nicholas A. Papadea (Meredith) and two grandchildren, Ella Marina Nicholas Papadea and Apostolos Nicholas Papadea, of Murrells Inlet; her sister, Claudia Swygert (J.B.) of West Columbia; her sister-in-law, Dr. Christine Papadea of Murrells Inlet; her brother-in-law, Jim Papadea of Columbia; her nephew, Dr. N. Jim Papadea (Maggie) of Columbia; and her niece, Kate Papadea of Columbia.

A graveside service was held Wednesday at Fort Jackson National Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to the Emergency Dental Clinic at Helping Hands of Georgetown, 1813 Highmarket St., Georgetown, SC 29440.

Condolences may be sent at dunbarfunerals.com.

Charlie Cook, 74, custom home builder

August 22, 2024

Charles Dudley Cook IV of Hemingway died Aug. 11 at his home. He was 74.

Known as Charlie, he was born Jan. 30, 1950, in Lake City, the son of Charles Dudley Cook III and Jeanne Bradshaw Cook. He earned a bachelor’s degree in history from Erskine College and founded CDC Designs, a custom home builder of the highest caliber. Working with his hands was his greatest passion.

Mr. Cook relished the outdoors, whether it was hunting or simply spending time on the water. He was a long-time member of Indiantown Presbyterian Church where he volunteered his time and skills. 

He connected with people from all walks of life making him a cherished member of the Indiantown community.

He is survived by his companion of 20 years, Barriedel Llorens; his son, Charles Dudley Cook V (Lauren); and his grandchildren, Hazel and June Cook. 

His daughter, Adela Holmes Cook, died before him.

A celebration of his life was held Aug. 15 at Indiantown Presbyterian Church. Inurnment was in the church cemetery.

Memorials may be made to Adela Holmes Cook Endowment at Coastal Community Foundation, 1691 Turnbull Avenue, North Charleston, SC 29405; Indiantown Presbyterian Cemetery Fund, 4865 Hemingway Hwy., Hemingway, SC 29554; or Tidelands Community Hospice Georgetown, 2591 N. Fraser St., Georgetown, SC 29440.

Condolences may be sent at young-fh.com.

Norman W. Neubauer, 86, banker specialized in art sales

August 8, 2024

Norman William Neubauer of Pawleys Island died July 29 at his home. He was 86.

He was born in Staten Island, N.Y., the son of Andrew R. Neubauer and Anna M. Donovan. Norm graduated from the Augustinian Academy in Staten Island and served four years with the Air Force military police. 

He then began his career with J.P. Morgan Bank in Manhattan, which spanned 33 years. He retired as a vice president of special collections in their private bank. 

Mr. Neubauer earned a bachelor’s degree in business from St. Peter’s University in Jersey City, N.J.

He took great pride in his work with the bank and enjoyed traveling the world.  

Notable projects were the sale of the Virgil M. Brand coin collection in 1983, which was the largest private coin collection ever formed by a single individual.

Mr. Neubauer later formed a consulting firm, SomersArt, with his wife, Lee, that was instrumental in the sale of the George Costakis collection of avant-garde. 

He lived in Branchburg, N.J., until he retired to Pawleys Island.  Later in life he became an active member in the  Knights of Columbus.  

Mr. Neubauer enjoyed travel, golf, keeping his mind active in the stock market and, most of all being a connector, who always kept in touch with his family and friends.

He is surivived by his three daughters, Michele Neubauer  (Jeff), Suzanne Freitag (Rich) and Jennifer Neubauer; two grandchildren, Lauren Freitag and Bradley Freitag; his partner of 13 years, Glenda Taylor; her daughter, Olivia Ozycz (Greg), and children Teddy and Ruby; and his nieces and nephews.  

His wife of 45 years, Ottilie Neubauer, died before him, as did his brothers, George and Raymond Neubauer.

A mass and entombment will be held at Precious Blood of Christ Church at 11:30 a.m. Saturday.

Memorials may be made to Tunnel To Towers at t2t.org.

Jo Tharp, 91, Army wife became VP with bond firm

August 8, 2024

Marlyn Jo Vaughn Tharp of Pawleys Plantation died July 23. She was 91.

Known as Jo, she was born Aug. 26, 1932, in Tampa, Fla., the second of three daughters of James Alexander Vaughn and Annie Ruth Gregory Vaughn. Upon graduation from Tampa’s Hillsborough High School in 1950, she attended Wesleyan and Mercer universities in Macon, Ga. It was there that she met her future husband, Charles Bonner “Sonny” Tharp. 

Mrs. Tharp settled into life as an Army officer’s wife, moving 17 times throughout the United States and abroad over 27 years while raising their three sons.

Her love of children, especially babies, led her to be a Sunday school teacher throughout her life as well as a Head Start kindergarten teacher, supporting children’s growth and early development. 

Motivated to pursue her own career, Mrs. Tharp went to work as a bank teller without a college degree. She worked her way up to senior vice president at Nuveen, a municipal bond brokerage firm, guiding an all-female staff to become the top sales team in the country. Her fearlessness in a male-dominated industry inspired countless women in her life, including her nieces, granddaughters and colleagues.

After retiring to Pawleys Island to be near her sisters, Mrs. Tharp became a member of Duncan Memorial United Methodist Church, the Francis Asbury Sunday School class and the Loula Ford Circle. She volunteered with Miss Ruby’s Kids, the early-childhood education program.

Much like her mother, she found enjoyment and peace cultivating beautiful and colorful flowers, especially peonies, later taking classes at Brookgreen Gardens to become a master gardener. 

In addition to her husband of 72 years, she is survived by sons, James Gregory Tharp (Laura) of Pawleys Island and Marc Bonner Tharp of Fort Pierce, Fla.; her grandchildren, Jeffrey Tharp (Laura), Bryan Tharp (Anna Marie), Kaelyn Tharp Warden (Daniel), Ashley Tharp, and Courtney Tharp; her great-grandchildren, Fisher Tharp, Audrey Tharp, Emily Tharp and Sonny Tharp; her  younger sister, Jacquelyn Vaughn McCants of Tampa; and many nieces and nephews. 

Another son, Tracy Tomlinson Tharp, died before her, as did her older sister, Patsy Vaughn Schooler.

A memorial service was  held Aug. 3 at Duncan Memorial United Methodist Church by the Rev. Ross Chellis and the Rev. Dr. Dora Gafford.

Memorials may be made to the church, Miss Ruby’s Kids or the Alzheimer’s Association.

Michael W. Rowe, 65, chemical operator at 3V

August 8, 2024

Michael Wayne Rowe of Pawleys Island died Aug. 1 at Embrace Hospice House in Myrtle Beach. He was 65.

He was born Oct. 5, 1958, in Georgetown, the son of Andrew Donald Rowe and Bobbie Owens Rowe Campbell. Michael graduated from Winyah High School in 1976 and became a commercial shrimper. He went on to work for Stone Container in Jacksonville, Fla. Later, he settled back in Georgetown as a chemical operator for 3V Chemical. 

Mr. Rowe had a love for drag racing and spent his time watching the races at the drag strip.

He is survived by his brother, Mark Owen Rowe of Conway.

Another brother, Andrew Donald Rowe Jr., died before him, as did his parents.

A graveside service was held  Sunday at Elmwood Cemetery by Pastor Jack Todd.

Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society.

Condolences may be sent at mayerfuneralhome.com.

Carol Murgia, 88, astrologer was former inlet resident

August 1, 2024

Carol Ann Farley Murgia, a former Murrells Inlet resident, died July 1 in Bangor, Maine. She was 88.

She was born May 17, 1936, in Salem, Mass., the daughter of James and Jeanette Farley. Carol was raised in Peabody, Mass., where she graduated from St. Chridien High School. She continued her studies at LaSalle Junior College in Newton Mass.

She married John Robert Murgia in 1959 and raised three children – Carla, Paula and John Jr.

Mrs. Murgia was known for her sense of humor and often entertained friends and family with palm and tarot card readings. She became proficient in astrology as well and enjoyed creating detailed astrological reports for her friends and family.

After her husband’s death in 1999, she moved to Murrells Inlet, where she discovered a talent for painting and drawing. She was known for painting portraits of her pets and was often asked by friends and acquaintances to do the same for them.

In addition to her children, she is survived by her grandchildren, Angela Haskell Hannon, Robert Haskell and Milo and Na’Jah Murgia; her great-granddaughter, Ada Marie Hannon; her brother, Robert Farley; her son-in-law, Bradford Haskell; and her nieces and nephews.

Another brother, Richard, died before her.

Services will be held Oct. 11 at 2 p.m. at the Massachusetts National Cemetery in Bourne. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Democratic National Committee.

Condolences can be sent at ripostafh.com.

Dr. Carl Weimer, 67, loved wisdom, words and humor

August 1, 2024

Dr. Carl Edward Weimer Jr. of Murrells Inlet died July 26 at his home. He was 67.

A  proud West Virginian, he was known as a man of wisdom, words, honor and humor. He was a dermatologist who dedicated himself to the care of his patients and family. 

He will be remembered as a devoted husband, a loving and giving father, cherished brother, loyal friend and caring doctor, his family said.  

Memorial services will be held at 2 p.m. Friday at Goldfinch Funeral Home, Beach Chapel. A reception will follow. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service. 

Memorials may be made to Operation Smile, Mepkin Abbey or Heifer International.

Pam Kerschner, 90, former NSA employee

August 1, 2024

Pamela R. Kerschner of Pawleys Island died July 22 following a long illness.  She was 90.

She was born May 5, 1934, in Beckley, W.Va., the daughter of Robert C. Carr Jr. and Betty Katherine Brubaker Carr. 

Pam graduated with honors from Mullens High School in 1961. She attended the University of Maryland’s Bowie campus and the National Cryptologic School. She had a 20-year career as an analyst with the National Security Agency.

She is survived by her husband of 60 years, Gerald A. “Jerry” Kerschner; her daughter, Traci Lynn Kerschner; a grandson, Mathew Taylor; her siblings Rebecca Cook (Robert), Robert C. Carr III (Daisy), Margaret Balcer (Paul Hartman), and Mary Beth Ferraro (Joseph); her niece, Renee Preston; her nephews, Robert L. Cook II, Andrew Balcer, Joseph Balcer, Chris Carr and Jason Carr; a grandniece, Lauren Lamb; a grandnephew, Logan Lamb; and two great-grandnieces.

A private service will be held.

Rhoda Hinson, 67, longtime Pawleys parade judge

August 1, 2024

Rhoda Guess Hinson, who served as a judge in the Pawleys Island Fourth of July Parade for many years, died at her home in Columbia on July 10. She was 67.

She was born Sept. 6, 1956, in Kingstree, a daughter of James Advil Guess Sr. and Rhoda Mell Brown Guess. Rhoda had a memorable childhood growing up in Lane with family and friends and those memories extended to the family beach house, the Guess House, on Pawleys Island, where the close family has gathered since 1956. 

Rhoda was a 1974 graduate of Kingstree High School and earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of South Carolina with a minor in French. 

She was a retired state employee. 

Mrs. Hinson loved her role as a parade judge at Pawleys Island, her family said, and was recognizable by her judicial gown. 

She loved genealogy, especially Williamsburg County history, and was a member of the S.C. Historical Society. She was also an avid Gamecock fan. 

Mrs. Hinson was a lifelong member of Union Presbyterian Church in Salters. Her love for the Lord was apparent to all who knew her.

She is survived by her daughter, Hannah Hayes Mims (Ryan); her grandchildren, Ryan Charles and Lydia Hayes; her sisters, Vicky Guess McDonald (Steve) and Rebecca Guess McGill (Robert) and sister-in-law, Cheryl Guess; five nieces; a nephew; and 13 great-nieces and great-nephews.

In addition to her parents, another sister, Catherine Guess Horton, and a brother, James Advil Guess Jr., died before her.

A celebration of her life was held July 16 at Union Presbyterian Church, where memorials may be made c/o Diane Boyd, 114 E. Brooks Street, Kingstree, SC 29556.

Condolences may be sent at williamsburgfuneralhome.com.

Mary Jo Karre, 73, cornerstone of family with a sense of style

July 18, 2024

Mary Jo Karre of Pawleys Island died Tuesday at her home surrounded by her family. She was 73.

She was born in Staten Island, N.Y., the daughter of George and Zion Joseph Amann. She earned a degree in education from Coastal Carolina University.

 She was remembered for her commanding presence, decisive nature and confident approach to life. As the cornerstone of her family, she guided her loved ones with wisdom and affection. 

Her passion for cooking was legendary. She expressed her love through fine cuisine, creating dishes that brought joy to family gatherings and friendly get-togethers. 

Her home seamlessly blended carefully curated art and furniture with warm, creative spaces for her grandchildren. This balance reflected her keen eye for design and her devotion to family, creating an environment that was both sophisticated and welcoming for all, her family said.

Mrs. Karre was also a loyal friend who was always ready to lend a hand in times of crisis. She remained positive, optimistic and fearless in the face of uncertainty and health challenges. She battled cancer for three decades, turning her diagnosis into a testament to resilience. 

Her strong Catholic faith was a source of strength and comfort in all aspects of her life. Through it all, she often reminded those around her, “it is what it is,” a phrase that encapsulated her pragmatic approach to life’s challenges.

She is survived by her husband, Paul Joseph Karre; her daughters, Erin Karre (Sue) of Pawleys Island, Julia Darling (Stewart) of Cornelius, N.C., and Kate Karre of Pawleys Island; her grandchildren, Mary Catherine, Henry and Victoria Darling; her siblings, Helen Amann (Pete), Sarah Chiha (Eddie), Anne Amann, Paul Amann and Anthony Amann (Sherri); and many nieces and nephews.

Two brothers, George and Joseph Amann, and a sister, Barbara Elizabeth Dumm, died before her.

A funeral Mass will be held on Saturday at noon at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Georgetown. A celebration of her life will follow in the parish hall.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be to Friendship Place at friendshipplaceinc.org or to the charity of your choice.

Patrick M. Siau, 79, retired State Farm agent

July 18, 2024

Patrick McClary Siau of Pawleys Island died Sunday at NHC Healthcare in Garden City. He was 79.

He was born July 17, 1944, the son of Francis Linguard Siau Jr. and Eleanor Lenora McClary Siau.

Mr. Siau was a State Farm agent in Georgetown for 38 years. He was remembered for his devotion to his family and as a great boss to his staff. 

He was also a proud Marine who enjoyed hunting, weightlifting and anything fitness related. He could often be found walking through Hagley with his 70-pound backpack. He was always in training.

He is survived by his wife, Rebecca Michael; his children, Shannon Kay Siau and Patrick  McClary Siau Jr. (Lindsey); his grandchildren, Olivia Marie, Patrick McClary, Hattie Rosetta, and Louis Kessler Siau; his sister-in-law, Juanita Sanders Siau; his brothers, Robert McGilvary Siau (Michelle) and William Carraway Siau (Betty); and several nieces, nephews and cousins.

His brother, Francis Linguard Siau III, died before him as did Etta McCormac Siau.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. today at the Georgetown Presbyterian Church. A reception will follow in the fellowship hall.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Alzheimer’s Disease Research, PO Box 1950, Clarksburg, MD 20871-1950  or brightfocus.org/alzheimers.

Condolences may be sent at mayerfuneralhome.com.

Gerald V. Payne, 82, machinist loved the outdoors

July 18, 2024

Gerald V. Payne of Pawleys Island died Monday at his home. He was 82.

He was born Oct. 3, 1941, in Andrews, the son of Leonard and Vincent Payne. 

Mr. Payne was a machinist who worked for International Paper Co., Westvaco, Andrews Metal Works and the railroad during his career. He was an avid fisherman, hunter, golfer and nature lover. He enjoyed a friendly game of pool with his friends. 

He is survived by his wife, Pennie Hinson Lambert Payne; his sons; Vince Payne (Debbie), Geoffrey Payne (Joye) and Danny Payne (Linda); his stepson; Bert Lambert (Dawn); his grandchildren, Tori Payne, Sarah Payne, Haleigh P. Rimmer (Reed), Noah Payne, Taylor Payne, Jordan Payne, Albert Glen Lambert (Breeyanna)  and Hailey L. Gray (Dylan); and three great-grandchildren.

His brother, Phifer Payne, and his sister, Alicia P. Graham, died before him.

A memorial service will be held July 20 at 11 a.m. in the Andrews Chapel of Mayer-Ethridge Funeral Home. The family will receive visitors one hour before the service.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Crescent Hospice at hospicesc.com.

Condolences may be sent at mayerfuneralhome.com.

John W. Long, 79, banker became financial adviser

July 18, 2024

John Wesley Long of Pawleys Island died July 9 at the Medical University of South Carolina surrounded by his family. He was 79.

He was born May 1, 1945, in Andrews, the son of Elsie Bryant and John Wesley Long Sr.

Sports were a large part of John’s life.  He lettered in baseball and basketball while attending Andrews High School, where he graduated in 1963.  He earned a bachelor’s degree from Newberry College in 1967.  

While attending Newberry College, he pitched for an intramural baseball league. A lifelong tennis player, Mr. Long ranked third in his age group in 1998 USTA South Carolina singles.  

He served in the Army at Fort Bliss, Texas, from August 1967 until June 1969.  He then became a bank examiner for the state of South Carolina.  

Mr. Long then worked as a manager at Andrews Bank and Trust in Andrews for more than two decades before joining Edward Jones as a financial advisor in Pawleys Island.  He retired in August 2014. 

Mr. Long was an avid bridge player who took up the game in the 1960s.  In recent years, he played duplicate bridge several times a week as part of the Pawleys Island Bridge Club.  He achieved Silver Life Master from the American Contract Bridge League. He was an active member of  the Pawleys Island Lions Club and received the Melvin Jones Award.

He is survived by his wife of 24 years, Bess Clarkson Long; his children, Jennifer Wood (Chuck) and Spencer Long (Kristen) of Georgetown and Melissa Cahill of Murrells Inlet; his grandchildren, Jessica and Cameron Perkins, Jackson and Bevin Long, and Bradley and Ella Cahill; his great-granddaughter, Layla Perkins; and his nieces, Susan Black (Charlie) of Alabama and Teri Byjeck (John) of Tennessee.

His sister Judy Long Collins, died before him.

A celebration of his life will be held July 20 at 11 a.m. at St. Paul’s Waccamaw Church. Following the service the family will receive friends at Quigleys Next Door.

Memorials may be made to Pawleys Island Lions Club, P.O. Box 1530, Pawleys Island, SC 29585 or Newberry College Athletic Club, 2100 College Street Newberry, SC 29108.

There is a guest book at goldfinchfuneralhome.com.

Donald W. Camlin, 89, county native made career in sales

July 12, 2024

Donald Williams Camlin died June 26 at Broward Health Center in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. He was 89.

A native of Georgetown County, he was born Aug. 17, 1935, one of six children of Wade Overton “Buster” Camlin and Cora Trudel Cameron. He attended Winyah High School where he played football. He attended Presbyterian College and the University of South Carolina. He served in the National Guard before enlisting in the Army’s 101st Airborne Division and qualifying as a parachutist. After his honorable discharge, he served another term with the National Guard.

In 1958, he married his childhood sweetheart, Lois Ann Hough Camlin. They had two daughters and moved to South Florida, where Mr. Camlin was recognized as the top salesman with American of Martinsville, a furniture maker. 

He was an avid outdoorsman who loved saltwater fishing and hunting. When he wasn’t in the office, he was in his boat or dressed in camo hunting for his next bird. 

Mr. Camlin spent his summers running the roads for vacation with his family on Pawleys Island and teaching them all the important things in life.

He is survived by his sisters, Becky Ward Curtis and Mary Del Morris; his brother, Glen Davis Camlin; his daughter, Courtney Camlin Manchester (Brian); his son-in-law, Anthony Gerali; his grandchildren, Colby Camlin Moore (Matthew), Logan David Manchester, Tyler Alan Gerali, Austin Brian Manchester, Chandler Don Gerali, Jordan LeeAnn Manchester and Brendan Alexander Gerali; his great-grandchildren, Bailey Ann Camlin, Memphis Williams Moore, Henleigh Dawn Moore, Lanson Eugene Lee Moore; and many other family members.

His wife and another daughter, Kimberly Dawn Gerali, died before him as did two brothers, Wade Overton Camlin III and Barry William Camlin.

A memorial service was held July 5 at First Baptist Church of Georgetown. 

Frank Mahady, 75, put antenna on top of World Trade Center

July 12, 2024

Francis Patrick Mahady of Murrells Inlet died July 1 at Embrace Hospice House in Myrtle Beach.  He was 75.

Known as Frank, he was born Aug. 19, 1948, in New York, the son of Cyril and Mary Butler Mahady.

Mr. Mahady served in the Navy as a Seabee and was in active combat in Vietnam in 1968-69. He received the National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Republic Vietnam Campaign Medal, Navy Unit Commendation, Meritorious Unit Commendation, Combat Action Ribbon, Expert Rifle, and the Republic of Vietnam Meritorious Unit Citation with Gallantry Cross.  

He went on to a career as a crane operator in New York. His biggest accomplishment, and proudest moment, came early when he placed the antenna on the North Tower of the World Trade Center in May 1979. He was equally devastated when he watched in person as both towers fell in the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attack. 

He was married to the late Catherine Ruvolo Mahady and previously lived in New York and Rhode Island. Mr. Mahady enjoyed talking about his grandchildren, his time in the Navy, his work at the World Trade Center and the bridges in New York, and washing and waxing his car.

He was a member of the VFW Post 10420, the Surfside Moose Lodge 2351, Elks Lodge 2797, the American Legion Post 178, and the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 14-14B.

He is survived by his children, Philip Mahady of Frisco, Texas, Kate Marasco (Shawn) of Summerville, Beth Mahady of North Kingstown, R.I., and Brian Mahady of Poughkeepsie, N.Y.; his brothers, Thomas Mahady (Mary) of Boynton Beach, Fla., and Michael Mahady of Boca Raton, Fla.; and his grandchildren, Justin Marasco, Megan Marasco, Zachary Marasco and Kylie Mahady. 

Two other brothers, John and Stephen Mahady, died before him.

A funeral service was held Tuesday at St. Bernard Church in North Kingstown, RI. 

Memorials may be made to the Tunnel to Towers Foundation at dogood.t2t.org.

Condolences may be sent at burroughsfh.com.  

Billy B. McConnell, 86, outdoorsman worked for IP

July 12, 2024

Billy Byron McConnell of Andrews died June 25 at Arbor Landing in Pawleys Island. He was 86.

He was born April 18, 1938, in Warsaw, the son of William and Nell Haselden McConnell. Nicknamed Sonny as a child, he graduated from Williamsburg High School and enlisted in the Air Force, serving as a fireman from 1958 to 1962 in Homestead, Fla. He went on to work for 45 years for International Paper Co. 

He was married to the former Patricia Ann Winkler.

Mr. McConnell enjoyed life’s simple pleasures. He was an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed bird hunting and fishing on the Santee and Cooper rivers. He had a passion for working on cars that started with his brother David and that he passed on to his son and grandchildren. He was a fan of the Clemson Tigers, NASCAR racing and classic country music.

He is survived by his sisters, Betty Wall, Mary Emma Coleman (Billy), Nina Ethridge and Anna Grace Waddell (Rusty); his sister-in-law, Sonya McConnell; his children, Cindy McConnell Buck (John) of Pawleys Island and Bobbi Jo Davis (Tony) of Andrews and Scott McConnell (Joyce) of Florence; his  grandchildren, Kerrie Stillinger (Thurston), Jamie Matthews (Lesley), Courtney Griffin, Dalt Todd (April), Rae Jordan (Jarrod), Brandon Davis (Joana), Tiffany Cooper (Isiah) and Olivia McConnell; an  honorary grandchild, Kadyn Kellahan; 20 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.

Another daughter, Cheryl McConnell Matthews, died before him, as did his siblings Thomas McConnell, Maude Ellen McConnell and David McConnell, and his brothers-in-law, Norman Wall and W.B. Ethridge.

Funeral services were June 27 at the Andrews Church of God.

Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association.

Betty Haring, 76, former analyst worked at Rice Museum

July 12, 2024

Florence Elizabeth Haring of Pawleys Island died June 30 surrounded by her family and friends. She was 76.

Known as Betty or Bettina, she was born Feb. 7, 1948, the daughter of James and Mary-Annie Sowell. She grew up in Montgomery, Ala., where she was a high school “favorite” and a cheerleader. She graduated from Auburn University with a degree in English and earned an MBA at Georgia Tech.

She moved to Washington, D.C., and worked for the American Petroleum Institute as a financial analyst. She married John Haring on June 23, 1984, at their home in Great Falls, Va. After the birth of her daughter, she worked as a docent at Dumbarton Oaks Museum and Gardens. After moving to South Carolina in 2008, she worked as assistant to the director of the Rice Museum. 

Mrs. Haring also performed onstage at the Strand Theater and served on the selection committee for the Strand Cinema film society. Each of these places was deeply important to her, as were the people with whom she shared her time.

An avid gardener, Mrs. Haring cultivated beautiful outdoor spaces at her homes in Great Falls and Pawleys Island. She was also a talented seamstress who created ballet, theater and Halloween costumes. She enjoyed calligraphy, collected and pressed various plants and flowers, and loved taking photographs, particularly of the natural forms found in the forests and beaches. 

In addition to her husband, she is survived by her  daughter Haydn Haring of Charlottesville, Va.; and her sisters, Nancy Williams of Greenville and Dara Sowell of New York.

A celebration of her life will be held July 14 from noon to 4 p.m.  at the Rice Museum. 

Memorials may be made to the Rice Museum at ricemuseum.org or Brookgreen Gardens at  brookgreen.org.

Bill Evans, postal inspector helped bust $1B medical scam

July 5, 2024

William Joseph Evans Jr. of Pawleys Island died June 29 surrounded by his family after a 10-week battle with a sudden heart condition. 

He was born in Washington, D.C., the son of Dr. William J. Evans and Katherine Sullivan Evans. 

Bill attended the University of Maryland where he played offensive guard for the Terrapins and met his wife, Barbara. 

After college, he was commissioned into the Air Force where he obtained the rank of captain and spent 12 years flying KC-135 aerial refueling tankers and Galaxy C-5A cargo planes between Thailand and Vietnam. 

Mr. Evans then followed in the footsteps of his brother, Rick, in the U.S. Postal Inspection Service where he investigated mail fraud, medical fraud, narcotics and violent crime cases in West Virginia, Pennsylvania, California and South Carolina for the next 24 years. 

During much of the 1990s, he was detailed to a multi-agency task force that resulted in the federal conviction of multiple Southern California physicians who had perpetrated the then-largest medical insurance fraud scheme in U.S. history involving fraudulent claims of over $1 billion. 

For his work on the task force, he was named Investigator of the Year for 1994 by the Federal Investigators Association. 

While he was intense in his work, he was a source of great joy to his family, friends, co-workers, and neighbors and someone to be relied upon in troubled times, his family said. He was a mentor to his children and his team at work.

In addition to his wife of 55 years, he is survived by his children, William Joseph “Jay” Evans III (Teresa) of Oceanside, Calif., Kristin Diaz (Edwin) of Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., and Scott Christopher Evans of Georgetown; his grandchildren, Ethan and Dylan Diaz and Charlotte Evans; his siblings, Rick Evans (Patricia), Kevin Evans and Kay McAndrew (Vince); his nieces, Coleen, Bridgett, Jessie, Anna, Margaret and Gabrielle; and his nephews Brian and Daniel.

His sister Margaret Collins died before him.

A memorial service will be held Saturday at 11 a.m. at The Abbey at Pawleys Island. 

Condolences may be sent at ridgewayfh.com.

Billy Barnes, 54, made career in golf course management

July 5, 2024

William Michael Barnes of Hagley Estates died June 19 of complications following surgery. He was 54.

Known as Billy, he was the son of Deborah Curtis and the late Michael Barnes, and the stepson of Linda Barnes.

He was remembered as a humble man woven together with love, integrity, respect, passion, determination and humor.

He had a love for his family, music, nature, water and people. And also for Peter Pan Honey Roasted Crunchy Peanut Butter, his family said.

A hippie at heart, Billy was a nature boy. He knew the scientific name for each plant or tree. Following that love of nature, he earned his degree in horticulture and lived out his passion through his professional career in the golf course management and landscaping industry. He took care of golf courses across South Carolina, spending the last 10 years as a senior manager at Debordieu Colony.

Mr. Barnes and his wife, the former Jennifer Setzer, dated in high school, reconnected and married in 2017. He is also survived by his daughters, Jordyn Mooney (Shane) and Janie Barnes, and his stepsons, Terry and Jacob Hancock. He was looking forward to the birth of his first grandchild in October.

He is also survived by his in-laws, Rick Setzer and David and Kristin Setzer, along with his uncles, aunts, cousins, nieces and nephews.

Mr. Barnes also had a deep connection with music of all kinds. He played guitar and for his 50th birthday started his journey with the drums. Songs had meaning to him, and he would remind people, “If you get confused … just listen to the music play.” (The Grateful Dead)

He was happiest near the water. His ideal day would consist of family, friends, and either a golf club or fishing pole in hand. Or just a cooler and a volleyball on the beach.

He will be remembered at a gathering July 13 at 5 p.m. at Quigley’s Next Door.

An account was set up at South State Bank to support his family. Donations may be made via Zelle to jennifer@carolinabarnes.com or Venmo at billyandjenbarnes.

Karen E. Kindley, 76, retired from banking

June 27, 2024

Karen Eileen Kindley of Pawleys Island died June 16 at Indigo Carolina Forest Assisted Living in Myrtle Beach.   She was 76.

She was born March 7, 1948, in Brooklyn, N.Y., where she grew up. She also lived in California.

Mrs. Kindley retired as a tax representative in the banking industry. She was the chairman of Helping Hands and attended Global Trinity Methodist Church.

She is survived by her husband, Phillip Kindley; her children, Michael Misciagno (Janine) and Lori Hepko-Syle (Bryon); her sister, Ellen Thompson; her brother, James Low (Lois); and her grandsons, Brandon Hepko and Michael Syle.

Her stepson, Sean Guerin, her grandson, Joseph Misciagno, and her brother, John Gill, died before her.

A graveside service was held June 19 at Andrews Memorial Cemetery by the Revs. Ben and Dora Gafford.

Joseph T. Lazzara, 87, worked in public transit

June 27, 2024

Joseph T. Lazzara of Willbrook died June 16 at Arbor Landing following a long-fought battle with Alzheimers, diabetes, kidney disease and Parkinson’s. He was 87.

He was born in Chicago, the son of Joseph and Josephine Lazzara. He earned an associate’s degree in accounting at Wright Junior College and a bachelor’s degree in management and developing organizations at DePaul University. Mr. Lazzara served the Chicago Transit Authority for 33 years in a variety of positions including senior project controller, where he was responsible for development and management of all projects related to buses, rail cars, construction, contracting, procurement contracting and environmental assessment.

Mr. Lazzara continued his transit career at the Proviso Council on Aging in Bellwood, Ill, where he was the transportation coordinator and managed the transit operation for elderly handicapped people, including training of employees and construction projects oversight.

After moving to Pawleys Island in 1998, he served on the board of Coast RTA while dabbling in retirement, enjoying the beaches and exercising his favorite sport: golf. He loved traveling and was also an avid Chicago Cubs and Chicago Bears fan. 

Mr. Lazzara, a devout Roman Catholic, served as an usher at Precious Blood of Christ Catholic Church and was a faithful member of the Knights of Columbus.

He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Marlene; his children, Lynne Halper (Mark) of Murrells Inlet, Joseph G. Lazzara (Gail) of Georgetown, Joyce Lazzara (Tom) of Pawleys Island and Lori Lazzara of Pawleys Island; his grandchildren, Andrew Halper (Dana), Keely Halper, Jenna Toothaker (Brandon), Nicolette Lazzara, and Gabriella Lazzara; his great-grandchildren, Ava Lynn Halper, Adam Halper and Asher Halper; his sister, Mary DeVito of Port St. Lucie, Fla.; his brother-in-law, Frank Grzesik of Coral Springs, Fla.; his sister-in-law. Carol Addante (Louis) of Wheaton, Ill.; and many nieces and nephews.

Another sister, Angela Grzesik, died before him.

Visitation will be held July 19 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Goldfinch Funeral Home, Litchfield-Pawleys Chapel. The prayer service will begin at 6:30 p.m.

A Mass of the Christian Burial will be celebrated July 20 at 10 a.m. at Precious Blood of Christ Catholic Church. The service will be live streamed at pbocchurch.com. Inurnment will follow in the church columbarium.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association of South Carolina or Parkinsons Foundation, Carolinas Chapter

There is a guest book at goldfinchfuneralhome.com.

Sharon Judd, 81, beauty queen worked on Capitol Hill

June 27, 2024

Sharon Dennis Judd of Pawleys Plantation died June 19 at the Lakes at Litchfield  after a lengthy battle with Alzheimer’s. She was 81. 

She was born on March 7, 1943, in Romney, W.Va., the daughter of  Russel Brian Dennis and Pauline Zirk Dennis of Cottage City, Md. Sharon graduated from Bladensburg High in Maryland and earned a degree from Salisbury State Teachers College. Following graduation, Sharon traveled around the world in 1961. 

Mrs. Judd’s natural beauty took her to the pageant stage. She earned the title of Miss Maryland USA in 1965, Miss Dixie in 1964, Miss Jacksonville, Fl., and Miss Wicomico County, Md., in 1962. She also represented  Maryland at the World’s Fair in New York. 

When she wasn’t on the stage, Mrs. Judd could be found working for the Voice of America in Washington, D.C., then on Capitol Hill for both the Senate and the House of Representatives. 

In 1963, she became the chief financial officer of Judd & Associates, where she made life-long friends. In her free time and especially later in life, she enjoyed the simpler things such as time at the beach, and playing tennis and bridge. 

She is survived by her husband of over 55 years, William Judd; her sons, Charles B. Judd and Robert T. Judd; her grandchildren, Charlie, Tyler and Jack; her brothers Danny Dennis and Chris Dennis of Selbyville, Del.; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.

A celebration of her life will be held today at 10 a.m. at Belin Memorial United Methodist Church with inurnment following in the church cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Tidelands Community Hospice at tidelandshospice.org.

There is a guest book at burroughsfh.com.

Roger M. Ward, 85, had second career at Pawleys Is. Lumber

June 20, 2024

Roger M. Ward of Pawleys Island died June 12 at his home with his wife and daughters by his side. He was 85.

He was born Sept. 25, 1938, in Limestone, Maine, the son of Phillip M. and Phyllis Kirkpatrick Ward. Roger enlisted in the Marine Corps and was stationed in Quantico, Va. He frequently escorted President Eisenhower to Camp David as the crew chief on HMX-1. Upon completion of his service in the Marines, he received the White House Service Award.

He married Sarah L. Dingle of Georgetown in 1958.

Mr. Ward retired from United Technologies, Pratt & Whitney division, after 30 years. He traveled throughout North and South America, Europe, Asia and Africa as a liaison. He was the resident manager for Pan American Airlines for 12 years. He lived in Japan, Thailand and China during his career with Pratt & Whitney.

After a brief retirement, Mr. Ward returned to work at Pawleys Island Lumber Co. for his friend Duff Dawson, who asked him if he would like to work for him. “I know nothing about the lumber business,” he replied.

He stayed with the lumber company for 15 years, loving every minute.

Mr. Ward served the town of Pawleys Island as the chairman of the Board of Zoning Appeals for 15 years. 

In recognition of his civic leadership, patriotism and support to the development of aeronautics, he was elected and enrolled as a member of the Wings Club. 

He was also a gun enthusiast who promoted responsible gun ownership and marksmanship as a NRA safety officer and a state constable. 

He was a member of Duncan Memorial United Methodist Church and the Masons, Solar Lodge No. 131 of East Hampton, Conn.

In addition to his wife of 65 years, he his survived by his children, Debra Duffey of Calabash, N.C., and Sally Ward of Pawleys Island; his brother-in-law, Robert H. Featenby; and a number of nieces and nephews.

His siblings, Judith Featenby, and Jeffrey and Thomas Ward, died before him. 

Services were Monday at Pennyroyal Memorial Gardens. 

Memorials may be made to Duncan United Methodist Church or All4Paws Animal Rescue.

Andrew C. Jacobs, 59, electrician with a passion for cooking

June 20, 2024

Andrew Corbit Jacobs of Pawleys Island died May 26 at his home with his family by his side. He was 59.

He was born April 18, 1965, in Charleston, the son of Janie Ackerman Jacobs Dennis and the late Preston Corbit Jacobs. Growing up in Charleston, Andy volunteered at Charlestown Landing, spending many hours at the colonial village and the old ship, riding his bike to work. He became a lifelong history buff. 

He also had a special passion for Foxfire books, the outdoors, camping and anything at all to do with the water, especially the creeks and marshes. He was a Cub Scout and a Boy Scout, and loved magic tricks and performing them. He collected stamps and coins, always looking for the history behind them. 

Andy spent his summers in Pawleys Island, fishing, crabbing and helping his grandparents. With his grandfather, he worked on cars and handyman projects. With his grandmother, he helped plant, garden and cook. 

Cooking became one of his greatest joys. He spent hours helping his grandmother prepare the fresh shrimp, crab and fish as well as the home grown produce. He was also close with his paternal grandmother in Charleston, spending many days and hours fishing and playing card games with her. 

Moving to Moncks Corner in his teens, he graduated from Berkeley High School. He then joined the Army and was stationed in Germany and served as a combat engineer. This furthered his passion for engineering and construction. 

After leaving the military, he worked as an electrician, creating his own company Jacobs Electric Unlimited. He worked in many states but ultimately returned to the Pawleys Island and Murrells Inlet area. He worked with businesses such as Hard Rock Park, Rowe Enterprises, the Reserve Golf Club and on several buildings throughout the area. 

Working with his hands remained rewarding throughout his life. He even built his own ramp to his house when he could barely walk unassisted. 

His passion for cooking led Mr. Jacobs to work at the Reserve Club in the kitchen alongside the chefs and assisting with special events.

His home was filled with hundreds of cookbooks and books about growing and preparing food. Cooking supplies, utensils and prep items were witness to this love. 

Mr. Jacobs also had a passion for music and dancing. He taught himself to play acoustic guitar and had begun learning the violin. He played with local bands in the Murrells Inlet area and also taught country line dancing. His harmonica was often with him. 

As his health failed, Mr. Jacobs was able to spend a great deal of time with his sister, Allene, at her farm in the Upstate. He found another passion in her cattle, and in sharing experiences with her and her family, especially his niece and nephew Cyprys and JingHui. When he could no longer work and was limited in many of his daily activities, he would spend time with the cattle or discussing them. 

What never left him was his love of the creek at Pawleys. During some of his last days, he still made an effort to walk to see the creek near his house. 

Mr. Jacobs had several round brimmed hats that he wore everywhere, and you could pick him out in a crowd. He always took time to talk with people and listen to their stories. He always wanted to know their name and “who people were.” He loved to tell stories and share experiences with people. 

He put no value in material things, unless they were sentimental or useful in his work or his passions, his family said. Instead, he chose to value learning and experiencing life, especially simple things. 

In addition to his mother, he is survived by his wife, Darlene Taylor Jacobs; his step-daughters, Sindy Williams and Stephanie Williams; his step son-in-law, who he considered a son, Timothy Beahn; his grandchildren, Dakota Beahn, Austin Beahn and Tristen Haleigh Royce; three great-grandchildren; his siblings, Margaret Jacobs Pipkin (Tim), Allene Jacobs Wiley (Chris), Ryan C. Dennis; several step siblings; and his aunts, Sara Elizabeth Ackerman and Linda Jacobs; and many extended family members. 

In addition to his father, his grandparents, Preston Corbit Jacobs Sr. and Lucille Bunch Jacobs and Bernard L. Ackerman and Elizabeth Bourne Ackerman, died before him.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Foundation for Sarcoidosis Research, 320 W. Ohio St., Suite 300, Chicago, IL 60654 (stopsarcoidosis.org) or Meals on Wheels of Horry and Georgetown County, 2050 US-501, 1100 B, Conway, SC 29526. 

A memorial service will be held Aug. 17 at 2:30 p.m. at the Goldfinch Funeral Home, Beach Chapel. Visitation begin at 1:30 p.m. 

There is a guest book at goldfinchfuneralhome.com. 

James M. Miller, 83, spent 30 years with IBM

June 20, 2024

James Michael Miller of Heritage Plantation died June 10. He was 83

He was born Aug. 21, 1940, in Sturgis, Mich., the son of Lamar and Mable Robbins Miller. After high school, he attended the University of Michigan and earned an engineering degree. In 1960 he married Pamela Gelvin, his high school sweetheart. 

After college, Mr. Miller worked for General Dynamics in San Diego in a management development program and on the Atlas missile program. In 1964, he joined IBM and worked in systems engineering, sales, software development and management in Peoria, Ill., Chicago, South Bend, Ind., and Dallas. He retired from IBM after 30 years and moved to Pawleys Island. 

Mr. Miller enjoyed playing tennis, golf, bridge, traveling and reading. He was a volunteer computer class instructor at Southern Methodist University in Dallas and a volunteer math tutor for elementary, middle and high school students in Dallas and Pawleys Island. He also enjoyed working with other horticulture volunteers at Brookgreen Gardens for more than 15 years. 

He was a member of the Lutheran Church all his life and served as a youth group director, usher, greeter and on stewardship and fellowship committees. He was a member of St. Peter’s Lutheran Church for more than 20 years.    

He is survived by his children, Todd Miller (Debra) of Las Vegas and Mark Miller (Tammy) of Flower Mound, Texas; his daughter-in-law, Jill Miller of Bel-Air, Md.; his grandchildren, Zachary, Aaron, Alyssa, David, Zhanna, Nadia and Samantha; his brother, Jerry Miller (Verda) of New Port Richey, Fla.; his brothers-in-law Bob Schlage of Holly Springs, N.C., and John Gelvin (Debbie) of Sturgis; and many nephews and nieces. 

Mrs. Miller died in 2022. Another son, Jon, and his sister, Cheryl, also died before him.

A celebration of life service will be held June 28 at 10 a.m. at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church. 

Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society for research.

Linda W. Green, 75, worked for Wachesaw POA

June 20, 2024

Linda Wells Green of Murrells Inlet died June 9 at Waccamaw Community Hospital. She was 75.

She was born June 7, 1949, in Stamford, Conn., the daughter of Elizabeth T. Giebel and Robert R. Giebel of Darien, Conn., where she was raised. Linda graduated from House in the Pines School in Norton, Mass., and Harcum College in Bryn Mawr, Pa. She worked in New York City for Lord & Taylor’s, in Westport, Conn., for Ed Mitchell’s Clothing, and had her own wedding and flower business in Sunderland, Vt. She later worked for Wachesaw Plantation in the POA office until retirement.

She was married to the late Howard M. Green. They shared many happy years in Sunderland and Murrells Inlet. 

She is survived by her siblings, Wendy R. Thomas (Joel) of Manchester, Mass., Randall R. Giebel of Rougemont, N.C., and Sally E. Bowen of Blue Hill; her nephews, Aaron A Bourke (Nicole) and Matthew T. Bourke (Ivy); a life-long friend, Chris Sarracco; and a “special girl, Jocelyn Godish.

In accordance with her wishes there will be no service. Memorials may be made to the charity of your choice.

Elizabeth W. Barber, 78, active in Belin ministries

June 20, 2024

Elizabeth W. Barber of Murrells Inlet died June 11 at her home. She was 78.

She was born Dec. 30, 1945, the daughter of Edson Woodward and Ruth Woodward. 

She lived in Upper Marlboro, Md., and Christiansburg, Va.

Mrs. Barber was an active member in several food distribution groups and the Belin Memorial United Methodist Church Prison Ministries, was a Stephen Minister and a Stephen Ministry Leader and served on various church committees.

She is survived by her husband, the Rev. William Barber; her children, Suzanne Wright (Duane) of Conway, Christopher Hunt (Linda) of Littleton, Colo., Kelly Sullivan (Dave) of Statesboro, Ga., and Jacqueline Raeth (Bill) of North Augusta, Ga.; and her grandchildren, Justice Wright, Alexandra Hunt, Samantha Hunt, Summer Doyle and Benjamin Sullivan.

Another son, Thomas D. Hunt, died before her.

A celebration of life service will be held June 29 at 2 p.m. at Belin Memorial United Methodist Church. Interment will follow in the church cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the charity of your choice.

Dorian A. Hooks, 50, worked in real estate

June 6, 2024

Dorian A. Hooks of Pawleys Island died May 23 with her family by her side. She was 50.

She was born Dec. 28, 1973, in Conway, the daughter of the late Jeannie Hardwick.

Mrs. Hooks had a passion for helping others that led her to become a skilled massage therapist. Later in life to fill her time, she was a well-rounded real estate agent who had a knack for seeing the beauty all around her. 

In her free time, she relished time spent walking the beach, playing tennis and making memories with family and friends. 

She is survived by her husband of over 23 years, Gregg Hooks; her children, Reaves and Ayla; her sister, Courtney Hardwick, and her son, Josiah; her grandmother, Jane L. Rood; and a large extended family.

A celebration of her life was held May 28 at Burroughs Funeral Home. Burial followed in Pauley Swamp Cemetery in Conway.

Memorials may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospitals at stjude.org.

Condolences may be sent at burroughsfh.com.

David C. Waters, 92, former Pawleys Island resident

June 6, 2024

David Clagett Waters of Chapel Hill, N.C., died June 3 surrounded by his family. He was 92. He was remembered for his deep faith in God, encyclopedic knowledge of sports, fascinating stories, and his kindness, generosity and service to others.

Born July 26, 1931, in Germantown, Md., he was the son of Eugene Hill Waters and Eloise Clagett Waters. The youngest of four children, David grew up on a family farm outside of Washington, D.C. There he cultivated a lifelong love of the outdoors – hunting, fishing and gardening and a passion for sports. 

He chose his college, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, sight unseen, due to listening to Tar Heel football games on the radio. He remained an avid Tar Heel sports fan through life. 

Mr. Waters graduated Phi Beta Kappa in 1953. A political science major, he wrote for the Daily Tar Heel and was a member of Phi Kappa Sigma fraternity. Following graduation, he served as a special agent in the Army Counterintelligence Corps before beginning a career of more than 35 years with Procter and Gamble. 

While with P&G in Cincinnati, he held volunteer leadership roles in both church and civic endeavors; and served his alma mater through membership on the board of the UNC General Alumni Association and the Educational Foundation. He continued his personal involvement in retirement.

When he retired from Procter and Gamble in 1991, Mr. Waters and his wife, Marion, established residence at Pawleys Island, their annual summer destination throughout marriage. They met on Pawleys Island and Mr. Waters said he fell in love with both the island and the girl on the same night. 

He was a communicant of All Saints Church where he chaired the cemetery committee, preserving the beauty of the historic grounds. 

Mr. Waters was a member of the Sons of the American Revolution, the Kentucky Colonels, the Winyah Indigo Society, the Pawleys Island Yacht Club and the Georgetown Cotillion.

The couple moved to Chapel Hill in 2004.

In addition to his wife of 63 years, Marion Cathcart Waters, he is survived by his son, David Clagett Waters Jr. (Leslie) of Umatilla, Fla.; his daughters, Elizabeth Cathcart Waters Sprinkle (Ralph) of Pawleys Island and Marion Eloise Waters Porter (Logan) of Greensboro, N.C.; his grandchildren, David Clagett “Clay” III (Lansdon) and Andrew Daniel Waters (Nicole), Elizabeth “Libba” Cathcart Sprinkle, and Marion McMaster, Sarah Frances, Henry Logan and Ruth Waters Porter; and his great-grandchildren, Ellis Clagett and Wyatt Spear Waters. 

A funeral service will be held Saturday at 11 a.m. at All Saints Church.

Memorials may be made to the church, 3560 Kings River Rd., Pawleys Island, SC 29585 or the Salvation Army, PO Box 1330, Durham, NC 27702.

Condolences may be sent at ridgewayfh.com.

Carolyn White, 84, retired teacher

May 16, 2024

Carolyn Ann White of Chattanooga, Tenn., a former Pawleys Island resident, died April 27. She was 84. 

She was born in El Paso, Texas, the daughter of Col. Claude Benjamin White and Margaret Ferratt White. 

Carolyn can be described as a soul that loved with a wonderful sense of humor. She loved her parents, sons, daughter in-laws, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, sisters, nieces, friends, and students; as well as her four husbands, at least in the beginning. 

She was passionate about teaching, cooking, gardening, antiquing, traveling, writing poetry and appreciating art.  

She attended Granby High School in Norfolk, Va., where she was a class president, and graduated from Greenville High School in 1958. She attended Hollins College and earned a bachelor’s degree cum laude at Furman University in 1971. She earned a master’s degree in English and education at Converse College in 1973.

Ms. White taught English, French, journalism, math, debate and adult education during a career that spanned more than 30 years in South Carolina, Georgia and Tennesssee. 

After teaching, she was a real estate agent and antique broker.

After getting her marriages annulled, she converted back to the Catholic faith. 

She was a member of the Heritage Garden Club, Heritage Book Club, Cleveland Symphony Guild, Ocoee Garden Club and Cleveland Book Club, as well as a volunteer for Hobcaw Barony and Bellefield Plantation.

She is survived by her sons: James E. Lipscomb IV (Shan) of Greenville, Claude Benjamin Lipscomb (Pam) of Atlanta and Christopher M. Trainor (Molly) of Chattanooga; her grandchildren, Jackie Masters (Jeremiah), Owen M. Trainor, Caroline Trainor and May May Trainor; her great-grandchildren, Hughes Howard Masters and Hampton James Masters; and her sisters, Judy McDonald (Henry Leland) and Sally Herche.

Another grandson, James Wilkins Lipscomb, died before her. She also outlived three of her four husbands, James E Lipscomb III, Fred M Trainor and Paul E Bryant. Information about the fourth, Harold Tilley, was not available.

A graveside service was held May 10 at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Norfolk. 

Memorials may be made to FAVOR Upstate, 355 Woodruff Rd., Suite 303, Greenville, SC 29607.

Jerry Ford, 93, loved golf, puzzles and tending her garden

May 16, 2024

Jerry B. Ford of Myrtle Beach died March 8 at NHC Healthcare. She was 93.

She was born Aug. 16, 1930, in Lexington, N.C., the daughter of Rufus Homer and Edith Hill Tysinger. She spent her early years in Lexington and in Athens, Ga., where she attended school as well as business school. 

After marrying, she and her husband, Max, moved to Society Hill, where they purchased and restored an old plantation home, Japonica Hall, which is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

In 1977 they moved to Myrtle Beach where they purchased and operated the Admiral Motor Inn and in later years the Dunes and the Sun and Sand motels. 

After Max’s death she married Jim Ford and moved to Pawleys Plantation where they socialized and were avid golfers.  

Mrs. Ford was a member of the Pawleys Plantation  women’s golf league. She loved her fish pond, working puzzles and working in the yard, especially with her flowers.  She also loved her cat, Savannah.  

She is survived by her son Sandy Bunting (Sara) of Myrtle Beach;  her grandchildren, Jamie Johnson (Johnny), Jenny Chestnut (Adam) and Shawn Mishoe (Jen); five  great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild; her sister, Dana Collins (Charles) of Raleigh; and many nieces and nephews.

Her brother, Rober Homer Tysinger, and another sister, Beatrice Joan Reimsnider, died before her.

A graveside service will be held at 4 p.m. today at Hillcrest Cemetery in Conway.  The family will receive friends today at Goldfinch Funeral Home Beach Chapel in Murrells Inlet from 1 to 3 p.m.

Memorials may be made to All 4 Paws Animal Center at all4pawssc.org.

Martin Robic, 91, sang with Carolina Master Chorale

May 16, 2024

Martin Albert Robic of the Tradition Club, died May 11 at his home surrounded by his family. He was 91.

He was born July 20, 1932, in Pittsburgh, the son of Martin Albert and Katherine Sinc Robic. After graduating from Perry High School, he attended the University of Pittsburgh and then served in the Army for two years. 

Mr. Robic worked as director of operations in the trucking industry.

He loved to sing and started singing in the Barbershop Chorus of the Brandywine in Wilmington, Del. He was a past member of the Carolina Master Chorale. 

He was a volunteer at Brookgreen Gardens for 20 years, and had a special love of the zoo area where he conducted tours.  

Mr. Robic also served on the board at Tradition Club and was a golf member for many years.

He is survived by his wife, Mary Grace Robic; his children, Mark Robic (Kellie) and Lori Thompson (James); his grandchildren, Joseph Robic (Megan) and Stephen Thompson; and his great-grandchildren, Nicholas and Serena Robic.

Services will be held at a later date.

Condolences may be sent at cremationservicesdirect.com.

Carolyn Camlin, 89, business owner helped start art group

May 16, 2024

Carolyn Gaddy Camlin of Georgetown died May 6 at Georgetown Memorial Hospital after a brief illness. She was 89.

She was born Aug. 29, 1934, in Lake City, the daughter of Clifford Frederick Gaddy and May Belle Johnson Gaddy. 

She graduated from Columbia College with a bachelor’s degree in English and carried her love for her major throughout her life. She taught school for a couple of years before leaving her teaching position to focus on raising her children. 

She was married to the late Wade Overton Camlin III.

After her childrearing years, Mrs. Camlin owned and operated The Bath Etc. Shoppe, first in Pawleys Island and later on Front Street. 

She was a longtime member of the Lydia Sunday School Class at First Baptist Church of Georgetown and the Winyah Indigo Society. She was a founding member of the Georgetown Watercolor Society.

Mrs. Camlin was a lady of many talents. Among them were watercolor painting, knitting, crafting, gardening, crocheting and needlepoint. She also designed the menu for her in-laws’ seafood restaurant. She had a great love for meeting and getting to know people wherever she went, and sharing about them with her family. 

She was known for her big celebrations at her beach house on Pawleys Island where she loved cooking for family and friends. She also had a lifetime love of music and dancing. Her favorite dance was the shag, which she enjoyed for many years with her husband.

She is survived by her children, Sarah Daniel of Georgetown and Charles Camlin (Brett) of Texas; her daughter-in-law, Theresa Camlin of Moncks Corner; her grandchildren, Hannah, Alyssa, Kal, Dell, Halli, Paige and Charles Jr.; her great grandchildren, McKenna, Ellie, Wesley, Addi, Bennett, Charley, Luke and Myles; and many cousins. 

She also had a furry companion, Livia.

Another son, Wade Overton Camlin IV, died before her, as did her brothers, Clifford and Andrew.

A funeral service was held May 11 at First Baptist Church by the Rev. Dr. Ted Sherrill. Burial was in Pennyroyal Memorial Gardens.

Memorials may be made to First Baptist Church, 219 Cleland St., Georgetown, SC 29440.

Nancy Sowell, nurse became music teacher

May 9, 2024

Nancy Warren Sowell of Pawleys Island died May 1. 

She was born in Charlotte in 1939, the daughter of J.D. and Ruth Bennett Warren. She lived in Lancaster, Greenville and, finally, Pawleys Island to be closer to her family.

Mrs. Sowell was a dedicated registered nurse who trained at Mercy School of Nursing and Sacred Heart College in Belmont, N.C. Over her career she worked in just about every possible setting: intensive care, recovery, hospice and home health, as well as numerous practices including her last stint at her husband George’s OB-GYN office in Georgetown.

Mrs. Sowell’s lifelong passion was music. She was given piano and voice lessons as a child and spent a good part of her life returning that favor in various ways. Around the time of her retirement from nursing and her marriage to George, she returned to teaching piano and continued for 15 years. 

Along the way she worked hard to become nationally certified as a teacher of music. She touched the lives of many students in the Pawleys area, not just as a teacher. She cared deeply for her students and encouraged them to succeed in small and large ways. She took them to recitals in nursing homes and led them to regional competitions as a coach and mentor.

She is survived by her husband, George A. Sowell; her sister, Emily Nelson of Pawleys Island; and her son, Rob Braswell of Portsmouth, N.H.,  and all their families.

She will be interred at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, where she had previously been a long time member, music director, soloist and pianist and children’s choir director. 

A memorial service and celebration of life will be scheduled in July.

David Swantek, 82, retired Ohio police officer

May 9, 2024

David L. Swantek of Murrells Inlet died April 7 with his family at his side. He was 82.

Known as Dave, he was born Nov. 1, 1941, in Toledo, Ohio, the son of Orville B. and Sally Swantek. Dave played football at Woodward High School .

Mr. Swantek was a third generation career Toledo policeman, following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather. He served as a police officer in Toledo for 26 years. 

Upon retirement in 1994, he  his wife Kathy moved to South Carolina.

Mr. Swantek was an avid golfer and helped maintain local golf courses, including Indigo Creek and the River Club, until 2020. 

He loved repairing and restoring cars. He and Kathy would work together until the vehicles were perfect. The couple loved watching races at Darlington Motor Speedway and attending University of South Carolina football games. 

In addition to his wife of 46 years, he is survived by his son, David S. Swantek (Dena) of Toledo. 

Memorials may be made to the Sugar Bear Fund at Ark Animal Hospital, 1011 Sixth Ave. N, Ext., Surfside Beach, SC 29575.

Bobbie Mabry, 81, ran family business

May 2, 2024

Roberta Neil Mabry of Pawleys Island died April 20. She was 81.

Known as Bobbie, she was born June 4, 1942, in Florence, the daughter of Mary Elizabeth Adams and Paul E. Neil. Her family moved from Florence to Marion in 1951. She graduated from Marion High School and then attended Columbia College. She married H. Presley Mabry and they lived in Spartanburg and Columbia before moving to Pawleys Island.

Mrs. Mabry’s first job was at her father’s pharmacy in Marion. She later went into the banking industry and had a business she ran with her husband. Always a dog lover, she had several dachshunds, and her last pet was a rescue dog she named Lucky.

She was remembered as a true Southern lady.

She is survived by her brother, Paul E. Neil  Jr., and many nieces and nephews.

In addition to her husband, her sister, Louise Neil Jordan, died before her.

A memorial service will be held May 9 at 1 p.m. at Murrells Inlet Presbyterian Church.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the church, P.O. Box 418, Murrells Inlet, SC 29576 (mipcpresby.com) or to  All 4 Paws Animal Rescue, 708 Petigru Dr., Pawleys Island, SC 29585 (all4pawssc.org).

There is a guest book at burroughsfh.com.

Delores Poe, 88, homemaker loved to travel

May 2, 2024

Delores Fain Poe of Murrells Inlet died April 27. She was 88.

She was born Jan. 22, 1936, in Athens, Tenn., the daughter of Rachel Fain and James D. Fain.  

Mrs. Poe was remembered as a true Southern lady who made her life’s work being a devoted wife and mother.  She and her husband, Dave, lived in dozens of states through his work with Agri-Sales. They moved to the Blackmoor community 20 years ago and became members of Belin Memorial United Methodist Church.  

Delores spent much time traveling with her husband and loved family vacations in the Smoky Mountains.  Her hobbies included collecting antiques and dishes, cooking Southern meals for her family, working jigsaw puzzles, watching old westerns – particularly “Gunsmoke” – and watching Duke basketball and NASCAR races.

In addition to her husband of 66 years, she is survived by her children, Jan Rogers of Beaufort, Tracy Poe (Lisa) of Myrtle Beach and Sandy Oliver of Beaufort; her  grandchildren, Erik Rogers (Chris) of San Diego, Alex NiHill (Ryan) of Longs, Lance Poe (Lexi) of Charleston and Annie Oliver of Beaufort; her great-grandchildren, Sawyer NiHill and Caroline NiHill; her brother, James D. Fain Jr. of Inman; her sisters, Linda Fain and Debi Moore (David) of Georgetown, Tenn.; and many nieces and nephews.

A graveside service will be held at 2 p.m. Friday at Belin Memorial United Methodist Church Cemetery.

Online condolences may be sent at burroughsfh.com.

Alex Spivey, 85, veteran was retired banker

May 2, 2024

Collins Alexander Spivey Jr. of Pawleys Island died April 17. He was 85.

Known as Alex, he was born June 20, 1938, in Conway, the son of Collins Alexander Spivey and Harriett Roddey Edwards. 

He became an Eagle Scout before attending The Citadel, where he graduated in 1960 as band company commander.  

After graduation, he spent three years in the Air Force, then returned to Conway to work with his father at Peoples National Bank. In 1972, he attended University of Virginia in Charlottesville where he earned his MBA at the Darden School, then continued his banking career in Augusta and Atlanta.  

Mr. Spivey met his wife, Pat, when he was transferred to Atlanta and, in need of a corkscrew, knocked on his neighbor’s door. There, Alex met his neighbor, Pat, and never returned the corkscrew. They married in 1986.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by his children, Gene Spivey of Myrtle Beach, Talley Richey (Paul) of John’s Creek, Ga., and Ginny Eagan of Columbia; and his grandchildren, Grier Eagan, Sazie Eagan, Mackie Eagan, Norri Hope Richey and Ani Spivey.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday at The Abbey. The family will receive friends immediately following the service. 

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Lowcountry Food Bank at lowcountryfoodbank.org.

Richard Summey, 81, former GHS principal

May 2, 2024

Richard Glover Summey of West Columbia, a former principal of Georgetown High School, died April 24 in Pawleys Island. He was 81.

He was born March 14, 1943, in Hendersonville, N.C., a son of Hicks Albert Summey and Rose Evelyn Huggins Summey. 

After graduating from East Henderson High School in East Flat Rock, he earned degrees from Brevard College, East Tennessee State University and the University of Virginia. While at Brevard he lettered in basketball, track and cross country.

Mr. Summey was a teacher and an elementary, middle and high school principal. He served as principal of Pine Ridge Middle School in West Columbia and Brookland-Cayce High School in Columbia. He retired as principal of Georgetown High in 2001. 

He was passionate about his work as a principal and loved to see his students achieve in school and life. 

After he retired, he worked as a consultant with Glencoe/McGraw-Hill Publishing Co. Mr. Summey was an avid sports fan. He followed the University of North Carolina Tarheels basketball team and the South Carolina Gamecocks football team. 

He was of the Baptist faith.

He is survived by his daughter, Marla Rhett Moberly Meredith of Georgetown; his grandchildren, Cole Meredith and Carson Meredith, both of Georgetown; a special friend, Bob Davis of Lexington; a niece, Robin Hulsey; and a nephew, Scott Summey.

His brother, H. M. Summey, died before him.

A memorial service will be held at 6 p.m. Friday at First Baptist Church in Georgetown.

Memorials may be made to Valley Hill Baptist Church, 118 School St., Hendersonville, NC 28739.

Condolences may be send at ridgewayfh.com.

Carl Reinhardt, 86, retired from international finance

April 25, 2024

Frederick Carl Reinhardt of Pawleys Island died April 7 in Myrtle Beach following a brief illness. He was 86.

Known as Carl, he was born June 10, 1937, in Pittsburgh, the son of Frederick and Grace Reinhardt. He attended Shady Side Academy, graduated from Harvard College and conducted  post-graduate studies at the University of Michigan.

His career in international finance spanned over six decades, in three separate chapters. Mr. Reinhardt started as a corporate banker with Bank of America, working as a manager in Guatemala, Bolivia, Colombia and Panama before moving to London. He returned to New York City with his family, working in leadership positions with Banca Serfin and Allied Bank International. 

Mr. Reinhardt  then worked as a development banker with the Overseas Private Investment Corp. (now known as the U.S. International Development Finance Corp.) where he was director of Latin America Project Lending and director of Business Development. 

The final chapter of his career was as an impact investor, serving as a founding partner of Dev Equity, a social impact fund active in Latin America.  

He was remembered for his sharp mind, direct analysis and open heart. He was an original, shaped by his upbringing, global experiences, and deep convictions.

Mr. Reinhardt was an active parishioner of Holy Cross-Faith Memorial Episcopal Church  and National Cathedral in Washington, D.C.  His passions included listening to classical music, collecting unique art, travel and reading.

He is survived by his son, Peter Reinhardt of Summit, N.J.; his daughter, Elizabeth Bredahl (Thomas) of Darien, Conn.; nine grandchildren; and his life partner, Gail Whitehead of Conway.

Another daughter, Maria Reinhardt DeCesare, died before him.

A memorial service will be held June 10 at 4:30 p.m. at Holy Cross-Faith Memorial Episcopal Church. 

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Maria Fund at the University of Michigan, Shady Side Academy of Pittsburgh, or Holy Cross-Faith Memorial Episcopal Church.

There is a guestbook at burroughsfh.com.

Jim Richardson, 81, retired N.J. firefighter

April 18, 2024

Jim Richardson of Pawleys Island died April 10 at his home. He was 81.

He was born in Newark, N.J., a son of James and Margaret Richardson. He graduated from St. Peter’s University in Jersey City and worked for the City of Newark Fire Department for 27 years. He retired as a battalion chief and moved to Pawleys Island.  

He was married for 56 years to the late Patricia Richardson.

Mr. Richardson was a member and active volunteer at Precious Blood of Christ Catholic Church for many years.  He loved his family, travel, golf and his dogs, Macie and Trixie.  

He is survived by a son, Joe Richardson (Dorota) of Maryland; a daughter, Ellen Sullivan (Scott) of Pawleys Island; his grandchildren, Patrick, Emma, Ania and Nicholas; his sisters, Anne Toohey of Bethlehem, Pa., and Ellen Richardson of Pawleys Island.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at April 27 at 1 p.m. at Precious Blood of Christ Catholic Church. 

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Tidelands Hospice at tidelandshospice.org.

Nina S. Bryant, 96, former Litchfield resident

April 18, 2024

Nina Sears Bryant, a former Litchfield Country Club resident, died March 23 in Charleston. She was 96.

She was born Sept. 2, 1927, in East Bend, N.C., one of 11 children born to Early Gray Sears and Etta Davis Sears, a tobacco farming family in Yadkin County. In her teen years, Nina moved to Kernersville, N.C., and graduated from Mineral Springs High School. In 1951, she married Marshall G. Bryant in Winston-Salem, N.C. They had met during high school and remained married for 58 years until his death in January 2010. 

During their time in Winston Salem, Mrs. Bryant was active in numerous community and church organizations while also raising her children, Linda and Marshall Jr. From 1962 to 1969 opportunities at Bell Laboratories took the Bryant family to Lincroft, N.J., where a third child, Mark, was born. 

In 1969, the family relocated to Basking Ridge, N.J., where Mrs. Bryant was active in the Basking Ridge Presbyterian Church, the Garden Club, PTA, volunteer work at the Lyons VA hospital and many more community endeavors. In 1987, Nina and Marshall retired to Pawleys Island, where she remained active in the Presbyterian church and was especially supportive of Brookgreen Gardens. 

From her humble upbringing in East Bend, Mrs. Bryant eventually traveled much of North and South America and Europe with her husband and good friends. She remained an avid gardener and tennis player into her late 80s.  

She is survived by her children, Linda Bryant Reeves (Tony) of Beaufort, Marshall G. Bryant Jr. of Myrtle Beach and Mark G. Bryant of Charleston.

Memorials may be made to Brookgreen Gardens at brookgreen.org.

Mike Kinsey, 62, design consultant

April 11, 2024

Joseph Michael Kinsey Jr. of Murrells Inlet died April 8 at his home with his wife, daughter and sister at his side after a long and courageous battle with cancer. He was 61.

Known as Mike, he was born Feb. 1, 1963, the son of Joseph Kinsey Sr. and the late Barbara P. Kinsey. He earned a bachelor’s degree and an MBA from the University of South Carolina. He was the top design consultant at Carolina Home Exteriors for many years.

Mr. Kinsey was remembered as a devoted husband and father who enjoyed spending time with his family. He also enjoyed being on the water, attending Carolina football games, trips to Santee with his father and visiting friends on his golf cart. 

In addition to his father, he is survived by his wife, Dana S. Kinsey; his daughter, Katie Kinsey; his sister, Laura Heath (Tootie); his stepsister, Mary Jo Burgess (Jim); his stepbrothers, Arnie Graham (Darlene) and Chris Graham (Amy); his father in-law, Richard Sinners; his sister in-law, Brandy Davis (Nick); his nephews, Stewart Heath (Maddie), J.C. Heath and Nexsen Davis; and his niece, Eliza Davis. 

His mother in-law, Gerrie Sinners, and another nephew, Dillon Davis, died before him.

A celebration of his life will be held Friday at noon at Belin Memorial United Methodist Church with interment following in the church cemetery.  The family will receive friends at the church from 11 a.m. to noon.

Memorials may be made to the John Landon Black Foundation, P.O. Box 65, Manning, SC 29102, (Jlblackfoundation.org) or to Belin Memorial United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 528, Murrells Inlet, SC 29576.

Betty W. Joye, 78, led recreation programs

March 14, 2024

Betty Wescott Joye of Murrells Inlet died March 4 after a long battle with leukemia. She was 78.

She was born on July 3, 1945, in Honolulu, the daughter of Charles Wescott and Leatrice Tamanaha Wescott. After graduating from Admiral Radford High School, she attended the University of Hawaii in Honolulu and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in recreational leadership. 

Following graduation she decided to go to stay with relatives in Tokyo. Her plane ticket routed her via Guam, so she decided to lay over there and visit family friends at the Naval Air Station. Having extended her stay another day, she met her future husband, Jerry. After dinner and a show that night, she gave him her mother’s address so he could write and left the next morning for Tokyo. Her mother forwarded his letters to her, and she began to correspond with him saying, “If you’re ever in Tokyo look me up.” 

Two weeks later he did visit. Shortly thereafter, she returned to Guam, and they were married on Christmas Eve 1972. Their son Jerry Jr., known as JJ, was born nine months later. 

Mr. Joye had two children from a previous marriage who were living with their mother in California. About a year after JJ’s birth Jerry was notified of their mother’s passing so he brought them to Guam. Betty welcomed them and helped to raise them as her own. When Mr. Joye retired from the Navy, they returned to his home state of South Carolina and settled in Pawleys Island. 

Over the years Mrs. Joye used her recreational leadership skills in many ways. She was a certified personal trainer, led classes in aerobics, water aerobics, special water aerobics for arthritic patients, served as recreation director at a major hotel in Myrtle Beach and owners’ clubhouse director for a retirement community in Pawleys Island. 

The couple attended All Saints Episcopal Church and were very active in various programs and in the Cursillo movement. Mrs. Joye served on 10 Cursillo weekend retreats, once as the lay rector leading the event. She accompanied Mr. Joye wherever his job took them until he retired in Santa Clarita, Calif. They spent two and a half years working and living in Yellowstone National Park and enjoyed exploring Wyoming, Montana and Idaho. Returning to South Carolina, they became founding members of The Abbey Anglican Church. 

In addition to her husband, she is survived by her son Keith (Debbie) of Tabor City, N.C., her daughter Karen of Surfside Beach and her son JJ (Magda) of Sydney, Australia; her  grandchildren, Angela Walls (Jim), Kara Bigham (Mike), Ashley Miller (Eric), Victoria Joye and Rheanna Adams, Cassie, Ian and Luke Joye; and her great-grandchildren, Steven and Madison Bigham, Brantley and Tucker Rorie, Ike, Cloe and Jacoby Blanton, William (Olivia), Ryan, Elizabeth and Amelia Walls. 

Another grandchild, Christa Blanton, died before her.

At her request, no funeral service will be held. A celebration of her life will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to The Abbey, 46 Gathering Lane, Pawleys Island, SC 29585 (theabbeypawleysisland.com).

John Haney, 78, Navy veteran was entrepreneur

March 7, 2024

John Daniel Haney III of Georgetown died March 3 at his home. He was 78.

He was born on Feb. 23, 1946, in Charlotte, the son of John D. Haney Jr. and Ada Eunice Philemon Haney.

Mr. Haney served in the Navy before turning his skills as a jack-of-all-trades into a career as a successful entrepreneur who owned several companies. His eye for detail and passion for helping those in need, translated to his everyday tasks.

In his free time, he enjoyed fishing, collecting things and bartering with his friends.

He is survived by his children, John D. Haney IV of North Carolina, Mary Vause (Michael) of Georgetown and J.R Haney (Katherine) of Myrtle Beach; his grandchildren, Damian Boggs, Lisa Renee Rhodes, Anthony Clyde Boggs Jr. and Jesse Cordell Mims; 10 great-grandchildren; his sister, Ann Kiser of North Carolina; his cat, Sierra; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.

His brother, Tony Dean Haney, and another sister, Rita Cash Haney, died before him.

A celebration of his life will be held from noon to 4 p.m. Friday at the Georgetown VFW Post.

Memorials may be made to Christ Coastal Church, P.O. Box 11107, Southport, NC 28461.

There is a guest book at burroughsfh.com.

Shawn M. Bergeron, 49, social worker ran counseling service

March 7, 2024

Shawn Michael Bergeron of Murrells Inlet died March 2. He was 49. 

He was born Jan. 20, 1975, in Portsmouth, N.H., the son of Richard and Cathy A. Bergeron. He grew up in Exeter, N.H., graduating from Exeter High School in 1993. He then graduated from Mount Saint Mary’s College in Emmitsburg, Md., in 1997 with a degree in psychology. He earned a master’s degree in social work from the University of New Hampshire, Durham, in 2003 and his independent social worker-clinical practice designation in 2010.  

Mr. Bergeron loved being a social worker, first working with children and adolescents in a residential facility in Hampton, N.H. Once he earned his MSW, he worked with teens in a treatment program until 2004, when he relocated to Murrells Inlet.

Mr. Bergeron opened Bergeron Counseling Services in 2011. After he closed it he worked at the VA Hospital in the clinical department. He also served as the counselor of the Grand Strand Chapter of fairwaysforwarriors.org, an organization that helps combat veterans.

He enjoyed spending time with friends and family and was an avid volunteer. He loved helping to coach his daughters’ soccer and basketball teams.  

After watching the girls’ karate classes, he worked hard and earned his black belt in 2021. 

He is survived by his wife, Eryn; his daughters, Emma and Addyson; his brother, Christopher and his wife, Tia, of Pawleys Island; his niece, Kim, and nephew, Tyle; and several aunts, uncles and cousins. 

A celebration of his life will be held at 6 p.m. today at Burroughs Funeral Home. A funeral Mass will take place at noon on Friday at Precious Blood of Christ Catholic Church.

Memorials can be made to his children’s education funds at Future Scholar 529, Peabody Wealth Advisors 150A Andover St., Suite 10A Danvers, MA 01923.

Andy Heck, 79, football career cut short by service in Marines

March 7, 2024

Andrew  Wallace Heck of Litchfield Country Club, a football player who became a decorated Marine, died Feb. 29. He was 79. He was remembered for his charm, courage, resilience and compassion.

He was born Aug. 24, 1944, the son of Leroy Cameron Heck and Margaret Anderson Heck. He grew up in Cliffside Park, N.J. Andy excelled in athletics and built cherished lifelong friendships. His early success led to many accolades including an induction into the Cliffside Park High School Hall of Fame. He began his football career at McCook College in Nebraska, where he was named a junior college football All-American. He then played running back at Wake Forest University, exemplifying teamwork and dedication. 

Upon graduation, he went on to play in the Canadian Football League. His time with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats was cut short by service in the Marine Corps during the Vietnam War. He earned two Purple Hearts and a Bronze Star.

After his discharge, Mr. Heck had a prosperous career with International Paper, which brought his family to Pawleys Island. He spent the last two years prior to his retirement as the president of Sylvania Lighting US. 

He had a sweet tooth as big as his heart, and his generosity knew no bounds, his family said. Mr. Heck gave back to his community through mentorship, guiding and inspiring countless individuals with his wisdom and compassion. This also extended to his canine companion, Oscar, who was the recipient of morning coffee chats and shared ice cream bars. 

He is survived by his wife of 53 years Marnie Stanley Heck; his sons, Cameron, Dylan and Ryan; his daughters-in-law, Paige and Erin; and his grandchildren, Cullen, Catherine, Andie and Rhodes. 

His brother, Roy Carl Heck, died before him. 

A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday at Precious Blood of Christ Catholic Church.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association.