Nov. 6, 2007

Nora Bell Boan Brigman
CHERAW - Nora Bell Boan Brigman, 82, died Oct. 31, 2007. A funeral service was held Nov. 3 at Miller-Rivers-Caulder Funeral Home Chapel with burial in Chatham Hill Memorial Gardens.
Brigman, born in Patrick, was a daughter of the late Maggie Boan. She was a homemaker.
She was preceded in death by husbands, Wilford Wallace and Doss Brigman; brother R.J.Boan; sister Pauline Crowley.
Surviving are daughters Wilma (David) McDowell and Bonnie W. Riggan both of Cheraw; sisters Sweetie Lee Williams of Ruby and Louise Crowley of Patrick; sister-in-law Blanche Boan of Patrick; eight grandchildren Danny (Donna) Wallace, Vicky (Jason) Dunn, Gloria (David) Curtis, David (Wendy) McDowell, Jr., Steven (Lori) Purvis, Robin (Andy) Taylor, Torie (Gerald Ammons) Riggan and Robert B. Riggan; 15 great grandchildren.
Miller-Rivers-Caulder Funeral Home of Chesterfield was in charge of the arrangements.

William Kenneth ‘Kenny’ Gandy Sr.
SOCIETY HILL, S.C. – William Kenneth “Kenny” Gandy, 71, died Oct. 30, 2007 at his home. A graveside service was held Nov. 2 at Society Hill Presbyterian Church cemetery.
Gandy, born in Darlington County, was a son of the late Edward Samuel and Martha Heyward Gandy. He was a retired textile employee.
He was preceded in death by wife Mildred Byrd Gandy; brother Charles “Sonny Boy” Gandy.
Surviving are sons, William (Joy) Gandy, Jr., Eddie (Gloria) Gandy and Larry Dean (Donna Boan) Gandy all of Society Hill, S.C.; daughter Denise (Frank) Dixon of Hartsville, S.C.; sisters Ruth (Albert) Keith of Cheraw, Jean (Eulas) Bryant of Darlington, S.C., Doris (Roger) Monast of Charleston, S.C. and Susan Joann Gandy of Mt. Pleasant, S.C.; eight grandchildren and five great grandchildren.
Miller-Rivers-Caulder Funeral Home of Chesterfield was in charge of the arrangements.

William Gary Laney
PAGELAND – William Gary Laney, 70, died Oct. 30, 2007. A funeral service was held Nov. 1 at First Freewill Baptist Church with burial in White Plains Baptist Church cemetery.
Laney, born in Chesterfield County, was a son of Susie K. Laney and the late Minor Laney. He was a retired employee of Springs Industries with 28 years of service. Following his retirement, he worked with McManus Logging. He was a member of First Freewill Baptist Church.
He was preceded in death by sons, Milton and Gary Laney; daughter Sylvia Ann Laney; brothers Pete and Edward Laney; sisters Lessie Hargett and Catherine Outen.
Surviving are wife of 41 years Betty S. Laney; son Michael (Bobbie Jean) Laney of Pageland; daughters Wanda (Les) Worth of Charlotte, N.C., Irene (Willie) Chapple, Barbara Ann (George) Langley and Angie (Donald) Langley all of Pageland; mother; brothers Roy and Richard Laney both of Pageland, Bill Laney of Lancaster, S.C.; sisters Carolyn Oliver, Jo Ann West, Louise Nichols and Frances Stevenson all of Pageland; 14 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren.
Memorials can be sent to Hospice of Chesterfield County, P.O. Box 293, Chesterfield, S.C. 29709.
Miller-Rivers-Caulder Funeral Home of Chesterfield was in charge of the arrangements.

Robert A. Raley
JEFFERSON – Robert A. Raley, 79, died Oct. 31, 2007. A funeral service was held Nov. 2 at Jefferson United Methodist Church with burial in Jefferson cemetery.
Raley, born in Jefferson, was a son of the late Mack Andrew and Ethel Reeves Raley. He was a lifelong member of Jefferson United Methodist Church where he served throughout the years on the Administrative Board, as Superintendent of Sunday School and on the Pastor/Parish Relations Committee. A veteran of the United States Navy, he later spent a year at Presbyterian Junior College and two years at Newberry College. He worked for many years as a farmer on the land that he loved and also ran Raley Hardware Store following his father’s death. He began a lifetime of service as a member of the Chesterfield County Council for more than two decades. He also served in the South Carolina House of Representatives for two terms, where he was a member of the Ways and Means Committee. He held several offices in the Jefferson Post of American Legion, was a Veteran’s Service Officer and was currently serving as a town council member for the town of Jefferson. With his late wife Polly, he also served on various AARP committees and worked to establish branch libraries in the communities throughout Chesterfield County. He completed her term and a subsequent term on the Chesterfield County Library Board.
He was preceded in death by wife of 49 years Pauline Rowell Raley; brother Joseph Mack Raley. Surviving are daughter Paulette (Tom) Rayfield; granddaughters Kerry (Hunter) Bowie, Lindsay (Tarek) Elshazly and Ali Rebecca Rayfield; countless friends in Jefferson and throughtout the state of South Carolina.
Memorials can be sent to Jefferson United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 308, Jefferson, S.C. 29718; Sandhills Volunteer Fire Department, 2496 Sandy Run Creek Road, Jefferson, S.C. 29718 and the Fannie D. Lowery Memorial Library, 500 N. Main St. Jefferson, S.C.
Sutton Funeral Home of Pageland was in charge of the arrangements.

Ross Ratliff Sr.
CHESTERFIELD - Ross Ratliff Sr., 87, died Oct. 25, 2007 at his home. A funeral service was held Oct. 28 at Miller-Rivers-Caulder Funeral Home Chapel with burial in Elizabeth Baptist Church cemetery with Masonic Rites.
Ratliff, born in Chesterfield County, was a son of the late David Mack and Claudia Poe Rodgers Ratliff. He was a 1941 graduate of Mt. Croghan High School. He was retired from J.P.Steven with 35 years of employment, after which he was employed with Chesterfield County for 18 years. He was a faithful member of Oakland Baptist Church, where he served as former Deacon, Sunday School teacher and Choir Director. He was a Master Mason for 63 years with Chesterfield Masonic Lodge #220.
He was preceded in death by wife Miriam Stroud Ratliff.
Surviving are son Charlie Ross (Clara) Ratliff, Jr. of Charleston, S.C.; daughter Patricia Elaine (Lamar) Smith of Midland, N.C.;sister Lena Brooks of Chesterfield; four grandchildren Ginger (Chip) Gulledge, Channing (Samantha) Smith, Aggie (Richard) Moore and Katelyn Ratliff; four great grandchildren Carly Gulledge, Cory Adams, Ethan and Rhett Moore.
Memorials can be sent to Oakland Baptist Church, 749 T.S.Sellers Rd., Chesterfield, S.C. 29709 or Hospice of Chesterfield County, P.O. Box 293, Chesterfield, S.C. 29709.
Miller-Rivers-Caulder Funeral Home of Chesterfield was in charge of the arrangements.

Willie Rorie Threatt
MONROE, N.C. – Willie Rorie Threatt, 87, died Oct. 30, 2007. A funeral service was held Nov. 2 at Beulah Presbyterian Church.
Threatt, born in Union County, was a daughter of the late John and Gertrude Melton Rorie. She was a member of Beulah Presbyterian Church.
She was preceded in death by husband John Lincoln Threatt; sons Larry and Arnold Threatt.
Surviving are sisters Ruth Rorie Threatt and Vera Lee Rorie Martin both of Monroe, N.C.; brothers Bronze Heath Rorie of Pageland and John Junior Rorie of Monroe, N.C.; four grandchildren Lisa (Greg) Funderburk, Lori (Wayne) Usry, Mike (Megan) Threatt, Eddie (Joan) Threatt and 10 great grandchildren. Memorials can be sent to Beulah Presbyterian Church.
Sutton Funeral Home of Pageland was in charge of the arrangements.

Eva Mae Truesdale Welch
JEFFERSON - Eva Mae Truesdale Welch, 91, died Oct. 27, 2007. A funeral service was held Nov. 1 at Mt. Canaan Baptist Church with burial in church cemetery.
Welch, born in Lancaster County, was a daughter of the late Moses and Lottie Thompson Truesdale. She was a faithful member of the Mt. Canaan Baptist Church, Jefferson for over 60 years where she served as assistant church clerk, intermediate and adult Sunday School teacher, chaplain of missionary ministry, book choir leader, senior choir. She was a member of the Golden Gate Lodge Chapter #234 in Kershaw, S.C. where she served as Worthy Matron and associate Matron until her health declined.
She was preceded in death by eight sisters, three brothers, grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Surviving are son Johnny Welch of Jefferson; daughters Mary (Otis) Sowell, Martha Dunlap, Susie Blakeney all of Jefferson, Pauline Duren of Charlotte, N.C. and Voncille Copney of Pageland; 30 grandchildren, 40 great grandchildren and 25 great great grandchildren a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
Flemming Funeral Home, Pageland, was in charge of the arrangements.

Robert Adair Williamson
ANDERSON, S.C. - Robert Adair Williamson, 75, died Oct. 30, 2007 at Richard M. Campbell Veterans Nursing Home.
A funeral service was held Nov. 2 at Boulevard Baptist Church, Anderson, S.C. with burial in Providence Baptist Church cemetery Pageland.
Williamson, born in Lynchburg, VA, was a son of the late Horry and Gussie Adair Williamson. He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War, was a graduate of Furman University and received his Masters Degree from Southern Seminary. He served as Minister of Music at First Baptist Church, Lancaster, S.C. from 1959-1967 and retired after serving as Minister of Music at Northgate Baptist Church, Greenville, S.C. for 31 years. He was a member of Boulevard Baptist Church, Anderson, S.C.
He was preceded in death by brothers Harold and Charles Williamson.
Surviving are son Robert Adair (Cindy) Williamson, Jr. of Lancaster, S.C.; daughter Angie (Brett) Jones of Anderson, S.C.; two grandchildren Benjamin Regan Jones and Shelby Adair Jones; brother Harry (Mary Jo) Williamson of Oxford, GA. Memorials can be sent to American Diabetes Association, P.O. Box 11454, Alexandria, VA 22312.
Sullivan-King Mortuary, Northeast Chapel, Anderson, S.C., was in charge of the arrangements.