Jan. 29, 2008

William M. ‘Bill’ Burch
CHESTERFIELD— William M. “Bill” Burch, 77, died Jan. 20, 2008. A funeral service was held Jan. 24 at Miller-Rivers-Caulder Funeral Home Chapel.
Burch was born in Wallace, S.C., a son of the late Robert Huntley and Bernice Threadgill Burch. He joined the Army at the end of WWII, and served with the occupation forces in Germany. He was also a Korean War Veteran surviving several heavy engagements. He ultimately retired from the U.S. Army in 1974 as a Sergeant First Class. Burch also served as a Chesterfield Town Council member from 1977 to 1983. He was also a retiree of the Lancaster County School District, serving in a variety of positions. He was a member of Chesterfield American Legion Post 74.
Burch was preceded in death by brothers Robert H. Burch Jr., Frank M. Burch, and Darrell Dominique Burch, and by three sisters, Sarah B. Horton, Betty Lou Burch, and Lillian Burch.
Surviving are wife Teresa McDermott Burch; sons Randell (April) Burch, of Beaufort, S.C. and Bill (Holly) Burch, of Fort Mill, S.C.; grandchildren Camille, Autumn, Tristan, and Abigail Burch; and sister Laura Burch Hunt, of Chesterfield. Memorials may be made to a charity of one’s choice. Miller-Rivers-Caulder Funeral Home of Chesterfield is in charge of services.

Gary Evan Douglas Jr.
RUBY — Gary Evan Douglas Jr., 78, died Friday, Jan. 18, 2008. A funeral service was held Jan. 23 at Chesterfield Baptist Church.
Douglas was born in 1929 in Kingstree, S.C., a son of the late Gary Evan Douglas Sr. and Edith Anderson Douglas. He was a graduate of Furman University and received his Masters degree from the University of South Carolina. Douglas taught for four years at the Hawaiian Baptist Academy, and retired as principal of Ruby Elementary School with 32 years of service. He was a U.S. Navy veteran and was a member of Chesterfield Baptist Church. Gary enjoyed music and was a very talented organist, pianist, and composer.
He was preceded in death by brother William K. Douglas.
Surviving are his wife of 25 years, Zada Graham Gulledge Douglas; stepdaughter, Carol Ann Gulledge; feline granddaughter Gracie, who he loved very much; special sister-in-law Amelia Potts Graham, of Fort Mills, S.C., and numerous special cousins.
Memorials can be made to Paws and Claws, P.O. Box 386, Chesterfield, S.C. 29709. Miller-Rivers-Caulder of Chesterfield is in charge of services.

Kendal Funderburk
PAGELAND — Kendal Funderburk, 17, died Jan. 21, 2008.
Born in Chesterfield County, he was the son of Marlowe and Ann Eubanks Funderburk. In addition to his parents, he is survived by his grandfather, Darrel Funderburk; brothers Dustin Funderburk, Brian Hicks, and Cory Funderburk, all of Pageland; aunts Debbie Sparlin, of Pageland and Martha Eubanks, of Charlotte, N.C.
Services were held Jan. 24 at First Presbyterian Church with burial at Greenlawn Memorial Park.
Sutton Funeral Home is in charge of services.

Calvin Hancock
PAGELAND — Calvin Hancock, 84, died Monday, Jan. 24, 2008.
Born in Chesterfield County, S.C., he was the son of the late Lester and Daisy Jane Rollings Hancock. Surviving are son Calvin, of Pageland; brother Fred Hancock, of Lancaster; sisters Grace Hancock, Kathleen Baker, and Dot Gulledge, of Kannapolis, N.C., Myrtle Jordan, of Mt. Croghan, and Billie Jean Knight, of Pageland.
A funeral service was held Jan. 23 at First Presbyterian Church with burial at Rose Hill Cemetery.
Memorials can be made to the First Presbyterian Church Development Center.
Sutton Funeral Home is in charge of services.

Carroll Junior Melton
JEFFERSON — Carroll Junior Melton, 58, died Jan. 16, 2008. A memorial service was held Jan. 19 at Bethel Baptist Church.
Born in Mt. Croghan, Melton was a son of Preston and Gladys Jackson Melton. He was a retired forklift operator with Tucker Lumber Company.
Surviving are longtime companion Dot S. Owens, of Camden, S.C.; son Michael (Pam) Melton, of Ruby; daughter Connie (Charles) Hannah, of Chesterfield; sister Doris Melton, of Cheraw; stepsons Randy (Debbie) Cassidy, of Bishopville, S.C., and Darrel (Brenda) Cassidy, of Camden; stepdaughters Tammie (Perry) Johnson, of McBee, and Robin Williams, of Camden; grandchildren Ashley (Chris) Stancil, Kimberly Black, and Samantha Black, and twelve step grandchildren.
Miller-Rivers-Caulder Funeral Home of Chesterfield is serving the Melton family.

Russell Charles Rhode
CHESTERFIELD — Russell Charles Rhode, 79, died Jan. 20, 2008. A funeral service was held Jan. 23 at Shiloh United Methodist Church with interment following in the church cemetery.
Rhode was born in Jonestown, Pa., and was a son of the late William Peter and Rose Ann Gilbert Rhode. He helped establish Chesterfield Manufacturing Company and retired after 25 years in management. Rhode was an active member of Shiloh United Methodist Church were he was a choir member, a member of the United Methodist Men, and a member of the Men’s Bible Class. Russell was an avid fisherman and enjoyed traveling and camping.
He was preceded in death by his first wife, Alice Rhode; infant daughter Annette Rhode; stepson Weldon Rivers; sisters Elsie (Mike) Walker and Alma (Dick) Degler; and brother Arthur (Alma) Rhode.
Sutton Funeral Home is in charge of services.

Billy Ray Sullivan
ROCK HILL — Billy Ray Sullivan, 75, of 123 Alabama Court, died Jan. 23, 2008 at his home.
Funeral services were held Jan. 25 at Park Baptist Church with the Rev. Randy Hatcher officiating and the Rev. William H. Elder assisting. Burial will follow at Grandview Memorial Park on Cherry Road.
A native of Chesterfield County, Sullivan was a son of the late William Columbus Sullivan and the late Millie Edith Kirkley. He was a member of Park Baptist and retired from Rock Hill Printing & Finishing Company and the S.C. National Guard after serving both for 32 years.
He was preceded in death by grandsons James and Kenneth Elder; brothers Clyde, Russell, Finley, Harold, Conley, Zeddie, and Winston Sullivan; and sisters Macie, Gracie, Frankie Sullivan, and Myrtle Matthews.
Sullivan is survived by his wife of 56 years, Mary Lee Miles Sullivan, of the home; sons Donald Ray Sullivan and wife, Michelle, and Timothy Frank Sullivan and wife, Rosemary, all of Rock Hill; daughters Mary Elizabeth Elder and husband, William H. (Buzzy), Patricia (Patti) S. Roach and husband, Drake, all of Rock Hill; brother Howard Sullivan and wife, Fannie, of Rock Hill; his sister, Gertrude Hatcher, of Jefferson; grandchildren Mike Elder and wife, Barrett, Casey Elder, Katie R. Conant and husband, Cliff, Kara Roach, Adam Sullivan, Miles Sullivan, and Reid Sullivan; and great-grandchildren Justin, Andy, Jackson, and Anna Quinn Elder.
Memorials can be made to Hospice & Community Care, PO Box 993, Rock Hill, S.C. 29731 or Park Baptist Church, 717 E. Main St., Rock Hill, S.C. 29730.

Ray Kenneth Watson Sr.
CHESTERFIELD — Ray Kenneth Watson Sr., 70, died Jan. 18, 2008. A funeral service was held Jan. 21 at Ebenezer United Methodist Church.
Born in Chesterfield, Watson was a son of the late Tom and Geneva Allen Watson. He was a retired electrician with Cooper Tools and owner and operator of Watson’s Electric. He was a member of Ebenezer United Methodist Church and Chesterfield Masonic Lodge #220. He was a U.S. Navy Veteran and an avid fisherman.
Watson was preceded in death by brother Tom Perry Watson and sisters Audrey Lampley, Dorothy Glover, and Jean Chisholm.
Surviving are wife Elizabeth Morton Watson; sons Ray K. (Debbie) Watson and Jason (Jean) Watson, both of Chesterfield; daughters Crystal W. (Sid) Newman, of Sumter, S.C., Connie W. (Chris) Page, of Chesterfield, and Donna W. (Bronson) Eslick, of Patrick; brother Rev. Jerry (Betty) Watson, of Sumter, and 11 grandchildren.
Memorials can be made to Hospice of Chesterfield County, P.O. Box 293, Chesterfield, S.C. 29709.
Miller-Rivers-Caulder Funeral Home of Chesterfield is serving the Watson Family.