April 22, 2008

Bobby Lee Deese
RUBY — Bobby Lee Deese, 70, died April 12, 2008 at his home. A funeral service was held April 15, 2008 at Miller-Rivers-Caulder Funeral Home Chapel with burial in the Clanton Plains Baptist Church cemetery.
Deese, born in Chesterfield, a son of the late Maxie and Iris James Deese. He was a retired employee of the S.C. Department of Transportation. Deese was a U.S. Army Veteran and a member of Clanton Plains Baptist Church. Bobby was an avid outdoorsman, and enjoyed hunting, fishing, and gardening. He was preceded in death by his daughter, Teresa Gulledge; brothers, M.C. “Teat”, Carl, John Henry, and Billy Deese; and sisters, Louise Gulledge, and Carolyn “Peachie” Odom.
Surviving are: wife, Iris Ratliff Deese of the home; sons, Bobby Lee Deese, Jr. of Key West, FL, Stewart (Cindy) Gibson of Chesterfield, and Randall (Angie) Gibson of Ruby; daughters, Charlotte Deese (Daniel) Rivers of Columbia, S.C., and Rena (J.D.) Albright of Ruby; sisters, Lois “Tiny” Jones of Kannapolis, N.C., Betty (Carroll) Perdue of Patrick, S.C., Dot (Tommy) Jordan of Cheraw, Sylvia “Syble” Winstead of Chesterfield; also: 15 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren;
special buddy: Bubba Gulledge of Ruby.
Memorials may be made to Hospice of Chesterfield County, P.O. Box 293, Chesterfield, S.C. 29709.
Miller-Rivers-Caulder Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.

Robert ‘Bro’ Lee Dennis Sr.
CHERAW — Robert ‘Bro’ Lee Dennis Sr., 87, died April 6, 2008. Funeral services were held April 12 at the Flemming Funeral Chapel in Cheraw. He was the son of the late D. V. Brundage and Jordan Dennis and was born August 23, 1920 in Eatonton, Georgia. Robert was educated in the Eatonton public schools system. He met and married Eloise Sasnett on April 13, 1940 in Eatonton, Georgia and to this union eight children were born. The family relocated to Miami, Florida in 1944. Robert worked for Standard Oil Company for many years. Robert served in the United States Navy and enlisted in the services on April 24, 1944. He retired from Miami Service Company and later moved to Cheraw and lived in the Chesterfield Court Apartments. He was preceded in death by a loving wife, Eloise; a son, Robert Jr.; a daughter, Amelia Bradely; three grandchildren, Ralph McQueen, Gregory Allen, and Kaseem Bradley; a great grandchild, Kayla M. Dider; a sister, Louise Edwards, and a beloved son-in-law, Hazel McQueen. Survivors include two sons, Lee Andrew Dennis and Eugene Dennis, both of Miami, Fla.; a step son, Faite (Barbara) Millines of Oxnard, C.A.; three daughters, Dorothy Hildreth, Marjorie (Andrew) Allen, both of Miami, Fla., and Gloria McQueen of Cheraw; a nephew, Sanford (Lois) Edwards of Macon, Ga.; his beloved caregiver, Tawana Carmichael of Cheraw; his nurse, Barbara Watson of Cheraw; thirty grandchildren, sixty-nine great grandchildren and four great-great grandchildren and a host of other relatives and friends.

Mary Ella Horton
SUMMERVILLE, S.C.- Mary Ella Horton died April 7, 2008, at the Presbyterian Village in Summerville, S.C. Horton was the daughter of the late Herbert A. Horton, Sr., and Alice Mackey Horton of Lancaster, S.C.
She was born in Heath Springs, S.C. in 1910, and moved to Lancaster, S.C. where she and her brothers and sister attended school. She received her BA from Winthrop University, Graduating with a major in French in 1931. She taught school in Chesterfield and Abbeville, S.C. for several years before moving to Norfolk, Va. where She worked for the Naval Supply Center until retiring. She was a housemother at Salem Academy in Winston Salem, N.C. for a number of years before finally retiring and returning to Lancaster, S.C. She was a member of the First Presbyterian Church, Lancaster, S.C.
Survivors include her brother, Paul M. Horton, Sr., brother-in-law, Kenneth M. Calder both residents of the Presbyterian Home, Summerville, S.C., three nephews, P. Mac Horton, Jr. of Columbia, S.C., William L.B. Horton and M. Dan Horton both of Charleston. She was preceded in death by a sister, Marian H. Calder, and a brother, Herbert A. Horton, Jr. Interment will be held later in Westside Cemetery, Lancaster, S.C. Memorials maybe sent to your favorite charity, The Presbyterian Church or to Thornwell Home for Children, Post Office Box 60, Clinton, S.C. 29325-0060.

James Atwood McCain Jr.
PAGELAND — James Atwood McCain Jr., 55, died April 4, 2008 at McDowell Hospital in Marion, N.C. He was the son of the late James and Florie Shropshire McCain, Sr. He joined the First Kershaw Baptist Church at an early age, serving faithfully and in 2003 joined the Rosehill Missionary Baptist Church where he served as a faithful member. He was a member of the trustee ministries, very attentive in Sunday school. He loved reading the Bible and studying his Sunday school literature. He was preceded in death by a brother, Warrdell T. McCain, and a sister, Hattie E. McCain. Survivors include his wife, Dallas B. McCain; two sons, Darrel Dehon McCain and Timothy McCain both of Cassett, S.C.; four daughters, Shantenna Jett of Cassett, S.C., Lakesia McCain of Fort Mill, S.C., Yolana McCain and Erika McCain both of the home; four brothers, Willie F. (Annie Lou) McCain, Hazel L. (Anita) McCain both of Kershaw, S.C., William B. (Mary) McCain of Heath Springs, S.C. and Gary T. McCain of McCormick, S.C.; two sisters, Brenda (Curtis) Collins and Mary L. Clark both of both of Kershaw; a special uncle, George (Willene) Shropshire; three aunts, May Fredia Shropshire, Mable Shropshire and Dorothy Truesdale all of Kershaw; grandchildren, Daisean McCain, Darius Myers, Marquez McCain, and Isis McCain; a mother-in-law, Mavis T. Blakeney; sisters-in-law, Delores Baker, Nettie Threatt, and Maggie Funderburk all of Pageland; brothers-in-law, James Blakeney, Randolph Blakeney both of Lancaster; Lannie Blakeney and George Blakeney both of Pageland; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

Terry Fields McLain
JEFFERSON — Terry Fields McLain, 59, died April 10, 2008. A funeral service will be held at a later date.
McClain, born in Orangeburg, S.C. a daughter of the late Ergenia Robinson Gleaton and John Andrew and Melba Hightower Fields. She was a homemaker.
Surviving are: husband, Glen Earle McClain of the home; sons, Timmy E. McClain and Jimmy F. (Zedra Clanton) Catoe of Jefferson, and Jay (Linda) Fields of Florence, S.C.; daughter, Kathy (Joey) Belk of Jefferson; brothers, twin brother Kerry Wayne Robinson of Windsor, S.C., Bobby Robinson of Orangeburg, S.C., Glenn Gleaton of Cordova, S.C., David Gleaton and Jack Gleaton of Orangeburg, S.C.; sisters, Linda Martin and Savon Bowick of Orangeburg, S.C.; also 12 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
Miller-Rivers-Caulder Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.

Eugene H. Melton
HARTSVILLE - Eugene H. Melton, 95, died April 14, 2008. Funeral services were held April 16 at the chapel of Norton Funeral Home. Dr. Gary Colboch will officiate. Burial will be in Magnolia Cemetery.
Melton was born in Chesterfield Co., a son of the late Eli Hampton and Emma Hendrix Melton. He was a member of Emmanuel Baptist Church, Living Hope SS Class, and had retired from Kendall Mills.
Surviving are his wife: Florence Melton; sons: Dennis (Fran) Melton, Danny (Judy) Melton; daughter-in-law: Brenda Melton, all of Hartsville; 9 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Christine Melton and a son, Eugene F. Melton Sr. Memorials may be made to the Emmanuel Baptist Church Building Fund, 949 North Marquis Hwy., Hartsville, S.C. 29550, American Heart Association, 181 E Evans St., Florence, S.C. 29506 or American Cancer Society, 128 Stonemark Lane, Columbia, S.C. 29210.

Azilee Carter Poston
KERSHAW—Azilee Carter Poston, 76, died April 14, 2008 at her home. Funeral services were held April 16 at Haile Gold Mine Baptist Church with burial following in the church cemetery. Born in Lancaster, she was the daughter of the late Frank and Ella Cook Carter. She was a retired seamstress and a member of Haile Gold Mine Baptist Church. Surviving are two daughters, Vicky (David) West of Pageland and Patricia (Edward) Plyler of Monroe, N.C.; a son, Ricky (Margaret) Poston of Kershaw; seven grandchildren, seven great grandchildren, and a sister, Annie Mae Sistare of Lancaster. She was preceded in death by two sons, Danny Poston and Edward Poston. Memorial contributions may be made to The American Diabetes Association, Attention: National Call Center, 1701 N. Beauregard Street, Alexandria, VA 22311. Baker Funeral Home is serving the family of Poston.

Melba Wilkerson Shepherd
PATRICK - Melba Wilkerson Shepherd, 61, died April 15, 2008. Services were held April 17 at Miller-Rivers-Caulder Funeral Home Chapel. Internment followed at Bay Springs Baptist Church Cemetery.
Shepherd was born in Chesterfield, a daughter of the late Arthur and Naomi Gooden Wilkerson. She was a retired store manager having worked with Shoe Show and Barbee’s Jewelry. Melba was a member of Bay Springs Baptist Church and attended Refuge Baptist Church. She was a loving Wife, Mama, and Nana.
Survivors include Husband: Freddie Shepherd of the home; son Russ (Lynn) Shepherd of Patrick; daughter: Renee (Michael) Valdaliso of Patrick; brothers: William (Vernie) Wilkerson and Bobby (Sue) Wilkerson of Cheraw, and Thomas Wilkerson of Patrick; grandchildren Logan Shepherd and Kyle Valdaliso.
Miller-Rivers-Caulder Funeral Home of Chesterfield is serving the Shepherd Family.