Category Archives: Obituaries
Courier Obituaries 11-21-18
KATHY KELLEY REECE
CENTRAL — Kathy Kelley Reece, 68, passed from this life on Friday, Nov. 9, 2018, after a long illness, at her sister’s (Anita) home in Central.
Born in Oconee County, she was the daughter of the late Walter Lake Kelley and Ezelle Taylor Kelley and wife of the late Marvin Leroy Reece.
She was a member of the Pleasant Hill Baptist Church and was retired as a machinist at Propex Fibers.
Survivors include two sisters, Anita Whitaker and Norma Lynn Kelley; two brothers, Colen Eugene Kelley and Keith Bud Kelley; and two sisters-in-law, Mrs. Doris Ramey and Mrs. Sue Smith. Mrs. Reece also leaves several nieces and nephews to share in her memory. In addition to her parents and
Courier Obituaries 11-14-18
Jerry Lamar Alexander
SENECA — Jerry Lamar Alexander, 81, of 601 Northampton Road, Seneca, 
husband of Margaret Julia Land Alexander, passed away Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2018.
Born in Cateechee, to Charlie and Myrtle Louise Butts Alexander, he is survived by his daughter, Ginger Lee Alexander Holdeman (Bob) of Irmo, and son, Scott Lamar Alexander (Mary) of Lexington, and grand-daughters Abby Holdeman, Ashlyn Alexander and Madison Alexander.
He was predeceased by his wife, parents, sisters Eva Simpson Robinson, Ethel Hopkins, Wilma Sanders and Jessie Mae James, and brothers Ralph, Garnet, Leon and Ed Alexander.
An award-winning author and syndicated editorial cartoonist, he was a retired owner of the Pickens Sentinel and of Leisure Media Inc., a magazine publishing firm.
A Navy veteran and Pickens Rotarian, he was honored as a Paul Harris Fellow by his club. In retirement, Jerry wrote and spoke on historical topics and lectured in Clemson University’s OLLI Outreach Program and to civic and church groups.
He authored 10 local history and genealogical books, seven written for the general public. Two of his books won Best in South Carolina honors.
Courier Obituaries 11-7-18
Ruth Mary Medlin
RIDGEWAY — Ruth Mary Medlin, 75, formerly of Pickens, passed away on 
Friday, Nov. 2, 2018.
She had been a resident of Ridgeway since 1996 and was a member of In Touch Ministries and the First Baptist Church of Pickens.
Mrs. Medlin was born Aug. 21, 1943, in Canton, Ohio, to the late Antonio Ortega Morales, a native of Spain, and Helen Paulin Skavarina, a native of Czechoslovakia.
Mrs. Medlin is survived by a brother, Tony Morales of Massillon, Ohio; two sons, Kenneth Wayne Peterman III (Tami) of Pickens and Edward Vincent Peterman; two stepchildren, Dennis Medlin of Ridgeway and Patti Shumpert (Greg) of Lexington and five grandchildren.
She was predeceased by her husband, Paul Wayne Medlin, and sister, Dolores Mallette.
She was a devoted wife and a loving mother, and will be missed by all who
Courier Obituaries 10-31-18
STEVEN ALLEN SMITH
PICKENS — Steve A. Smith, 62, husband of Sherri Vanessa Lyda Smith, passed from this life Wednesday, Oct. 24, 2018, at his home.
Born in Pickens County, he was a son of the late Bruce Smith Jr. and Lee Anna Posey Smith. Steve was a carpenter and a member of Gap Hill Church of God.
Survivors include his wife of 39 years of the home, Sherri; daughters, Jessica (Jason) Swaynghame of Pickens and Vanessa Smith (ShaneBagwell) of Pickens; grandchildren, Logan, Hunter, Jenna, Emily and Elijah; and a brother, Derrill (Laurie) Smith of Pickens.
Steve was preceded in death by his parents.
Funeral services were held on Oct. 27 in the chapel of Mountain View Funeral Home. Burial followed at Holly Springs Baptist Church cemetery.
Memorials may be made to Kindred Hospice, 1704 East Greenville, Street, Suite 1C, Anderson, South Carolina 29621.
Mountain View Funeral Home is serving the Smith family.
GLADYS JOHNSON
LIBERTY — Gladys Cooper Johnson, 93, of 935 Anderson Drive, passed away on Thursday, Oct. 25, 2018.
Born in Liberty, she was the widow of Carl Lee Johnson and a daughter of the late Jeff and Viola Alexander Cooper.
She was retired from Singer and was a member of Calumet Baptist Church.
Surviving are four sisters, Lillian Odom, Betty Bowman, Shelba Owen and Faye Suddeth, all of Liberty. Also surviving are numerous nieces and nephews.
In addition to her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by two sisters, Ophelia “Johnie” Cooper and Jeffie Jones, and three brothers, Lloyd, Robert “Bob” and Floyd Cooper.
Funeral services to honor the life of Mrs. Johnson will be conducted at 1 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 1, 2018, in the Liberty Mortuary chapel. Burial will follow at M.J. Dolly Cooper State Veterans Cemetery. The family will receive friends on Thursday from noon-1 p.m. at the mortuary.
Online condolences may be left for the family by visiting
Courier Obituaries 10-24-18
Arvie Lee Finley
PICKENS — Arvie Lee Finley, 84, wife of the late Don “Shorty” Finley, of 
Pickens, passed away on Thursday, Oct. 11, 2018, at Manna Rehab in Pickens.
Born in Pickens County, Mrs. Finley was the daughter of the late James Perry and Evie Anderson Byers. She worked at Platt Saco Lowell for 13 years and was a member of East Pickens Baptist Church.
In addition to her husband and parents, Mrs. Finley was preceded in death by sisters Faye Trotter and Villa Mae Gillispie and brothers Raeford, Wilvin, Arlie and Donald Byers, all of Pickens. She was also preceded in death by a son-in-law, Jimmy Grubbs of Seneca.
Mrs. Finley is survived by her daughters, Pamela Grubbs Holliday (Phil) of Six Mile and Myra Nimmons (Randy) of Pickens. Also surviving are grandchildren Nicole Grubbs Wallace (Nicholas) of Dillon and Kyle Nimmons and Peyton Nimmons of Pickens; and great-grandchildren,
Mills, Hayes, Finley and Stella Banks Wallace of Dillon.
She is also survived by a brother, B.F. Byers of Pickens, and a special niece, Brenda Brannock of Pickens, as well as many other nieces and nephews.
A private graveside service will be conducted at Hillcrest Memorial Park, with entombment at the mausoleum. Donations can be made to the church she grew up in, Midway Baptist Church, at P.O. Box 1376, Pickens, SC 29671
Grace Marian Bailes Givens
ROCKY BOTTOM — Marian Givens, 81, of Rocky Bottom, passed away on 
Oct. 20, 2018.
Born in St. George, Marian was the daughter of the late Dr. Robert William and Grace Riddle Bailes. Marian lived in Greenville, Travelers Rest, Pickens, Beaufort and Rocky Bottom (Sunset). She also lived in Haiti and Kansas City, Kan., Kannapolis, N.C., and Pascagoula, Miss. Her most cherished time spent was with her loving husband, Gene Givens, at their home place in Rocky Bottom.
She is survived by two sons, J. Allan Givens (Melody) of Los Angeles, Calif., and R. Michael Givens of the home; four grandchildren, Jennifer Givens (Mark) Thrasher of Anderson, Micael Givens (Brandon) of Orlando, Fla., Olivia Givens of Chicago and Chandler Givens of Greenville; great-grandchildren, Hannah, Connor, and Mark
Tigers’ secondary proves itself against Finley, Wolfpack
By Alex Maminakis
Courtesy The Journal
alex@upstatetoday.com
CLEMSON — The Clemson Tigers’ defense — and specifically the secondary — knew it would face a tough test on Saturday against the ACC’s leading passer in N.C. State quarterback Ryan Finley.
Clemson passed that test with flying colors.
In the third-ranked Tigers’ 41-7 win over the No. 16 Wolfpack on Saturday at Memorial Stadium, Clemson’s defense limited Finley to 156 passing yards and two interceptions, with four pass breakups and no touchdowns.
N.C. State was the sixth-best passing offense in the country going into Saturday’s matchup with 335.4 passing yards per game, and the Tigers rose
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Courier Obituaries 10-17-18
LINDA MANLEY HENSON
PICKENS — Linda M. Henson, 66, wife of Mark Henson, tragically passed from this life on Tuesday, Oct. 2, 2018, in an automobile accident in Florida.
She was born in Florida, a daughter of the late Ernest Manley and the late Mary Ann Routt.
Survivors include her husband, Mark of the home; a daughter, Carmilithia Staton of Pickens; a grandson, Duane Staton of Florida; and a great-grandson.
A memorial service to honor Linda’s life was held on Oct. 12 in the chapel
Courier Obituaries 10-10-18
MARTHA SUE LESLEY
CENTRAL — Martha Sue Newton Lesley, 83, widow of Jerry B. Lesley, passed away following a lengthy illness at McCall Hospice House in Simpsonville.
Born in Pickens County and raised in Clemson, Martha Sue was a daughter of the late Frank and Julia Cornelia Greene Newton. She was a graduate of Central High School and was a homemaker and gardener and loved all God’s creatures.
Surviving are her son, J. Bennett Lesley and wife, Maureen, of Central; daughters, Dena Elizabeth Myers and husband, Stephen, of Columbus,
Courier Obits 10-3-18
Allen Joe Adams
PICKENS — Allen Joe Adams, 40, passed from this life Thursday, Sept. 27, 2018.
Born in Greenville County, Allen was the son of Joe Wallace and Elaine Finley Adams.
Survivors include his parents Joe and Elaine; two sisters, Amanda Adams of Anderson and Andrea Griffin (Trey) of Pickens; a niece, Gracie Griffin; and two nephews, Will Griffin and Adam Griffin.
Allen was predeceased by a brother, Joey Adams; maternal grandparents, Wallace Finley and Geneva Chapman Finley; and paternal grandparents, Lewis Columbus Adams and Lucy Anderson Adams.
Services were held Sept. 29 at Mountain View Baptist Church, officiated by Rev. Bob Dickard, Rev. Paul Welch and Rev. Rick Hayes.
In lieu of flowers to carry on Allen’s memory for others, memorials may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital stjude.org or Mountain View Baptist Church, 336 Mountain View Church Road, Six Mile, SC 29682.
Mountain View Funeral Home is serving the Adams family.
Nettie Lou Bagwell
Easley — Mrs. Nettie Lou B. Bagwell, 92, wife of the late Haskell T. Bagwell, passed away Wednesday, Sept. 26, 2018.
Born in Pickens County, a daughter of the late Elijah Walker Bagwell and
Courier Obits 9-26-18
Frances Turner Wimpey
PICKENS — Mrs. Frances Turner Wimpey, 91, of Pickens and widow of the late Grady Horace Wimpey, went home to be with her Lord and Savior on Monday, Sept. 17, 2018, at Cottingham Hospice House in Seneca.
Born on Sept. 27, 1926, in Pickens County, she was the daughter of the late Elford and Pearl Scruggs Turner. She was a member of Three and Twenty Baptist Church and enjoyed gardening and quilting. Mrs. Wimpey was a caring person with a sense of humor. She worked as a private care nurse’s aide for several years and loved her family.
Surviving are her six children, Carolyn Simmons, Tommy G. Wimpey
