LaHentz Quick Searcy (January 28)
Rev. Thomas Foster Evatt, Jr. (February 15)
Joshua Preston Moore (February 23)
Marie Anderson "Ann" Stevens Adams (March 1)
Irene Creed Mount (April 18, 2009)
Samuel Claude Pou (September 5, 2009)
Sharon Sandifer Johnson (October 8, 2009)
Charlotte Hardee Bethea (October 24, 2009)
LaHentz Quick Searcy, age 93, entered The Church Triumphant on January 28, 2009, at McLeod Hospice House in Florence, South Carolina, after a short illness.
Born in Marlboro County on June 28, 1915, she was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. S.J.T. Quick. She was predeceased by her husband of 65 years, Mabry T. Searcy, two brothers, Clinch Quick and Ralston Quick, and four sisters: Verda Q. Townsend, Maxine Q. Boone, Cleyr Don Q. Stubbs, and Venira Q. Holmes.
Mrs. Searcy was a graduate of Columbia College and retired after 25 years of teaching in Marlboro County and Bennettsville schools. She was an active, life-long member of First United Methodist Church of Bennettsville and held many positions there, including teacher of her adult Sunday School class.
She moved from her home in Bennettsville to The Methodist Manor of the Pee Dee in Florence in 2004, where she was active on many committees and was loved dearly by her fellow residents and staff alike.
Mrs. Searcy is survived by her sister, Ms. Tilden Q. Brandt of Bonita Springs, Florida, and three children: Donald M. Searcy (Loretta) of Denton, Texas; David J. Searcy (Betty) of Florence, South Carolina; and Marcia S. Cleveland (Scott) of Cedar Mountain, North Carolina; 11 grandchildren, and 15 great-grandchildren.
A service of death and resurrection was held at First United Methodist Church, Bennettsville, S.C., on January 30, 2009.
BENNETTSVILLE — Services, with full military honors, for Mr. Joshua Preston Moore, 83, will be held at 2 pm Thursday at Sunset Memorial Park. Visitation is 6-8 pm Wednesday at Whitner-Evans Funeral Home. Mr. Moore requested no flowers, but memorials may be made to Epworth Children’s Home, PO Box 50466, Columbia, SC 29250, the Bennettsville Fire Dept. PO Box 1036, Bennettsville, SC 29512, or a charity of your choice.
Mr. Moore entered The Church Triumphant on Monday, February 23, 2009. Born May 12, 1925, in Bennettsville, he was a son of the late William “Willie” Preston and Gladys McInnis Moore. A 1943 graduate of Bennettsville High School, he received a degree from the University of Southern Mississippi in 1971. He was an Army Air Corps veteran of World War II with 40 years of military service including active duty and the South Carolina National Guard, retiring with the rank of Brigadier General. He was State Director of the Emergency Preparedness Division of the Office of the Adjutant General under General T. Eston Marchant from March 1983 until June of 1987. He was presented the Order of the Palmetto in 1987 by Governor Carroll Campbell. Mr. Moore was a patriotic citizen and proud of his American heritage. Mr. Moore was president of Preston Moore Oil Company from 1952 until 1987. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church. During his life, he received the Eagle Scout Award, served as a scout Master, coached Dixie Youth Baseball and encouraged many young people to become productive citizens. His favorite pastime was playing golf with his loyal friends at Marlboro County Club. He was married to the late Carolyn Odom Moore, who passed away September 3, 2004.
Surviving are: a daughter, Lynn Moore Brewer, (Barney), of Lexington and grandchildren, Weatherly Brewer Landy, (Jack), of Wilmington, NC and Caroline Brewer, of Nashville, TN. He was predeceased by his brother, S. Frank Moore.
The family wishes to thank his good friend, Thomas Johnson, for his faithful friendship.
Marie Anderson “Ann” Stevens Adams
Mrs. Marie Anderson Stevens Adams, wife of the late William (Bill) Branch Adams, entered The Church Triumphant on March 1, 2009, in Florence, S.C. Born October 8, 1910, in Johnston County, North Carolina, she was a daughter of the late Harry Pelham and Marie Anderson Stevens. She resided in Bennettsville for many years prior to moving to the Presbyterian Home in Florence.
Ann, as she was known by her friends, attended Converse College, majoring in piano performance. She married Bill Adams and moved to Bennettsville in 1930.
She was an active member of the First United Methodist Church for many years, serving as president of the Women of the Church and on the Administrative Board.
She was also president of the McColl Garden Club, the Bennettsville Literary Club and the Bennettsville Cotillion. She loved golfing with her many friends.
She leaves to her memory her daughter, Julia Adams McLaurin (Charles S. Jr.); four grandchildren, Charles Stevens McLaurin (Janisyn Grant), Juli Ann McLaurin, Jonathan Adams and William B. Adams, III; two great-grandchildren, Charles Stevens McLaurin Jr. and Miloree Ann McLaurin; and several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by a son, William Branch Adams, Jr.
Ann’s family wishes to express appreciation to her many friends, Dr. Barrett, and the staff of Presbyterian Home who lovingly supported her during the last years of her life.
A service of death and resurrection was held at First United Methodist Church, Bennettsville, on Wednesday, March 4, 2009.
Judge Samuel Claude “Sam” Pou, 81, entered The Church Triumphant on Saturday, September 5, 2009. Born November 17, 1927, in Saluda, South Carolina, he was a son of the late T. Benjamin and Connie R. Pou.
He was a graduate of Furman University, where he received a football scholarship while also playing baseball and track while earning his degree in Physical Education with a minor in Psychology. He was drafted by the Green Bay Packers and Cleveland Browns as well as playing semi-professional baseball before choosing a career in government service.
He served in World War II in the Military Police-Intelligence Division, U.S. Army 11th Airborne Division. He began his federal government employment with the United States Postal Service, and then joined the United States Marshal’s Service, Department of Justice. He retired with 34 years federal service.
Upon retirement and return to South Carolina, he was appointed by Governor Carroll Campbell as Summary Court Judge, State of South Carolina. He was a lifetime member, 33rd degree Scottish Rite Mason and Shriner. He was a member the First United Methodist Church, Bennettsville.
He was married to the late Frankie Marie Sims Pou. Surviving are daughters, Kathy Coffey (Tommy) of McDonough, Georgia and Dottie Fowler (Robert) of Bennettsville; grandchildren, Courtney Bennett (Brandon), Mandy Coffey and Dusty Coffee; a great-grandchild, Zac Bennett; brothers, Allison Pugh, Albert Pugh, and T. B. Pugh; sisters, Ann Smith, Lynette Walker, Eloise McGee and Judy Bray. He was predeceased by brothers, Ellis Pou, Broadus Pou and Everett Pou and a sister, Mary Pou Rinehardt.
A service of death and resurrection was held at First United Methodist Church, Bennettsville, on September 9, 2008.
Sharon Sandifer Johnson entered The Church Triumphant on Thursday, October 8, 2009. Born August 31, 1937 in Cheraw, she was a daughter of the late William Preston and Dorothy Dunlap Sandifer.
Sharon was a graduate of Bennettsville High School. She attended the University of South Carolina, and received an Associate of Arts degree from Columbia College. She was a retired receptionist with the South Carolina Department of Social Services.
Mrs. Johnson was a member and former Sunday School teacher at the First United Methodist Church. She was a former Den Mother and was a member of the Junior Charity League.
She was married to the late Nolan Wallace “Jackie” Johnson, who passed away December 16, 2006.
Surviving are sons, Nolan Wallace Johnson, Jr. (Angie), of Brunswick, Georgia, Scott Sandifer Johnson (Renee), of Columbia, and Matthew Whitfield Johnson of Bennettsville; a sister, Catherine Reese, of Asheville; a brother, William P. Sandifer, Jr., of Raleigh; grandchildren, Whitney Johnson, Ashley Johnson, Allie Johnson and Meghan Johnson; and a great-grandchild, Jackson Bennett Johnson.
A service of death and resurrection was held at First United Methodist Church, Bennettsville, on October 10, 2009.
Charlotte Hardee Bethea, 74, formerly of Charlotte, NC, Rock Hill, SC and Bennettsville, SC, entered The Church Triumphant on Saturday, October 24, 2009, in Overland Park, Kansas, after a courageous battle against ovarian cancer.
Charlotte was a graduate of Central High School in Charlotte, North Carolina. Her family was active in Caldwell Presbyterian Church, Charlotte. She was later a member of First Presbyterian Church in Rock Hill, South Carolina; of Pine Grove United Methodist Church in McColl, Saint Paul’s Episcopal Church and First United Methodist Church in Bennettsville.
Charlotte was an avid knitter and generously gave many shawls, scarves and blankets to friends, neighbors and hospitals. She got much joy from her work as a volunteer at Marlboro Park Hospital in Bennettsville. There she met many dear friends who became like a family to her.
Charlotte was preceded in death by her parents, William E. and Bebe (Stancill) Hardee; and by a granddaughter, Ansley Jean Bethea. She survived by two daughters, Dr. Cynthia Louise Bethea of Portland, Oregon, and Diane Bethea Boeger (wife of Bruce) of Overland Park; a son, David Jesse Bethea (husband of Carolyn) of Greenville, South Carolina; and six grandchildren, Sarah Cynthia Bethea-Weraky, Rachel Boeger Leung (wife of David), Rebecca Katherine Boeger, Hannah Hultman Boeger, Gabriella Hope Boeger, and Tristram Jesse Bethea.
In memory of Charlotte, the family asks that donations be made to St. Aiden’s Episcopal Church, Olathe, KS, 66062; or to the American Cancer Society, online memorial.
A service of death and resurrection was held at First United Methodist Church, Bennettsville, on Sunday, January 10, 2010.
