James Gordon Edens, Jr. (February 14)
Oscar Luther Derrick, Jr. (March 1)
Mahlon E. Padgett IV (March 15)
James Leslie Griggs (April 3)
Calvin Wingate McMillan (May 4)
Mary Elizabeth Payne Miller (June 26)
Beverly Celese "Lisa" Polson (August 11)
Juanita "Nita" Langston Sheets (November 7)
BENNETTSVILLE — James Gordon Edens, Jr., 73, passed away Monday, February 14, 2011.
Born in Bennettsville on May 19, 1937, he was the son of the late James Gordon and Florence Bristow Harrington Edens.
He was a 1955 graduate of Bennettsville High School and a 1962 graduate of Erskine College in Due West, SC. Mr. Edens was a former school teacher at Lower Marlboro High School in Blenheim from 1965-1966 and coached the football and basketball teams. He retired as an Executive Officer of his family owned business, the Bennettsville Veneer Company.
He loved sports and was a former winning coach with Farm League Baseball. He was a member of the San Souci Dance Club.
Mr. Edens was a lifelong member of First United Methodist Church.
Surviving are: his wife of forty seven years, Marsha McManus Edens, of Bennettsville; his son, James “Jamie” Gordon Edens III, of Bennettsville; his daughter, Patricia Edens Eddy (Dr. Nelson Eddy), of Rock Hill, NC; his sister, Mary Tom Moore (Dr. Jim Moore) of McColl, SC; his grandchildren, Anniston Claire Edens, Joseph Nelson Eddy, Sarah Edens Eddy, Libby Joyce Eddy, and Maggie Grace Eddy.
A memorial service will be held at 2:00 PM on Thursday, February 17, 2011, at Oak Ridge Cemetery in Bennettsville. The family will receive friends at the cemetery following the service. Burroughs Cooper Kiser Funeral Home is serving the family.
BENNETTSVILLE — Captain (Ret.) Oscar Luther Derrick, Jr., 84, entered The Church Triumphant on Tuesday, March 1, 2011 at Dundee Manor in Bennettsville.
Born in Marlboro County on April 1, 1926, he was a son of the late O.L. and Pauline Liles Derrick.
Mr. Derrick was a graduate of Bennettsville High School. He loved sports and was especially proud of his participation in the Shrine Bowl games of 1942 and 1943. Upon graduating, he received a scholarship to Clemson to play football under Coach Howard; however, during the height of World War II he voluntarily joined the Navy, placing his dream of playing college football on hold. While in the Navy, he injured his shoulder playing football and knew that was the end of football for him.
Mr. Derrick joined the Bennettsville Police Department and in 1948 was appointed to the South Carolina Highway Patrol where he served until his retirement in 1984, with the rank of Captain. For his service to our state he received a certificate from the House of Representatives recognizing his many contributions to the law and public service.
He was an active member of St. Andrews Baptist Church of Columbia and later, First United Methodist Church of Bennettsville. He was also a member of the South Carolina Troopers Association, South Carolina Law Enforcement Association, American Legion, and received the Lion of the Year award in 1989-1990.
His love of sports never left him. He was very supportive of all sports — local, college and professional. Clemson remained one of his great loves and he was a faithful IPTAY member for over forty years. He also, along with several other individuals, was a founder of the Marlboro County Booster Club. He loved the Marlboro County Bulldogs and attended games as long as he was able.
He leaves behind to cherish his memory his wife, Betty Hailey Derrick of Bennettsville; daughters, Toni Wright of Irmo; Freddie Waln of West Columbia; Mikea Moore of Swansea; a stepson, Eddie Hailey (Harriet) of North Myrtle Beach; a sister, Barbara Crosland (Jimmy) of Greensboro, NC; a brother, Richard "Dickie" Derrick of New York; eleven grandchildren, and ten great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by a daughter, Stevie Derrick, and a brother, George Derrick.
A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. on Thursday, March 3, 2011, at First United Methodist Church in Bennettsville with burial to follow at Sunset Memorial Park. The family will receive friends from 1-2 p.m. in the Gathering Room at the church prior to the service.
Burroughs Cooper Kiser Funeral Home is assisting the family.
BENNETTSVILLE — Mahlon E. Padgett IV died Tuesday, March 15, 2011.
Born December 19, 1959, at Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri, he was a son of Mahlon E. Padgett III and the late Lillian Franklin Dempcy Rowe. He was a 1977 graduate of Marlboro Academy and a 1981 graduate of the Citadel where he was a member of the Summerall Guard and the Skydiving Club, and also had the opportunity to serve as an escort for the Miss America Pageant. He went on to graduate from the University Of South Carolina School Of Law. He was a captain in the United States Air Force, serving with the Judge Advocate General. He was a former Assistant Solicitor for Darlington County. He was an Attorney At Law with the Padgett Law Office.
Mahlon was very active in the community. He has served as a Master Mason, President of the Rotary, and President of the Marlboro Players. He also participated in Relay for Life, was a member of the Marlboro Country Club, a member of the band, Stellaz Fellows, and a member and instructor for the Professional Divers Association. He had an active interest in aviation.
Surviving are his father, Mahlon E. Padgett III, of Ocean Isle Beach, NC; his sons, Joshua Levi Padgett (Erin) of Junction City, Kansas, and Caleb Cody Padgett (Danielle) of Yorktown, Texas; his brother, Lynwood D. Padgett of Charlotte, NC; his uncle, Bill and aunt, Linda Rowe of Florence, SC; and his grandchildren, Ayla, Eli, Laura, Krysten, Kaylee, and Drayven.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM, Saturday, March 19, 2011, at Burroughs Cooper Kiser Funeral Home with burial to follow in Sunset Memorial Park with Military Honors. The family will receive friends from 6:00PM-8:00PM, Friday, March 18, 2011 at the funeral home.
Memorials are suggested to The Citadel Foundation, 171 Moultrie Street, Charleston, SC 29409-6230.
Burroughs Cooper Kiser Funeral Home is assisting the family.
CARLISLE, Pa. — James Leslie Griggs, Colonel, United States Army (Retired), of Carlisle, PA passed away in Philadelphia on Sunday, April 3, surrounded by family.
Colonel Griggs was born on 14 November 1937 in Bennettsville, SC to James Lonnie and Nannie Gilliland Griggs. He graduated from Bennettsville High School and Wofford College before entering the United States Army as a second lieutenant in November 1959.
Colonel Griggs spent most of his military career as a military intelligence officer and foreign area specialist. During his active duty service, Colonel Griggs received a Masters degree in Slavic Studies from the University of Kansas, and also graduated from the Armed Forces Staff College and the National War College. His overseas service included several tours of duty in Europe and two years with US Army units in Vietnam. Colonel Griggs commanded the 8th Psychological Operations Battalion at Fort Bragg, survived three tours of duty on the Army Staff in the Pentagon, and also served with the Defense Intelligence Agency. He closed out his active duty service by serving as the Director of Soviet Studies at the US Army War College and, finally, as the United States Defense and Army Attaché in Poland in 1985 and 1986. Colonel Griggs retired from active duty on 1 September 1986.
Following his military retirement, Colonel Griggs accepted a position as a military analyst in the Central Intelligence Agency's Directorate of Intelligence. He served with the CIA in several analytical and management positions until his retirement in August 2000. His final service with the CIA was as the Director of Central Intelligence Representative to the United States Army War College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Following his retirement from the CIA, Colonel Griggs received the Distinguished Career Intelligence Medal for his service to the Agency. Colonel Griggs often recollected that the two highlights of his CIA career were his tenure as chief of the military branch of the Balkans Task Force, which afforded him the opportunity to work with and mentor some of the most talented young military analysts at the CIA; and his work with Colonel Ryszard Kuklinski, a Polish General Staff officer who worked covertly for the Central Intelligence Agency during the Cold War providing Soviet war plans and other vital information that would have helped NATO defeat the Warsaw Pact if war were to have broken out. Colonel Kuklinski and his wife Joanna became two of Colonel Griggs's closest friends, and were godparents to his son Fred.
Colonel Griggs received a heart transplant at Hahnemann University Hospital in Philadelphia in February 2006 after another transplant center had given up on him because his medical case was so complex. Everyone who knew Colonel Griggs is grateful to the medical professionals at Hahnemann whose skill and devotion gave us more time with him.
Colonel Griggs is
survived by his wife, Josephine Bonan Griggs, their beloved children Fred
and Annie (at home), and his children from his first marriage to the former
Sara Frances Cockfield: Jim and his wife Mary (Broad Run, VA), Melynda and
her daughter Emily (Fairfax, VA). Colonel Griggs was preceded in death by
Charlotte Anne, his daughter from his first marriage.
The family has requested that donations be made to the Gift of Life Donor
Program, 401 North 3rd Street, Philadelphia, PA 19123-4101 in lieu of
flowers.
A reception and visitation will be held from 1:00-3:00 p.m., Saturday, April 9, 2011 at The Vault of Carlisle, 1 North Hanover Street, Carlisle. Parking will be available behind The Vault and also at Hoffman-Roth Funeral Home & Crematory, Inc., 219 North Hanover Street, Carlisle.
Memorial services and burial with full military honors will be held at Ft. Myer Chapel, Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, VA to be announced at a later date.
Hoffman-Roth Funeral Home & Crematory, Inc., 219 North Hanover Street, Carlisle is in charge of the funeral arrangements.
BENNETTSVILLE — Mr. Calvin Wingate McMillan, 83, went home to be with the Lord on Wednesday, May 4, 2011.
Born December 6, 1927 in Stedman, N.C., he was a son of the late A.M. and Lola Royal McMillan, Sr. He was married to Joan Buffkin McMillan. Mr. McMillan was a member of First United Methodist Church. He was a 1951 graduate of North Carolina State University. He served as a First Lieutenant in the United States Army and then in the North Carolina National Guard. He was a former Agriculture teacher in Gibson, N.C. He was a former employee with Fred T. Hollis, Inc. and later became the owner of Fred T. Hollis, Inc.
Surviving are his wife of 57 years, Joan Buffkin McMillan of the home; children, Melissa M. Billingsley (Van) of Hamlet, N.C. and Scott E. McMillan (Paige) of Bennettsville, S.C.; brothers, A.M. McMillan, Jr. of Wade, N.C.; James Fletcher McMillan (Terry) of Macon, Ga.; and Gary F. McMillan (Kathy) of Stedman; his sister, Carra Margaret Smith, of Stedman; grandchildren, Gary C. Carter Jr. (Marie) of Hamlet, Christopher S. McMillan of Bennettsville, Katie McMillan Young (Lee) of Hickory, N.C., and Julie E. McMillan of Bennettsville; great-grandchildren, Ricki Claire Carter, Logan J. Carter, and Kendall Marie Carter, all of Hamlet; step-grandchildren, Aubrey P. Parker (Ricky) of Hamlet; Frankie Billingsley (Tammy) of Rockingham, N.C.; Jessica R. Cranford (Eddie) of Hartsville, S.C.; and Stephanie B. Molina (Elvin) of Maryland.
Services will be held at 3 p.m. on Saturday, May 7 at the First United Methodist Church, with burial in Sunset Memorial Park. Visitation will be from 6 until 8 p.m. on Friday, May 6, at Burroughs Cooper Kiser Funeral Home.
Memorials may be made to St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital or First United Methodist Church.
DUE WEST — Mary Elizabeth Payne Miller, formerly of Bennettsville, passed away on Sunday, June 26, 2011 at Carlisle Nursing Center of Covenant Way after a long illness.
Born June 29, 1930, she was the daughter of the late Joseph Gordon and Alta Crouch Payne. She graduated from Saluda High School and Winthrop University. She married Joseph DuPre Miller in 1955, and they made their home in Bennettsville until his death in 2002.
A retired educator, she taught at McColl High School and Marlboro Vocational School for 25 years. She was a member of First United Methodist Church of Bennettsville. For many years she was active in her community and was a member of the Palmetto Book Club, Woodland Garden Club, Marlboro Arts Council and Marlboro Historical Society.
She is survived by her daughters Mary Elizabeth (Betty) Miller Keys and her husband Marshall of Belton, SC, Deborah Ann Miller Wright and her husband Van of Andrews, SC, Martha Gordon Miller Hewett of Greenville, SC and grandchildren Brooks Marshall Keys, Jr. and his wife Lindsay, Joseph DuPre Keys and his wife Emily, Ann DuPre Wright, Mary Gordon Greenway and Emory Harrison Greenway.
She was predeceased by her husband, Joseph DuPre Miller and her brother, Joseph Gordon Payne, Jr.
Her memorial service will be conducted by the Reverend Doctor Ben Michael Gafford on Wednesday, June 29th at 1:30 p.m. at First United Methodist Church, Bennettsville. Following the service, the family will greet friends in the Gathering Room. A family burial at Oak Ridge Cemetery will precede the service.
Memorials may be made to Alzheimer's Association, SC Chapter, 4124 Clemson Blvd-Suite L, Anderson, SC 29621 or Covenant Way, PO Box 307, Due West, SC 29639 or to the charity of one's choosing.
Burroughs-Cooper-Kiser Funeral Home in Bennettsville is in charge of arrangements.
TADWORTH SURREY, England — Ms. Beverly Celese "Lisa" Polson, 50, died August 11, 2011, at the Princess Alice Hospice, after a long, courageous battle with colon cancer.
She was the daughter of Nancy Hinson Polson, of Bennettsville, and Jessy L. Polson of Orlando, Florida.
She is also survived by her beloved son, Connor Jones, 15, of the home; her best friend and sister, Laura P. Burns of Myrtle Beach; brother, Jerry Polson of Cheraw; aunt, Debbie Polson Bailey of Orlando, Florida; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Paternal grandparents are Mrs. Harold Polson of Orlando and the late Mr. Polson.
Maternal grandparents were the late Dr. and Mrs. Conrad R. Hinson.
A memorial service was held at First United Methodist Church, Bennettsville, on September 27, 2011.
Juanita "Nita" Langston Sheets
FLORENCE — Juanita "Nita" Langston Sheets was born December 11, 1912 in Laurens County, South Carolina, the daughter of the late Nathan Lee and Mattie Adair Langston.
She was a graduate of Greenville High School, of which she was editor of the school newspaper, and Greenville Business College.
She was married to the late Richard L. Sheets for 54 years until his death in 1997.
Affectionately known in Bennettsville as "Miss Nita," she was a lifelong Methodist. She served First United Methodist for more than 65 years, taking on many roles. Her favorite position was teaching Sunday School for the Billy Raley Sunday School Class, which she was instrumental in organizing. She was a member of the Gay Gardeners Club and the Bess Miller Circle. She was a lifelong poet with most of her poems reflecting her faith in Jesus Christ. She was also a silhouette artist, cutting silhouettes for people everywhere she traveled. She believed it was a God-given talent that allowed her the opportunity to share her deep faith.
Her home for the last nine years was The Methodist Manor of the Pee Dee where she continued to share her talent, cutting silhouettes for many of its residents. She was a wonderful wife, mother and grandmother and will be missed by a host of loving relatives and friends.
She is survived by her son, Richard L. (Ricky) Sheets and his wife, Terrie Johnson Sheets, of Bennettsville; her grandson, Cameron R. Sheets, of Aguadilla, Puerto Rico; and her sisters, Omega L. Poole of Greer, S.C.; and Doris Davis of Charlotte, N.C.
She was preceded in death by her sisters, Pauline Langston and Ellen L. Shirer, and a brother, Leroy Langston.
A Service of Death and Resurrection was held at First United Methodist Church, Bennettsville, on November 10, 2011, with interment at Sunset Memorial Park.
Burroughs-Cooper-Kiser Funeral Home in Bennettsville was in charge of arrangements.
It was her desire that no one miss the Lord's sweet call.
