R. M.
McKnightHendersonville, N.C. May 18 -
R. M. McKnight, son of Capt. James Harper and Laura Brock McKnight,
died in Hendersonville, N.C. May 2. Mr. McKnight was born in
Clarendon County, S.C., October 2, 1844. There the greater part of
his life was spent. Ten years ago, his health having failed, he came
to Hendersonville, where he has since lived with his sisters, Misses
E. A. and M. E. McKnight. For 50 years he had been a Mason. He held
every office in Summerton Lodge, No. 105. During the war he
volunteered when but 16 years of age. He left home with Manning
Guard, Hampton Legion. From the train he marched to battle of First
Appomattox. He was twice wounded and was taken prisoner at Seven
Pines. For years he was a member of Summerton Methodist Church. Only
a short time ago he moved his membership to the Hendersonville
Methodist Church. He was buried with Masonic honors beside his
brother, W. B. McKnight. He was a high toned man, kind and courteous
to all. Although a great suffered and almost helpless, he was always
putlent and cheerful. His neighbors and friends counted it a
privlege to be in his company. (The State May 19, 1918)
Mrs.
Clyde A. Plowden
Pinewood, Jan. 22 - Mrs. Clyde
A. Plowden died yesterday at 12:30 o'clock at the home of her
father, Ben P. Broadway. She was ill only a few days. Funeral
services will be held tomorrow morning at the home, after which the
body will be interred at the family burial ground near Paxville.
(The State January 23, 1915)
Elbert Davis
Manning, Sept. 14 – Elbert Davis, a prominent
citizen and former sheriff of this county, was found dead in his bed
yesterday morning at his home in Manning, he having died suddenly
some time during the night. He had not enjoyed robust health for
some years past, but no special apprehension was felt as to his
condition. He was 70 years of age in July, last, and his death is
attributed to organic heart trouble. Mr. Davis was appointed county
auditor in 1891 and held that office for six years. In 1902 he was
elected sheriff and served one term in that office. He is survived
by three sons and four daughters, as follows: Julius Davis, a
prominent farmer; W. R. Davis, county supervisor, and Shelby Davis,
Mrs. E. C. Coskrey, Mrs. Lizzie Hunter, Mrs. Dr. G. L. Dickson and
Mrs. S. Oliver O'Bryan. He also leaves three brothers, ex-Senator C.
M. Davis, T. Morgan Davis, W. E. Davis, all of this county, and one
sister, Mrs. Fannie Sprott of Spartanburg. The Davis family
connection is one of the most prominent and influential in
Clarendon. Mr. Davis' wife died five years ago. (The State -
September 15, 1915)
Michael Warwick Graham
SUMTER -
Michael Warwick Graham, 81, husband of Elizabeth Hayslip Graham,
died Saturday, October 15, 2005, at his home.
Born in Jordan, S.C., he was a son of the late Marion
Walter Graham and the late Anna Henrietta Childers
Graham.
Mr. Graham was a charter
member of Westminster Presbyterian Church where he served as elder
emeritus. He was past Worthy Patron of the Iris Chapter # 149 of the
Order of the Eastern Star, a member of the 32nd degree Mason
Scottish Rite Lodge, and he was a Shriner. He participated in the
Wycliffe Bible Translators and was a member of the Mission to the
Men.
He was a member of the
Reserve Officers Association, the Military Officers Association, the
Association of the U.S. Army, and the Aircraft Owners and Pilots
Association. He was a Lt. Col. (Ret) U.S. Army serving in WWII and
Vietnam as a combat veteran. He was a graduate of the U.S. Army
Special Warfare School. After 27 years of service, he was awarded
the Combat Infantry Badge, 2 Bronze Stars and the Army Commendation
Medal. He was the former commander of the Watervielt Arsenal in
Troy, N.C.
Surviving
are his wife of Sumter; 5 sons, Paul Leland Graham of Sumter, Roger
Warwick Graham and wife Lucille of Cherry Hill, N.J., Richard Walter
Graham and wife Renee of Baltimore, Md., Lt. Col. Christopher
Douglas Graham and wife Jamie of Richmond, Va., and Michael Andrew
Graham and wife Renee of Sumter; one daughter, Suzanne Graham Seldem
and husband John of Tocoma, Wa.; one brother, Ralph VanBuren Graham
of Alcolu, S.C.; two sisters, Caroline Melissa Gerelus of
Collingswood, N.J. and Katherine Alvena Mairs of Downingtown, Pa.;
11 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by a
son , Michael Leland Graham and a grandson, Michael Leland
Graham.
Funeral
Services will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Westminster Presbyterian
Church with the Rev. Walt Kendall officiating. Burial will follow in
the Gethsemane Cemetery in Jordan, S.C. with full military honors.
Honorary Pallbearers will be Elders of Westminster Presbyterian
Church and members of the Mission to the
Men.
The family will
receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday at the Elmore Hill McCreight
Funeral Home.
Memorials may be made to Westminster
Presbyterian Church, 230 Alice Drive, Sumter, S.C. 29150 or to
Wycliffe Bible Translators, P.O. Box 628200, Orlando, Fla.,
32862-8200.
Elmore
Hill McCreight Funeral Home and Crematory, 221 Broad St., is in
charge of the arrangements. (State, The (Columbia, SC) -
October 17, 2005)
Lula Thames
WEDGEFIELD - Lula Mae
Barnes Thames, 88, widow of Ben Oliver Thames, died Friday, July 11,
2003, in Hopewell Healthcare in Sumter.
Born June 28, 1915,
in Wilson, she was a daughter of the late David Dinkins Barnes and
the late Katherine Tucker Barnes. She was retired from Valdese
Weavers in Valdese, NC and was of the Baptist faith.
Surviving are a daughter-in-law, Mildred Thames of Valdese,
NC; a grandson, Robert Allen Thames of Valdese, NC; a brother, Clyde
Barnes of Fuquay-Varina, NC; three sisters, Ada Hodge of Ninety-Six,
Dora Lee Ardis of Wedgefield and Jeanette Hardy of St. Stephen; two
great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by a son, Ben
Oliver Thames, Jr. and a daughter, Mary Emma Thames. Services will
be held at a later date. Elmore-Cannon-Stephens Funeral Home of
Sumter is in charge of the arrangements. (State, The (Columbia, SC)
- July 14, 2003)
Edna Nelson
MANNING - Services for
Edna Mae Taylor Nelson, 64, 11 a.m. Wednesday at Ebenezer Missionary
Baptist Church, where she was a member; burial in Antioch Memorial
Gardens. Friends may call at 1051 Longleaf Drive. Fleming &
Delaine Funeral Home is in charge. Born to Reatha Taylor Davis, she
died March 12, 2004. Surviving: children, Ervin, Julia, Teresa
Nelson; brother, Thomas Dallas; 4 grands. (State, The (Columbia, SC)
- March 16, 2004)
117-YEAR-OLD CLARENDON MAN, POSSIBLY OLDEST IN
S.C., DIES FARMER NEVER DRANK, SMOKED OR CHEWED TOBACCO, SAYS
RELATIVE
Luke Blackwell had seen 117 birthdays, but he still
had most of his teeth. His health, his doctor said, was remarkable.
But Blackwell, who farmed in Clarendon County for more than
80 years, died Thursday after a sudden bout with pneumonia.
Blackwell's great-granddaughter, Bobbie Jean Frierson, said the
family has been told that Blackwell was the oldest living person in
South Carolina.
"He was a remarkable person," said Frierson,
who had been raised by Blackwell since infancy.
"He farmed all his life, and he walked behind a mule
and plow for 86 years. Another thing about him, he was a great
hummer. He hummed all the time," she said.
Blackwell's wife has been dead more than 20 years;
Frierson couldn't remember exactly how long. Blackwell lived with a
sister until she died, then lived by himself until he moved in with
the Friersons six years ago.
After his wife's parents died, Blackwell raised many
of his wife's siblings, Frierson said. She estimates that Blackwell
raised more than 30 children.
"He was known all over Clarendon County. He had a
horse-and-buggy up until about 15 years ago, and he would drive that
all over town.
"He took me to high school in that horse-and-buggy
even when everybody else had cars," she said.
"I was embarrassed. But I appreciate him. He taught me
to treat everybody right."
Blackwell was affectionately known as "LB" or "Uncle
Luke" around the county. He had been healthy all of his life and
still had all but five of his teeth, Frierson said. He never drank
alcoholic beverages, chewed tobacco or smoked, she added.
Frierson was with her foster father when he died at 5
p.m. Thursday in Clarendon Memorial Hospital. He had been admitted
to the hospital on Sunday, after Frierson became worried about his
lack of appetite and shortness of breath.
The family has no documents to prove that Blackwell
was 117, but his age was generally known, Frierson said. His doctor,
George Jones of Manning, agreed that that age was realistic.
"I asked him what his secret was, but he never would
tell me," Jones said.
Blackwell, who never learned to read or write,
received a "Centenarian Certificate" from the South Carolina
Commission on Aging in 1991. Ruth Seigler, the commission's
executive director, said people are living longer these days, but
it's still unusual for someone to make it to 117. Unusual but
definitely possible.
"Some researchers are saying they think the human body
has a potential longevity of 125," Seigler said.
Born in Clarendon County in 1876, Blackwell was a son
of the late Ned and Leddie Johnson Blackwell. He was a member of
Goodwill Freewill Baptist Church for more than 90 years and served
as a deacon for 75 years.
Surviving are Frierson of Manning; two grandchildren;
nine great- grandchildren; and 14 great-great-grandchildren.
Services will be held at 4 p.m. Monday at Goodwill Freewill
Baptist Church in Bloomville. Interment will be in the church
cemetery. Fleming-DeLaine Funeral Home of Manning is in charge.
(State, The (Columbia, SC) - June 13, 1993)
Mrs. John Mahoney
Paxville, Feb 21 - Mrs. John Mahoney died in Wood's
infirmary in Sumter on last Wednesday where she had gone for an
operation and was buried in the Calvary Baptist church burying
ground on Thursday afternoon.
The funeral services were conducted
by her pastor, Rev. J. N. Tolar. She had been a life long
resident of the community, and was highly esteemed by all who knew
her. She leaves no children, but an aged husband to mourn her
loss. (The State, February 22, 1910)
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