Week of May 23, 2018
Funeral services for Mr. Robert E. “Bobby” Ross of Darlington were 11 a.m. Friday, May 18, 2018 in the Washington & Charlotte C. Jordan Memorial Chapel of Jordan Funeral Home.
Interment followed in Darlington Memorial Cemetery directed by Jordan Funeral Home, Inc.
The service was to celebrate the home going of Robert Emory Ross who departed this life on May 11, 2018.
“Uncle Bobby” or “Bobby” as he was affectionately known by those who he loved and grew up with, was an Independent Music Consultant and Community Strategist, a product of the Darlington, South Carolina Public Schools (1955-’69).
Bobby attended South Carolina State University (1969-1972) where he majored in Music Education and excelled in arranging music for the SC State Marching ‘101’ Show Band, the Pep and Jazz Bands. Subsequently he composed original music for funk-rock bands “Malthusian’s Theory” and “Sunday Nite Affair” respectively.
In 1979 he became a certified construction electrician after studying at Florence-Darlington Technical College.
In 1982, he assumed the directors’ position at the Darlington County Cultural Realism Complex, Inc. While there he assisted hundreds of individuals in arts related talent development.
In 1983 he cofounded Creative Arts Development. He achieved for some of his clients Approved Artist designations with the SC Arts Commission.
In 1987 he became a stringer/reporter with the Pee Dee Newspaper Group, advancing to editor in 1992 when the business transitioned to DBS Communications.
In 1994 The Atlanta Office of the United Negro College Fund contracted Robert to coordinate their Pee Dee campaign where a record $100,000.00 was raised and the inaugural Pee Dee area UNCF fund-raising Gala was established.
The UNCF Gala remains still the major fund-raiser for the Florence/Pee Dee UNCF drive.
In 1995 he cofounded the Clemson University 4H Statewide Expressive & Performing Arts Workshop.
In 1996, he coordinated the volunteer effort for Conflict and Transcendence: African-American Art in South Carolina at the Florence Museum in collaboration with the Columbia Museum of Art. Bobby also designed an economic development proposal titled Central Park South, Darlington – and presented the proposal to Darlington City government. The proposal was then submitted and won a competitive grant from the South Carolina Design Arts Partnership, a consortium between the South Carolina Arts Commission, the SC Downtown Development Association and Clemson University’s Departments of Architecture, Planning and Humanities.
In 2000 Bobby co- founded the People’s Theatre (TPT). TPT’s mission was to solicit original plays and writings of African American poets, playwrights, authors and compositors from throughout South Carolina, as well as works of writers from other ethnic groups writing in the same or related genre, and to produce staged readings of accepted submissions.
He has been an associate with the Darlington County Section of the National Council of Negro Women and was an active member and past strategist with the Darlington Branch NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People). Robert served as Chairperson of the Darlington Branch Political Action Committee.
Bobby was the son of the late George Ross Sr. and Essie Sims Ross.
Those left to cherish Bobby’s memories and carry on his legacy: sisters Constance Y. Redd of Poughkeepsie, NY, Georgia L. Ross of Darlington, SC, Meredith L. Ross of Peekskill NY; brothers George E. Ross Jr. of Darlington, SC, James E. Ross of Peekskill NY; nieces Phyllistine A. Oliver of Poughkeepsie, NY, Vestine A. Patrick of Moseley, VA, Samatha Tutu and Denea Sharper both of Florence, SC, Raquel J. Redd of Poughkeepsie NY; nephews Anthony K. Ross of Cortlandt Manor, NY, Dana A. Ross of Fayetteville NC, Timothy K. Ross of Clarksville TN, Gregory A. Redd of Peekskill NY, Randall A. Adams of Jacksonville NC, Gemari Sharper of Florence SC; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and other relatives and friends.
The family is receiving friends at the residence of his sister, Ms. Georgia “Tootie” Ross, 130 Reid Street, Darlington.
February 24, 1929 – April 3, 2018
William James, a fifty year resident of Rancho Palos Verdes, California, passed away peacefully at home on April 3, 2018. Bill (Bump as he was known) was born in Darlington, South Carolina to William E. James, Sr. and Ruby Rikard James and was the eldest of two children.
Growing up in Darlington, Bill was active in the Boy Scouts, the Presbyterian Youth Group, high school sports and student government. His love of golf started early in his youth and he also enjoyed hunting and fishing.
Bill graduated in 1946 from St. John’s High School and enlisted in the U.S. Army. Upon returning to civilian life, Bill attended North Carolina State University where he received a Bachelor’s Degree in Textile Science. He was an active member of the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity and also a member of Phi Psi, a textile fraternity.
Upon graduation Bill moved to New York City where he met his future wife, Sula Rossner. They shared a love of interesting foods, entertaining and the importance of family. Bill was an avid gardener, an exceptional cook, and a lover of golf. And in his later years, it was his grandchildren that brought him the most joy. He and Sula considered themselves very blessed with their family.
Bill is preceded in death by his wife Sula and survived by his children Elizabeth Duffield (Stan), Anne Roberts (Bump) and Will James (Amanda), seven grandchildren and his sister Nancy Webert of Maryland and three nephews. A graveside service will be held on Saturday, June 2nd at 11 a.m. at the Grove Hill Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the American Cancer Association.
James Bradley Law, 95, of Darlington, SC, passed away Wednesday, May 9, 2018. Funeral services were held 3 p.m. Sunday, May 20 in the chapel at Belk Funeral Home, with burial following in Grove Hill Cemetery. The family received friends from 2-3 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home.
He was born July 22, 1922 in Darlington, SC, a son of the late William Player Law Sr. and Dorothy Conyers Ervin Law. He was a retired rural mail carrier with the USPS. James served in the 7th Army Air Corps as a B-24 bomber pilot in the 392 bomber squadron from 1944 until his release in February 1946. Lt. Law was stationed in the Marianas and Saipan, from where he flew missions over Haka Jima, ChiChi Jima and Iwo Jima in the Bonins, Kazens, and the Carolines. For his service he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal with 4 oak leaf clusters, the Asian Pacific Theatre Ribbon, and the WWII Victory Ribbon.
He is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Mary and Frank Haskell; his granddaughters, Joella (Craig) Haskell Gaskins and Lucy (James) Haskell Music; his great-grandchildren, James and Cheves Gaskins, Alexa Weatherford, Timothy and Isabel Music. He is also survived by his sister, Dorothy Law Martin; nephews, nieces, and great-nephews and nieces.
He was predeceased by his wife, LaVon Campbell Law; a daughter, Anne and a granddaughter, Mary Bradley Haskell Weatherford. He was also predeceased by his brothers, William Player Law Jr. and wife, Dorothy Foster Law, David Ervin Law St and Elizabeth “Betty” Brown Law and Augustus “Gus” Law and Carolyn Blackwell Law; his sister, Louise Law Wilson and Edward L. Wilson; his brother-in-law, Chester Martin; and a nephew, David Ervin Law Jr.
Memorials may be made to the Susan Johnson Scholarship or the Campaign Fund at the Darlington Presbyterian Church, 311 Pearl St. Darlington, SC 29532; or to a charity of your choice.
A guestbook is available online at belkfuneralhome.com.
