Week of Nov. 1, 2017

Joseph “Joey” L. Howle, age 63, passed away Thursday, October 26, 2017. A memorial service was held 6 p.m. Sunday, October 29th in the chapel at Belk Funeral Home. The family received friends from 5-6 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home.

Born July 19, 1954, Joey is the son of the late J.B. and Sara Howle. He was a 1972 graduate of St. John’s High School. He served in the U.S. Army and was stationed at Ft. Benning from 1973-75. He graduated from the U.S. Army Airborne School in 1973, and upon graduating from ranger school, Joey was one of 11 PFC’s in the Army to have achieved the Ranger tab without fail, and served as an Army Airborne Ranger. Joey was a 1981 graduate from Clemson University with a BS in Chemical Engineering. He worked at International Paper in Georgetown, SC, Georgia Pacific in Port Hudson, LA, and at Baker Valve and Machine in Zachary, LA and Roberta, GA.

Joey was an avid outdoorsman and naturalist, who loved all of God’s creations (he could indeed “speak the language”). He loved to read, and his inquisitive mind resulted in knowledge on a variety of subjects that most would overlook. Joey was an excellent cook/baker, and blessed his family and friends with wonderful meals AND DESSERTS (like pound cake) for years. His family and friends were foremost in his priorities, and they ABSOLUTELY knew they were loved.

He is survived by his loving and dedicated wife, Rhonda, and son Clifford (Staci); three grandchildren, Gradyn, Gavin, and Elijah, and parents David and Keri Hanson; a brother, Bryan (Rose) Howle of Darlington; brother-in-law, Larry Andrews; nieces and nephews, and really close friends. He was preceded in death by his parents J.B. and Sara Howle, and his sister, Lynn Andrews.

A guestbook is available online at www.belkfuneralhome.com.

Louise Brown Mouzon, age 88, passed away Thursday, October 27, 2017 in Appling, GA. Funeral services were held 2 p.m. Tuesday, October 31st in the chapel at Belk Funeral Home, with burial following in Mouzon Family Cemetery in Kingstree, SC. The family received friends from 1-2 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home, and other times at the home of Deborah Truett, 706 Rio Dr. Darlington.

Born June 6, 1929, Louise is the daughter of the late Jesse Brown and Bessie Nolan Brown. She was a loving and devoted wife, mother, and grandmother, who enjoyed spending time with her family.

She is survived by her son, Darrell (Hope) Gunter of Thompson, GA; her daughter, Linda Brown Lee of Sumter; 16 grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren, and 4 great-great-grandchildren; and her brother, Charles Brown of Bennettsville.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Dargan Mouzon; her daughter, Barbara Truett; and all of her siblings.
A guestbook is available online at www.belkfuneralhome.com.

Oleene Hamrick Gettys, 89, of Darlington died on Saturday, October 28, 2017 at the McLeod Hospice House in Florence.

Funeral Services were held on Tuesday, October 31, 2017 at 2 p.m. in First Baptist Church, 216 South Main Street, Darlington, SC 29532. Burial followed in Grove Hill Cemetery, directed by Kistler Hardee Funeral Home. The family received friends from 6 until 8 p.m. on Monday, October 30, 2017 at Kistler Hardee Funeral Home, 315 Pearl Street, Darlington, SC 29532 and other times at the home of her son and daughter-in-law, Darryl and Mary Gettys, 100 Woodcreek Drive, Darlington, SC 29532.

Born in Cleveland County, North Carolina on October 30, 1927, daughter of Roy D. Hamrick and Ocie Jones Hamrick, who both predeceased her. Graduated from Cliffside High School, Cliffside, North Carolina. Moving around as her husband’s job dictated, she was formerly employed by Cone Mills Corporation, Cliffside, North Carolina, North Carolina Baptist State Convention, Shelby, North Carolina, United Agency Insurance, Laurens, South Carolina and South Carolina Baptist State Convention, Columbia, South Carolina. For the last forty-three years before her retirement in 2005, she was employed at Pauling and James Law Firm in Darlington, South Carolina. Married for fifty-two years to Miles D. Gettys, who predeceased her on December 17, 2000. Active member of First Baptist Church in Darlington, where she served in many different capacities, Senior Adult Council, Annie Leigh Flowers Circle, Joy Sunday School Class, Young at Heart, member of the Sanctuary Choir for over fifty years, and Just for Women Ministries. She was a member and officer of Pilot Club of Darlington, Secretary of Board of Directors of Darlington Pilot Club Foundation, and member of the Red Hat Society.

Surviving are her two sons, Darryl Gettys and wife, Mary of Darlington, SC and Terry Gettys of Clermont-Ferrand, France; her grandchildren, Kristin Gettys of Atlanta, Georgia, Kyle Gettys and wife, Marcie of Florence, SC, Dr. Keith Gettys and wife, Dr. Katherine of Greenville, SC, Andrew Gettys of Denver, Colorado, and Mark Gettys of New York, New York; two great grandchildren, Scarlett Grace Gettys and Gantt Gettys of Greenville, SC; sister-in-law, Mrs. Marietta (Jerry) Floyd of Shelby, NC; brothers-in-law, Minor (Frances) Gettys of Shelby, NC, and Maynard (Nina) Gettys of Ellenboro, NC; and close friends, David Vaughan of Darlington, who was like another son, and Jane Baldwin of Darlington, SC, and a number of nieces and nephews and cousins.

Memorials may be made to First Baptist Church, PO Box 294, Darlington, South Carolina 29540.

Family and friends are invited to sign the online guest book at www.kistlerhardeefuneralhome.com.