Obituaries – December 18, 2019
Posted on Tuesday, December 17, 2019
William Brearly McCown III, 81, passed away in his home Friday, Dec. 6, 2019, after a brief illness.
He is survived by his three daughters: Melissa McCown (Scott Saby) of Raleigh N.C., Betsy McCown Harris of Florence and Meredith McCown of Darlington, and four grandchildren: Hayns Harris, Dorothy Harris, Crayton Saby and Will Saby.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife of 55 years, Gail.
Born July 18, 1938, Bill, or “Billy” as he was known for many years, was the only child of William Brearly McCown Jr. and Dorothy Delle McDonald McCown, and was a lifelong resident of Darlington and member of Darlington Presbyterian Church.
He graduated from St. John’s High School in 1956 and was the president of his senior class. He attended Clemson University from 1956-61, where he fired the touchdown cannon, served as Country Gentleman and was the Tiger mascot, the first Tiger to be seen on national television.
He was the Clemson mascot when Clemson played in the 1959 Sugar Bowl in New Orleans, when the Tigers played #1-ranked LSU, which was broadcast by NBC. His favorite stories of his time as the Tiger included defending his Tiger tail from Georgia Tech “rats,” as freshmen were called, during some pre-game “attacks,” and traveling by train to the Sugar Bowl with his fellow cheerleaders, including best friend and head cheerleader Erwin Abel of Greenwood. He was recognized as the “oldest living Tiger” at the mascot reunion at Clemson Homecoming 2014.
Following his graduation from Clemson in 1961 with a B.S. in Forestry, Billy married his sweetheart, the former Linda Gail Green of Winston-Salem, N.C., whom he met on a blind date by his cousin Lee McCown Huey, who was a classmate of Gail’s at Coker College.
Billy and Gail celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary prior to Gail’s death in 2016.
Shortly after their honeymoon, Billy and Gail struck out for Fort Sill, Okla., for Army artillery school.
He continued his career in the Army as a member of the 101st Airborne Division out of Fort Campbell, Ky.
Following the end of his service in 1963, they returned to Darlington, where he went to work for Darlington Bank and Trust as a teller, and continued to his banking career at the same location through mergers and acquisitions for more than 20 years.
He graduated from South Carolina Bankers School and The School of Banking of the South from Louisiana State University in Louisiana.
In 1986, McCown and other community leaders decided that Darlington needed a community bank with Darlington roots to ensure that banking needs of the local community would be served by a local community bank.
Darlington County Bank, with McCown as its president and CEO, opened for business on March 10, 1986, in Darlington.
In April 2009, the bank changed its legal name to Dedicated Community Bank and began doing business as DCB, Your Dedicated Community Bank.
While serving as president and CEO of DCB for 17 years, he also served as president of the Independent Banks (IBSC) of South Carolina from 1994-1995 and continued as past president for many years. He was named IBSC Banker of the Year in 1999.
In addition, he volunteered with several local civic organizations, including: The Darlington County Heart Fund and the Saleeby Development Center. He was a member of Kiwanis, American Legion Post 13, Boy Scouts of America and the Darlington Chamber of Commerce.
A guestbook is available online at belkfuneralhome.com.
Helen Windham Jordan of Lamar passed away Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2019.
Visitation was at Belk Funeral Home in Lamar Friday, Dec. 13. A memorial service was held Saturday, Dec. 14, at Newman Swamp Southern Methodist Church in Lamar, with graveside services directed by Belk Funeral Home.
Mrs. Jordan was born July 8, 1942, in Society Hill. She was the daughter of the late William Reid and Lucille Sutton Windham. She was preceded in death by her husband, MSGT Walter Lee Jordan, USAF, retired, and her siblings J.E. Windham, Daryl Windham, Doris Wilkes, Keith Windham, Catherine Wilkes, Billie Coates.
She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and friend. Her favorite hobbies were making jewelry, scarves and spending time with her family and many friends from church and the Lawrenceville, Ga., Senior Center.
Surviving are her children: Joann Howard of Lamar.; LTC Jon E. Jordan, USAR, retired (Andi) of Charleston; Justin Jordan (Elizabeth) of Dacula, Ga.; Jeff Jordan of Cumming, Ga.; grandchildren, Julia Hudson (Chris), Andrew Howard (Rachel), AsheLynne Jordan Fulghum (Chris), JilliAnne Jordan, Liana Jordan, Daniel Jordan, Rebecca Jordan, Hannah Jordan; Will Jordan and Sarah Kate Jordan; great-grandchildren, Tyler Hudson, Blake Hudson, Lilly Hudson, Andy Howard and Alex Howard.
Memorials may be made to Lamar Freewill Baptist Church, 106 N. Darlington Avenue, Lamar, SC 29069; Restoration Presbyterian Church, 4907 Golden Parkway, Unit 500, Buford, Ga. 30518.
A guestbook is available at belkfuneralhome.com.
LAMAR — Robert Dale Watford, 68, died at his home, surrounded by family, on Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2019.
A memorial service was held Sunday, Dec. 15, in Christian Pathway Church in Lamar. The family received at the church on Sunday, directed by Belk Funeral Home.
Born March 3, 1951, in Darlington County, he was the son of Ethel Hutson Watford and the late Robert “Bobby” Lee Watford.
Dale drove trucks for VULCRAFT for 38 years, then for Ard Trucking. He enjoyed watching NASCAR, antiquing and collecting old toys. Mr. Watford was a member of Christian Pathway Church.
In addition to his mother, he is survived by his children, Beth Watford (Andrew) Brown, Nash (Patricia) Watford, all of Lamar, a sister, Ruth (Keith) Robinson, brothers, Charlie (Teresa) Watford, Mike (Lisa) Watford, several nieces and nephews, a godchild, Brently Steptoe.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Kim Martin Watford, and a brother, Gary “Bimbo” Watford.
Memorials may be made to American Liver Foundation, liverfoundation.org.
A guestbook is available online at belkfuneraklhome.com.
DARLINGTON — Carolyn D. Honney, 82, died Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2019, at her residence.
A funeral service was held Friday at Belk Funeral Home, with burial in Grove Hill Cemetery. The family received friends at the funeral home Friday and other times at the home of Melba Honney, 514 Honneybee Drive, Darlington.
Born in Darlington County, she was the daughter of the late Harvey Sr. and Lurline Suggs Honney. She retired from ESAB and was a member of their bowling team. She was also a member of the Eastern Star and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
She is survived by her brother, Harvey (Carol) Honney Jr. of Florence, a sister-in-law, Melba Honney of Darlington, many nieces and nephews, including her special niece, Rene Sturgeon and her children, Elizabeth and Madison; whom Carolyn loved very much.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by brothers, Oliver Honney, Olin Honney, Ronald Honney and sisters, Wilma H. Banks and Blanche Honney.
The family expresses their gratitude to Jill Eaddy and Agape Hospice for their special care and love during Carolyn’s illness.
Memorials may be made to the American Breast Cancer Foundation at abcf.org.
A guestbook is available at belkfuneralhome.com.
FLORENCE — Henrietta “Rhetta” Blanding Wood passed away surrounded by her family Dec. 12, 2019.
A funeral service was held at All Saints Anglican Church on Saturday, Dec. 14, 2019, with burial in Grove Hill Cemetery, directed by Belk Funeral Home.
The family received friends at the church on Saturday.
Born Jan. 26, 1932, in Sumter, she was the daughter of the late Henrietta Aiken Rhett Blanding and James Douglas Blanding, Ph.D. She attended the University of South Carolina and the College of Charleston. Mrs. Wood was a member of the Tri Delta sorority, Daughters of the King, Altar Guild, All Saints Anglican Church, and served in the Red Cross.
She is survived by her husband of 53 years, Dr. Laurence W. Wood Jr., children: Mark Campbell (Dana) Wood, Loren Rhett (Jami) Hamilton and Margie Anne (Mike Attaway) Wood, eight grandchildren: Mark Bradley, Megan Torres, Andrew, Blake, Taylor and Paige Hartgraves, Alicia Rhett Dozier, Melanie Dozier; two great-grandchildren, Hadley and Benjamin Hartgraves, and a brother, James Douglas Blanding Jr., M.D.
She was preceded in death by her parents and her son, Larry Wood. Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, www.alz.org. A guestbook is available online at belkfuneralhome.com.
FLORENCE — Miriam King Spell, 84, of Florence died on Saturday, Dec. 14, 2019, at McLeod Hospice House in Florence.
Funeral services were held Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2019, at Kistler Hardee Funeral Home Chapel. Burial was at Darlington Memory Gardens. The family received friends Tuesday, Dec. 17, at Kistler Hardee Funeral Home and other times at the home.
Miriam was born in Darlington County. She was the daughter of the late Henry Ellis King and Nora Lee Dunn King.
Miriam worked for many years at GE as an inspector.
She was a faithful member of Darlington Church of God of Prophecy in Darlington. Miriam enjoyed sewing and spending time with her family.
Surviving are her husband, Robert Everett Spell of the home; her daughter, Renee Spell Taylor and husband Marshall of Florence; grandchildren, Jessica Schmidt (Chris), Justin Taylor (Casey) and Ryan Taylor (Meonica); great-grandchildren, Marshall, Mason, Meo, Blake and Gracie Mae; and sisters Jeanette Davis of Darlington and Eunice Weatherford of Darlington.
Miriam was preceded in death by her brother, Henry Ellis King; her sisters, Frances Boan and Doris Truett.
Memorials may be made to Darlington Church of God of Prophecy, 920 West Smith Ave., Darlington SC 29532.
Family and friends are invited to sign the online guest book at kistlerhardeefuneralhome.com.
