Obituaries – January 1, 2020

Surrounded by loving family members, Annie Lou Hill Colclough Stewart died peacefully on Dec. 20, 2019, at Tuomey Hospital in Sumter, following a brief illness.

The daughter of Thomas Roland and Pearle Huggins Hill, Anne, as she liked to be called, was born in Lamar on Nov. 24, 1926.

She was preceded in death by her first husband Benjamin Davis Colclough Jr., her second husband John Leland Stewart Sr., and her son John Leland Stewart Jr.

The beloved center of her large extended family, Anne is survived by her daughter Anne Colclough Little and her husband Robert, her son Benjamin Davis Stewart and his wife Sandy, and her son Samuel Christopher Stewart, all of Manning; her son Thomas Fenton Stewart and his wife Tiffany of Azle, Tex.; her grandchildren Lisa Kaye Little of Venice, Calif., Stephanie Little Ladeira and her husband Paul of San Jose, Calif., Ericka Stewart Woods and her husband Benjamin of Cashiers, N.C., Brandi Anne Stewart of Florence, Blake Colclough Stewart and his wife Jennifer of Florence, John William Andrew Stewart of Kingsville, Tex., and Christina Brooke Stewart of Columbia; her sisters Priscilla Hill Bochette of Florence and Helen Hill Lee of Birmingham, Ala.; and numerous great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

Anne was a faithful member of Highland Park United Methodist in Florence and later, Manning United Methodist Church. She served on and headed various committees in each church and was active in Sunday school classes, women’s circles and the Nelle Wells outreach project with the Manning Council on Aging.

She was a talented seamstress who enjoyed creating intricate and beautiful clothes for her daughter and granddaughters, as well as crafts for church bazaars. Most memorable was the delicious food that she cooked with ease for family dinners and church events.

The family would like to thank the staff in Independent Living and most recently in Assisted Living at Covenant Place for their cheerfulness and devotion in keeping her active and engaged. The care she received in the Skilled Nursing Facility and the Rehab Center after an earlier fall and illness enabled her to regain her strength and resume an active life.

Anne will be deeply missed and will be remembered for her sense of humor, strength, kindness, positive outlook, happy disposition, devotion to family; and her ever-present examples of kindness and courage.

The visitation was Monday, Dec. 23, followed by the funeral service, both at Belk Funeral Home in Lamar. The Rev. Garland Hart officiated. In lieu of flowers the family suggests memorial gifts to Manning United Methodist Church, the Covenant Place HEG Fund, or the charity of your choice.

DARLINGTON – Rev. Edward Carl Middleton, 84, passed away Monday, Dec. 23, 2019.

Funeral services were Friday, Dec. 27, at Bethea Baptist Church, with a graveside service at Florence National Cemetery, directed by Belk Funeral Home. The family received friends Friday at Belk Funeral Home.

He was born in Darlington County, the son of the late Audrey Carl and Fannie Campbell Middleton. A graduate of Timmonsville High School, he served four years in the U.S. Air Force, attaining the rank of staff sergeant.

After leaving the Air Force, Rev. Middleton attended Mississippi College, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in sociology. Ed and his wife, Ann, spent the following summer as student summer missionaries in Waukesha, Wisc.

Rev. Middleton received the Master of Divinity degree in 1966 from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, N.C. Rev. Middleton would pastor several churches prior to entering the U.S. Navy Chaplain Corps in 1968.

While in the Navy, Chaplain Middleton served duty stations within California and South Carolina, finally retiring as Chaplain of the Naval Hospital in Beaufort. Chaplain Middleton was appointed by Gov. Richard Riley to the Governor’s Task Force for Critical Human Needs and taught at Beaufort Technical College.

Chaplain Middleton was awarded the Navy Commendation Medal, among other accolades. Chaplain Middleton stated he traveled around the world three times and touched the lives of over 100,000 men and women.

After retirement from the Navy, Rev. Middleton pastored Faith Baptist Church in Hartsville and later served as chaplain of Bethea Baptist Retirement Community in Darlington.

Rev. Middleton was the second Silver Haired Legislator for Darlington County; a member of Darlington County Council on Aging; and Chaplain of the Civil Air Patrol Florence Composite Squadron for 10 years. He was twice chosen as South Carolina Civil Air Patrol Chaplain of the Year. Chaplain Middleton was a volunteer Chaplain for many years for McLeod Regional Medical Center in Darlington.

A member of First Baptist Church in Darlington, Rev. Middleton was elected a Deacon, served as Men’s Ministry Coordinator, and led the church basketball team, and was a member of Renny Johnson’s Sunday school class.

He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Ann; his children, Beth Goodyear (Brett) of Surfside Beach, Jerry (Christina) Middleton of Florence, Susan Davis (Gary) of Clinton, and Wendy Chico (Leonardo) of New York City.

Rev. Middleton was grandfather of Morgan Goodyear, Hayes Goodyear, Wyatt Middleton Goodyear, Leigh Ann Middleton, Erica McKensie Middleton, Taylor Middleton, Tyler Middleton, Carson Edwards, Austin Gardner, Gray Gardner, and Gabrielle Gardner; brother, Donnie of Florence.

He was preceded in death by two brothers, Hubert and Herbert Middleton; sister, Sarah Middleton Smith, and brother-in-law, Harry Smith, sister-in-law, Jean Middleton.

FLORENCE — George Lyles Oliver Jr., 92, passed away Dec. 24, 2019. He was born in Richmond, Va., Dec. 3, 1927.

His parents were George Lyles Sr. and Marion Stoneman Oliver. He leaves behind his beloved wife of 65 years, Nell Griggs Oliver of Society Hill, also four children: George Oliver III, William Oliver, Pete Oliver, Julia Oliver; six surviving grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

He graduated from VMI class of 1950-B with a degree in Civil Engineering. He served in the U.S. Army Signal Corps and the S.C. National Guard. He worked for General Electric in Lynchburg, Va., and later started Oliver Engineering services from which he retired.

George’s passion was farming and agriculture. He loved collecting antique Oliver Tractors. George also loved his family deeply and spending time together was important to him.

Visitation was Friday, Dec. 27, at Presbyterian Home of Florence in the Hood Terrace Dining Room. The funeral was Saturday, Dec. 28, at Welsh Neck Baptist Church in Society Hill, with burial in the church cemetery, directed by Belk Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Welsh Neck Baptist Church of Society Hill or the Presbyterian Home of Florence.

A guestbook is available online at belkfuneralhome.com.