Obituaries – January 15, 2020
Posted on Tuesday, January 14, 2020
DARLINGTON – Otis “Pete” Edwards, 87, passed away Friday, Jan. 3, 2020. A memorial service was held Saturday, Jan. 11, at the Darlington Moose Lodge, 1056 N. Governor Williams Highway, Darlington.
Born in Darlington County on June 11, 1932, Pete was the son of the late Alec Edwards and Margurite Gainey. He served in the Army National Guard Reserve for 10 years, then worked for Tucker Enterprise.
Pete loved his community and was involved in the construction of the Darlington Racetrack, was an avid NASCAR fan, and was a member of the Moose Lodge. He was a generous and selfless person who loved to help people, and would often contribute to St. Jude Children’s Hospital.
Surviving are his son, Otis “Skip” (Luise) Edwards Jr. of Orlando, Fla.; grandchildren, Cheri, Crystal, Candice, and Ashleigh Michelle; great-grandchildren, Olivia Isaac, Sofia Isaac, Morgan Edwards, Miya Edwards, Jacob Edward Forst, Colton James Forst, Zachary Cullen Forst; and a daughter-in-law, Cheryl Edwards.
He was preceded in death by his son, Mike Edwards; and a daughter, Sonja Edwards.
Memorials may be made to St. Jude Children’s Hospital, stjude.org.
A guestbook is available online at belkfuneralhome.com.
DARLINGTON – Sarah “Frankie” Frances Jordan Harrell, 84, passed away Monday, Jan. 6, 2020.
Funeral services were held Wednesday in the chapel at Belk Funeral Home with burial at Philadelphia Southern Methodist Church Cemetery.
The family received friends at the funeral home and other times at the home of Ricky and Janice Harrell, 132 Knotty Pine Road, Darlington.
Born Nov. 12, 1935, Frankie was the daughter of the late Charles Leslie Jordan and Mary Odom Jordan. She will be remembered for being a hard worker, loved taking care of her children and grandchildren, and loved classic country music.
She attended Friends Missions Church.
Surviving are her son, George Richard “Ricky” (Janice) Harrell Jr.; grandchildren, George “Doodle” Kevin (Tammy) Northcutt of Hartsville, Mark Odom of Michigan; great-grandchildren, Bridgette Northcutt (Bryan) Miller of Hartsville, Todd Northcutt of the home; great-great-grandchildren, Natalia, Colby and Kaynin, and Scarlet Miller soon to be born; siblings, Carolyn Broach, Charles W. “Sonny” Jordan, both of Florida, Billie Rae (Tommy) Jordan of Camden, Wendy Faye Baker of Sumter; son-in-law, Raleigh Harrington.
She was preceded in death by her husband, George Richard Harrell; daughter, Debra Oliver Harrington; sisters, Mary Lou Morrell, Rosie Kennedy; brother, Maxie Lee Jordan.
Memorials may be made to Friends Missions Church, 1915 Harry Byrd Highway, Darlington, SC 29532; or to Indian Branch United Methodist Church, PO Box 456, Darlington, SC 29540.
A guestbook is available online at belkfuneralhome.com.
DARLINGTON – Margaret Ann Middleton, 80, passed away Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2020.
Funeral services were Sunday, Jan. 12, at Bethea Baptist Community, directed by Belk Funeral Home.
The family received friends in the Fellowship Hall.
A graveside service was held Monday at Florence National Cemetery.
Margaret Ann Bradley Middleton was born in Pine Bluff, Ark., the daughter of the late Thomas Eric Bradley Sr. and Margaret Payne Bradley.
She always valued education and the joy of learning. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree with Distinction from Mississippi College, Clinton, Miss., and her Master’s of Education degree from Francis Marion College.
When her husband, Edward Middleton, became a Navy chaplain, Mrs. Middleton worked as board chairman of Camp Pendleton, Calif., Pre-Kindergarten School, president of Chaplain Wives at Camp Pendleton and Beaufort; Director of Religious Education for Seabee Chapel, Port Hueneme, Calif., and president of the Naval Officers Wives Club, Beaufort.
She served actively in the military chapels, churches and community.
She was a gifted pianist who could play by ear.
Serving faithfully alongside her husband, she was also a musician for the services.
Mrs. Middleton was an English teacher at Oxford (N.C.) Elementary School, Millbrook (N.C.) Elementary School, St. John’s High School and Darlington High School.
She received four awards to write local history with her students from Project REACH, founded by the Rockefeller Foundation, and was named a National Endowment for the Humanities Fellow.
An active member of First Baptist Church, Darlington, Mrs. Middleton served on the Church History Committee, in the Eloise Smyre Circle and a member of the Renny Johnson Sunday School Class.
A loving and dedicated mother, Mrs. Middleton is survived by her sister-in-law Donna Bradley of Southaven, Miss., and her four children: Beth Goodyear (Brett) of Surfside Beach; Jerry Middleton (Christina) of Darlington; Susan Davis (Gary) of Clinton; and Wendy Chico (Leonardo) of New York City.
She was a grandmother to Morgan Goodyear, Hayes Goodyear, Wyatt Goodyear, Leigh Ann Middleton, Erica McKensie Middleton, Carson Edwards, Taylor Middleton, Tyler Middleton, Austin Gardner, Gray Gardner and Gabrielle Gardner.
Her faithful husband of 61 years, Edward Middleton, and her brother Thomas Eric Bradley, Jr. (Donna) of Southaven, Miss., preceded her in death.
A guestbook is available online at belkfuneralhome.com.
DARLINGTON – Wanda “Candy” Atkinson Williamson, 66, passed away Sunday, Jan. 12, 2020. A graveside service was held Wednesday, Jan. 15, at Darlington Memory Gardens. The family received friends Tuesday at Belk Funeral Home.
Born April 7, 1953, Wanda was the daughter of the late Willie E. Atkinson and Rowena Andrews Atkinson. She worked as a Pharmacy Tech for CVS in Darlington and Hartsville. She was of the Baptist faith and attended Mt. Elon Baptist Church.
Surviving are her husband of 37 years, F. Walker Williamson Jr.; children, William “Bill” Jarrell of Spokane, Wash., Carey (Jack) Hatchell of Timmonsville, Trey (Amanda) Williamson of Bishopville; a number of grandchildren; sister, Shirley (Jim) Bruner of South Port, N.C.; brother, Scott (Kathy) Atkinson of Hartsville; a very close friend, Chrystal (John Ervin) Caston of Hartsville; sisters-in-law, Sylvia (Clyde) Lane, Judy Blackmon, Rose (Sidney) Howell, and Linda (Jimmy) Yarborough.
Memorials may be made to the National Kidney Foundation, kidney.org.
A guestbook is available online at belkfuneralhome.com.