Week of April 19, 2017

Mrs. Lurenia H. Bristow was born on January 9, 1919 to the late Early and Patsy Berry Howard in Darlington County. On April 13th, Lurenia peacefully transitioned into eternal life.

Funeral services for Mrs. Lurenia H. Bristow of Darlington will be noon Wednesday, April 19 at Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church in Darlington.

Interment will follow in Faith Memorial Gardens directed by Jordan Funeral Home, Inc.

She completed her education at Atkins High School in Winston-Salem, NC.

Lurenia met and later married the late Eugene Bristow, Sr.

She was an active member of Macedonia Baptist Church for 60+ years.

Left to cherish her memory are 5 sons; Bernard Howard (Loretta), Eugene, Jr., Lorenzo (Myrtle), Aaron (Vivian), and Harry (Venetia) Bristow; 2 daughters, Renee Lucas and Faye Preston; 11 grandchildren, 14 great grandchildren and 1 great-great grandchild; a brother, Paulet Howard; several nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.

The family is receiving friends at the residence, 308 Hickory Street, Darlington.

Mrs. Mary R. Gregg was born in Darlington County on January 11, 1942, a daughter of the late Albert and Rosa Lee Kelly Robinson. She quietly passed on Wednesday, April 12, 2017.

Funeral services for Mrs. Gregg were held 1p.m. Monday, April 17 at New Providence Missionary Baptist Church in Darlington.

Interment followed in Kelly Cemetery directed by Jordan Funeral Home, Inc.

Mary graduated from Mayo High School in 1959. She retired from MSD after many years of service.

She joined and was baptized at New Providence Missionary Baptist Church in Darlington, SC. where she served in many capacities. She was also a member of the Pride of Darlington Chapter #88 Order of the Eastern Star and the American Legion Auxiliary Unit #210.

Survivors are: her husband, James F. (Jack) Gregg; two children, Sidney (Stephanie) Gregg and Terra Gregg; a step-daughter, Tasha Taylor; two granddaughters; a great grandson; seven siblings, Shirley (Cleveland) McLeod, Martha Robinson, Hezekiah (Suedell) Robinson, Sarah (Robert) Campbell, Rosa McLeod, Lurelia (Ronnie) Ridges and Ulysses (Mildred) Brockington; 3 sisters- in- law and 2 brothers-in-law; an aunt, Lizzie Kelly; devoted friends, Mr.& Mrs. Freddie Cooper; nephews, nieces, cousins, other relatives and friends.

Eastern Star rites for Mrs. Gregg were held in the funeral home chapel. The family received friends in the chapel after the service until 8 p.m. and at other times the residence, 129 Gandy Street, Darlington.

George Walter Abbott, age 78, passed away Sunday, April 9, 2017 in McLeod Hospice House. A graveside service was held 11a.m. Wednesday, April 12th at Grove Hill Cemetery, directed by Belk Funeral Home. The family received friends immediately following the service.

Born April 10, 1938, George is the son of the late James Weldon Abbott and Maggie Skinner Abbott. He was a 1956 graduate of St. John’s High School, and a 1962 graduate of Clemson College (University). George owned and operated Bright Leaf Sales Tobacco Warehouse as an International Tobacconist, and consultant. He was known to “hold court” everywhere he went. He was a Shriner, a Mason, and a member of Black Creek Baptist Church.

Surviving are his wife, Joyce C. Abbott; his daughter, Suzan (Harry) Pigford of Darlington; his grandchildren, P.J. James, Jake James, Marshall Pigford, Geoffrey Pigford, and Maggie (Matthew McMahon) Abbott. Also surviving are his daughter-in-law, Tammy Abbott, and his “adopted son”, Earl Seawell. He was predeceased by his son, George Walter Abbott, III.

Memorials may be made to Black Creek Baptist Church, 137 Mont Clare Rd, Darlington, SC 29540; or to Samaritan’s Purse, www.samaritanspurse.org.

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

Robert Gerald ‘Jerry’ Taylor, son of the late A Z and Elizabeth Yarboro Taylor, passed away on April 11, 2017. A graveside service was held in Grove Hill Cemetery at noon on Thursday, April 13, 2017, directed by Belk Funeral Home. The family received friends from 11 a.m. until noon at the funeral home.

Jerry was the beloved husband of the late Bobbie Jean Edwards Taylor, brother of Carol Padgett, father of Lee Taylor, June Taylor, Jan Psillos, and grandfather of Nicole and Taylor Psillos, Lacey (David) Shadoan, and Morgan (Evan) Fazekas. Jerry served in the United States Airforce, playing baseball for the Lowry Air Force national champions. He continued to play ball well into his senior days. Through the years he was an avid fisherman, chess player, superb cook, and loved dancing with his wife. Jerry enjoyed his church family at Epworth Methodist Church where he taught Sunday school and participated on the choir. Jerry retired from the US Postal Service serving as mailman for many parts of the Darlington community. He will also be missed by his many nieces and nephews. Donations may be to Epworth Methodist Church, C/O Paula Stokes 240 Pinewood Dr. Darlington SC 29532.

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

Dianne Wallace Cook, 72, of Hartsville died on Wednesday, April 12, 2017.

Funeral services was held on Saturday, April 15, 2017 at 1 p.m. in Souls Harbor Pentecostal Holiness Church. Burial will follow in Grove Hill Cemetery, directed by Kistler Hardee Funeral Home of Darlington. The family received friends from 6 until 8 p.m. on Friday, April 14, 2017 at Kistler Hardee Funeral Home in Darlington and other times at the home, 1615 Willis Drive, Hartsville.

Dianne was born in Charlotte, North Carolina. She was the daughter of the late David Wallace and Dorothy Evans Wallace. Dianne was a member of Souls Harbor Pentecostal Holiness Church in Hartsville and retired from Diamond Hill Plywood in Darlington.

Surviving are her husband, Clyde Cook of Hartsville; her son, James Poe and wife, Kerry of Hallandale, Florida; her grandchildren, Colten Poe, Dalton Poe and Austin Poe all of Hallandale, Florida.

Dianne was preceded in death by her parents, and by her brothers, Donald Wallace and Ricky Wallace.

Memorials may be made to Soul’s Harbor Pentecostal Holiness Church, 2000 W. BoBo Newsome Highway, Hartsville, South Carolina 29550.

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

Horace Lavern Johnson, age 72, passed away Wednesday, April 12, 2017. Funeral services were held at 12 p.m. Saturday, April 15th in the chapel at Belk Funeral Home; burial followed in Darlington Memory Gardens. The family received friends one hour prior to the service at the funeral home.

Born May 9, 1944, Lavern is the son of the late Willie Johnson and Minnie Buck Johnson. He served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War, and then worked in the trucking industry until his retirement. Lavern was an avid fisherman, loved his dogs, and was always smiling and willing to help others.

Lavern is survived by many special nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife, Barbara Johnson; his siblings, Ida Lee Lamb, Ida Rae Rogers, Edith Weatherford, Daisy Hartley, Annie Mae Jackson, and Leroy Johnson.

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