Week of April 6, 2016

Lorene Stewart Simmons, age 63, passed away in her home after a battle with cancer Monday, March 28, 2016. Funeral services were held 4:00 p.m. Thursday, March 31st in the chapel at Belk Funeral Home with burial following at Black Creek Cemetery.

Born March 30, 1952, Lorene was the daughter of the late Edell Andrews and Toye Benjamin Stewart, Sr. She attended Florence-Darlington Technical College and Coker College, and then worked as a teacher’s assistant for Darlington County Schools for 23 years. She loved to out-fish her husband, and loved working and tending in the yard. Lorene loved her children and enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren and loved spending time in the mountains.

Surviving are her husband, William P. “Billy” Simmons of Darlington; her sons, William (Ashley) Simmons, Jr. of Darlington and Matthew (Stephanie) Simmons of Charleston; her grandchildren, Landon Simmons and Liam Simmons; her sisters, Mattie Dowling and Carolyn (Orville) Anderson; her brothers, Franklin (Judy) Stewart, Toye (Audrey) Stewart, Jr.; and a number of nieces and nephews.

The family received friends Wednesday evening, March 30th, at Belk Funeral Home.

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

Robert Francis McCready, Sr. also known as Mac, Bob, Daddy, Granddad, and Papa-san died surrounded by family in the McLeod Hospice House on March 25, 2016, his 86th birthday and Good Friday. McCready always liked getting older, and it was fitting that he completed another turn around the sun and gained another year before leaving. “I’m going to make it to a hundred,” he joked, whenever he talked about his mortality. Other times, he would say, “I’m living on borrowed time.” He met every birthday with surprise and gratitude.

More than getting older, McCready enjoyed his time as an infantryman in the U.S. Army and Air Force. He said, “I loved the service,” thinking about being stationed around the country and overseas, fighting at the Battle of Heartbreak Ridge in Korea and making two tours of Vietnam. Overall, he served his country for over twenty years, earning numerous medals.

“I’ve been all over the world,” he said. “I know people in every country.” But his favorites were his family. McCready believed that charity starts at home. In retirement, one of his favorite pastimes was to go visiting, announcing his arrival with his characteristically slow, three knocks.

After McCready gave-up driving, he liked to receive visitors. He offered Coca-Cola, coffee, or Boost. The Waltons often played on his kitchen TV set. He said, “Wouldn’t it be nice if the whole family could live together in one house [like the Waltons]?” He got his wish, moving in with family during his final months.

McCready kept his senses his whole life, and he often used his quick wit to offer wisdom and commentary on every day life. On storms in the southeast: “All tornadoes leave behind is heartache and new land to build a house on.” On the first day of national poetry month: “There goes a man and wife/he looks like a straw/and she looks like a blimp.” On the state of the country—we better not say. McCready said to never talk about politics, religion, or nationality. Let’s just say that he wanted to make America great again.

He was born March 25, 1930 in Allegheny County, PA. McCready was the son of the late Mary Melissa Elliott and Edwin Leroy McCready, and was the last remaining of twelve children.

Surviving are his two daughters, Debra Anne (Steven) Rath and Cheryl Lynne McCready, both of Florence; his son, Robert Francis McCready, Jr; his grandchildren, Christina (Michael Bonocora) McCready, Robert E. McCready, Candace Rath, and many nieces and nephews.

The family received friends at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 2, 2016 at Parkwood Presbyterian Church, 2307 Cascade Ave Florence, S.C. 29505. Services followed at 3:00 p.m.

Memorials may be made to Veterans of Foreign Wars at www.vfw.org; or to Parkwood Presbyterian Church.

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

Funeral services for Mrs. Sarah Jane Allen Jackson of Florence were held 11:00 a.m. Saturday, April 2, 2016 at New Zion Deliverance Baptist Church in Darlington.

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

Mrs. Jackson was born on May 21, 1931 in Hartsville, South Carolina, the daughter of the late Hattie Graham and Robert Allen. She died Tuesday March 29, 2016 in a Florence hospital.

She attended the public schools of Darlington County.

Survivors include: her son, Freddie (Sandra) Jackson; one sister- in- law, Julia Quillen; two grandchildren, Jade and Ryan Jackson; one stepson, Boyd (Shirley) Jackson Jr.; one stepdaughter, Terronia Johnson; two special daughters, Sharon and Evonne ; and a host of nieces, nephews, many other relatives and friends.

The family is receiving friends at the residence of her son and daughter-in-law, 1002 W. McIver Road, Darlington.