Week of June 29, 2016

Jerrel Sansbury age 87, died Wednesday, June 22, 2016 in a local hospital. A graveside service was held at 11:30 a.m. Friday, June 24 at Lake Swamp Cemetery. The family received friends from 10:00-11:00 a.m. Friday at Belk Funeral Home.

Born January 1, 1929 in Darlington County, he was the son of the late Thomas J. and Aara Griggs Sansbury. Jerrel served in the S.C. National Guard and worked for 25 years with Pee Dee Electric, and then farmed until 2008. He was a member of First Baptist Church of Darlington, active in his Neighborhood Crime Watch Association, and was a past member of Darlington Rotary Club.

Surviving are his son, Mitchell (Susan) Sansbury, his daughter, Donna (Dr. Fripp) Ducker, a grandson, William Benton, Jr. all of Florence; a special friend and caregiver, Albert “Pee Wee” Dixon; his twin brother, Ferrel (Barbara) Sansbury of Santee; sisters: Margaret Newsome of Hartsville, and Carolyn Humphries and Marilyn Sansbury – both from Florence.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Eleanor J. Sansbury; his siblings: Catherine Cross, Lonnie Sansbury, and Belle Branham.
Memorials may be made to First Baptist Church of Darlington, Post Office Box 297, Darlington, SC 29540.

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

Mrs. Winnie H. Crowley, aged 104 years, died on June twenty-second, 2016, at Hospice House in Florence, South Carolina.

She was born on the twenty-first of May 1912 in Darlington County, South Carolina, the fifth of eight children of the late Wade Hampton Howle and Ina Edwards Howle.

Mrs. Crowley graduated from Saint John’s High School in Darlington in June of 1929, and graduated from the McLeod Infirmary School of Nursing in Florence in June of 1933. It was about this time that she went on a blind date in Myrtle Beach at the request of her sister and met Owen C. Phillips, the man who would become her first husband. After graduation from McLeod, she was awarded and completed a one-year fellowship in surgical nursing at New York General Hospital in New York City. It was there that she married Owen in April of 1935. The couple settled in Dauberville, Pennsylvania, near her husband’s boyhood home, and in 1941 welcomed one son, Jay O. Phillips.
In 1946, she moved with her husband and son back to Darlington. They were among the founding owners of Farmers’ Hardware on the Public Square in Darlington. After Owen died in 1959, Mrs. Crowley continued to operate the business on her own. She later remarried to the late Willard O. “Bill” Crowley, and the two of them operated the hardware business until their retirement. Mrs. Crowley was a member of Trinity Methodist Church in Darlington, and was active in the Pilot Club. Mrs. Crowley moved to the Methodist Manor of the Pee Dee in 1992, and soon became active in her new community. She used her retail experience to help organize and operate The Reminisce Shoppe, a gift shop for the residents of the Methodist Manor. Her desire to help others led to the charitable clothing drive known as “Winnie’s Warmest Wishes,” begun in 2014 to collect warm winter clothing for those in need.

Mrs. Crowley is survived by her son, Jay O. Phillips and his wife, Lynda of Greenville, South Carolina; her step-daughter, Dorothy C. Baker, her husband, Don, and their son, Lanier, all of Palacios, Texas; her granddaughter, Amy P. Rosenthal, her husband, James, and their son, Brannock, all of Bethesda, Maryland; plus many nieces and nephews.

A graveside service was conducted at Grove Hill Cemetery in Darlington at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, June twenty-fifth directed by Belk Funeral Home. The family will greet visitors after the service.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Resident Assistance fund of the Methodist Manor, 2100 Twin Church Rd. Florence, SC 29501.

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

Kevin M. Anderson, age 47 passed away Thursday, June 23, 2016. Funeral services were held 3:00 p.m. Sunday, June 26th at Darlington First Church of God, followed by burial at Darlington Memory Gardens.

Born March 26, 1969, Kevin was the son of Mitchell L. Anderson and Patricia Bailey Anderson. He was a hard worker at his jobs, and enjoyed hunting and listening to music, and was a fan of Elvis Presley music. Kevin was a member of Darlington First Church of God.
Surviving in addition to his parents are his wife, Michelle Manship Cranford, and his sister, Debbie Anderson, both of Darlington; and all of his four-legged children.

The family received friends from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. Saturday, June 25th at Belk Funeral Home.

Memorials may be made to the Darlington Humane Society Rescue, P.O. Box 503 Darlington, S.C. 29540.

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

James “Jim” Wells, Jr., known affectionately by his family as “Jr.”, died June 23, 2016 in a local hospital. A funeral service was held 4:00 p.m. Sunday, June 26 in the chapel of Belk Funeral Home. The family received friends from 3:00 – 4:00 p.m. Sunday, at the funeral home. Burial took place at Florence National Cemetery at 11:00 a.m. Monday with full Military Honors.

Born November 9, 1933 in Davin, West Virginia, he was the son of the late Samuel and Lura Brown Wells. Jim served his country in the United States Marine Corps and fought in the Korean War. He worked as a coal miner, worked for Chrysler Motors, and the last 27 years in maintenance for Southern Development Company. Jim loved his Lord and going to church; he was a devoted member of Temple Free Will Baptist Church. Mr. Wells enjoyed the time he spent with his grandchildren, and also working in his yard. He will be remembered as an excellent storyteller.

Surviving is his wife, Carolyn G. Wells, his son, James Thomas “Tommy” Wells, his daughter, Rhonda (David) Langston all of Darlington; his grandchildren: Joshua Wells, Dereck Yoho, Rebekah Wells, Kaylynn Wells, and Hunter Langston; a great granddaughter, Destiny Yoho; many nieces and nephews including a special nephew, Sammy Knight, Jr.; two sisters: Violet Knight, and Doris Reedy; and a special friend, Ralph Helton.

He was preceded in death by a brother, Charles Wells, and four sisters: Edra Atkins, Louise Asbury, Ruth Frye, and Judy Toler.
Memorials may be made to Temple Free Will Baptist Church, 1660 N. Governor Williams Hwy, Darlington, S.C. 29540 or American Cancer Society 950 48th Ave North, Myrtle Beach, S.C. 29575.

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

John T. Jordan, age 83 passed away Friday, June 24, 2016. A graveside service was held at 4:00 p.m. Monday, June 27th at Grove Hill Cemetery directed by Belk Funeral Home.

Born December 23, 1932, John was the son of the late William L. Jordan and Maggie Windham Jordan. He served in the U.S. Army, and then worked for Dixie Cup and Perfection American until his retirement. John loved the Lord and was of the Methodist faith.

Surviving are his sisters, June Perdue of Hartsville, Theo Odom of Bennettsville, and Mildred Young of Darlington; two nieces; and six nephews. He was preceded in death by his sister, Margaret Jordan; and his brother, Charles Jordan.

The family would like to give a special thanks to the staff of Oakhaven Nursing Home for their care for Mr. Jordan.

The family received friends from 3:00 – 4:00 p.m. Monday at Belk Funeral Home.

Memorials may be made to a charity of one’s choice.

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