Week of March 21, 2018

Jeffrey Allen Smith, age 53, passed away Monday, March 12, 2018. A memorial service was held 4 p.m. Thursday, March 15 in the chapel at Belk Funeral Home. The family received friends one hour prior at the funeral home.

Born March 24, 1964 in Bridgeport Connecticut, Jeffrey is the son of Ruth Smith Carey and the late Ralph A. Carey. He served in the U.S. Navy and worked as a dispatcher for Jones Brothers Transportation.

In addition to his mother, Ruth Smith Carey, Jeffrey is survived by his wife, Linda Guanzon Smith; his daughter, Heather Smith of Darlington; his great-grandmother, Velma Carey; his cousin, Jasen and his children, Courtney, and Dylan Hastey. He was preceded in death by his brother, Stevens M. Cole.

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

Richard Franklin Bryant, Sr., 89, widower of Minnie Blackwood Bryant, died on Saturday, March 10, 2018 surrounded by his family. Funeral services for Mr. Bryant were held at 1 p.m. Tuesday, March 13, 2018 at Kelleytown Baptist Church. The Rev. Dr. Rod Elliot officiated with burial in Grove Hill Cemetery, Darlington, SC. The family received friends from 5 until 7 p.m. on Monday, March 12, 2018 at Brown-Pennington-Atkins Funeral Home.

Born in Columbia, SC, he was a son of the late Ezra Franklin and Martha Russ Bryant. He was a member of Kelleytown Baptist Church. He had previously been a member of First Baptist Church for over 35 years where he served as chairman of the Deacons and director of the Senior Adult Sunday School Class. Richard was a Past President of the Hartsville Kiwanis Club and the Darlington Kiwanis Club and had served as the Lt. Governor of Kiwanis Carolinas District. He was co-owner and manager of Minnie’s Giftique for 15 years and had previously worked for J.L. Coker & Co. for 12 years and McCrory – McLellan Stores for 20 years. He was currently a volunteer at Carolina Pines Regional Medical Center. He enjoyed woodworking, gardening, and travel. He was an avid Clemson fan.

Surviving are his daughters, Mary Lynn (Dr. Eric “Ric”) Nelson of Spartanburg, SC, Donna Ann (Wilbur) Vaughan of Darlington, SC; son, Richard F. (Sandra) Bryant, Jr. of Greensboro, NC; brother, Ralph (Helen) Bryant of Columbia, SC; sisters, Jane Cook of Chapin, SC, Wanda (Earl) Craig of Columbia, SC; grandchildren, Katherine Nelson (Matt) Daniels, Bryant Nelson, Laura Vaughan (Scott) Gauger, Richard Vaughan, Russ Bryant, Franklin Bryant, Grayson Bryant; great-grandchildren, Nelson Daniels, Steele Daniels.

He was preceded in death by his brother, Edwin Bryant.

Memorials may be made to the Darlington County Human Society, Box 1655, Hartsville, SC or Kelleytown Baptist Church, 2609 Kelleytown Rd., Hartsville, SC 29550.

Online condolences can be given at www.bpafuneralhome.com.