Today's Obituaries and Guest Books

James Ralph Alexander

Greenville

James "Jim" Ralph Alexander, 62, of Greenville, passed away on Friday, May 17, 2013 at his residence.

Born in Greenville on May 2, 1951, he was the son of Bethel Sanders Alexander and the late William Ralph Alexander. He graduated from Greenville High School, Class of 1969 and attended the University of Tennessee, majoring in Zoology. He owned his own business, Water Management Consultants. Jim was a member of Augusta Heights Baptist Church.

Surviving in addition to his mother are two sisters, Judy Alexander Ramsey of Atlanta, GA and Gay Alexander Satterfield and her husband, Dr. B. Holland Satterfield, Jr. of Spartanburg; one nephew, Dr. Bryan Holland Satterfield and his wife, Dr. Susan Satterfield, of Greenville; and two great-nieces, Sylvie Diana and Maeve Holland Satterfield.

A Memorial Service was held in the Downtown Chapel of Thomas McAfee Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Augusta Heights Baptist Church, 3018 Augusta St., Greenville, SC 29605. Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.thomasmcafee.com.

LCDR (Ret.) Eugene F. Arnold

Taylors

LCDR (Ret.) Eugene F. "Gene" Arnold, 90, went to be with the Lord on Sunday, May 19, 2013.

The son of the late Eugene F. Arnold, Sr., and Lucia Ashmore Arnold, he was a U.S. Navy fighter pilot during WWII.

He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Margie Brown Arnold; four children, Debbie Shelley (pred. Randy), Meri Ann Thomason (Rodney), Tim Arnold (Jane), and Shawn MacDonald (Trey), twelve grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren. He was also predeceased by two brothers, Richard E. "Rip" Arnold and J. Pearce "Pete" Arnold. He was a member of Hampton Park Baptist Church and of The American Legion Post 3.

A gentle and giving man, Mr. Arnold enjoyed boating, hunting and shooting, and playing with his grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Miracle Hill Children's Home, PO Box 2546, Greenville, SC 29602.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday at 10:30 AM at Hampton Park Baptist Church. The family will receive friends on Wednesday night from 6-8 PM at Palmetto Mortuary, 1313A Miller Rd., Greenville. Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.thepalmettomortuary.com. The family would like to thank Lisa, Tonya, Nikki, and all of the other angels at Hospice Care of South Carolina for their loving care at this time.

Ernestine Barksdale

Syracuse, NY

Ernestine Barksdale, age 56, of 550 South Clinton Plaza, Apt.# 805, Syracuse, New York, died Tuesday, May 14, 2013 at her home.

Funeral service will be held 2 p.m. Wednesday, May 22, 2013, at the Pleasant View Baptist Church with Rev. Waddy L. Talley and Rev. Thomas Yeargin officiaitng. Burial will be in the church cemetery.

The family is at the home of her mother, Lola Stroud, 3 Goins Alley, Laurens, SC.

Beasley Funeral Home, Laurens.

Willie Leroy Cox

Travelers Rest

Willie Leroy Cox, 77, of 80 McCauley Lane, passed away on Thursday, May 16, 2013 at his home. Born in Travelers Rest, he was the son of the late Charles Franklin Cox and Annie Inez Smith Cox.

Survivors: wife, Willie Lou Cox; daughter, Vera L. Cox of Bear, DE; step-daughters, Sarah Mosley and Leslie Carson, both of Greenville, and Minerva Dendy of Piedmont; son, Riley L. Cox of Greenville; sister, Minister Carrie O'Neal of Travelers Rest; eleven grandchildren; four great-grandchildren.

Funeral Service: Wednesday, 2:00 PM at Golden Grove Baptist Church with burial in Mtn. View Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends Tuesday from 7:00 - 8:00 PM at Watkins, Garrett & Woods Mortuary.

Robert C. Crawford

Greenville

Bob Crawford, 85, passed away on Sunday, May 19, 2013 after a period of declining health. He was the Patriarch of the family providing unyielding support and love at all times, famously known for his magnificent sense of humor, intellect and lovely poetry.

Born in Gastonia, NC, he was a son of the late Robert Winston and Sallie Moore Crawford. He served in WWII in the Navy. After the war, he graduated from NC State University in 1952 majoring in Textile Chemistry. A career with the Celanese Corporation brought him and his family to Greenville in 1964 as production manager of Fiber Industries later serving as Plant Manager until 1968. He then joined Dan River, Inc. as President of the Floor covering Division, better known locally as "Wunda Weve" Carpets, a position held until his retirement.

He was very active in the Greenville Business and Civic Community for many years serving in leadership positions with the Greenville Chamber of Commerce and Greenville County United Way. His most prominent civic engagement was serving on the Area Commission for Greenville Technical College for over 33 years. He chaired the commission during Greenville Techs biggest growth period from 1992 to 2001. He played a major role in planning and implementing the development of Brasher, Greer and Northwest Satellite Campus locations. He guided the acquisition of McAlister Square and the integration of the University Center at McAlister Square. The Robert C. Crawford Administration Building is named in his honor.

Bob was a very active and faithful member of Taylors First Baptist Church serving as Deacon and the "Best" Sunday School Teacher ever for the Hugh Badger Sunday School Class. Collectively he taught Sunday School for over 45 years, just missing the family record by his father of over 50 years at Loray Baptist Church in Gastonia, NC.

He is survived by his loving wife of nine years, Mary Frances Barlow Crawford, two daughters; Pamela C. Hand and husband, Steve; Susan C. Spongberg and husband, Scott; a stepson, Grant Barlow and wife, Julie; grandchildren, Brian Hand (Amy), Aiken; Rachel H. Richards (Chris), Columbia, Robert Hand (Ana), Taylors, Michelle S. Bailey, Knoxville, Matthew Spongberg, Lukas Spongberg, Ian Barlow, and Haley Barlow, all of Greer; great grandchildren, Alexander Hand, Aiken, Tinley Richards, Columbia; a brother-in-law, Bill Moss, Cramerton, NC and a nephew, Bruce Moss, Michigan.

He was predeceased by his first wife of 50 years, Louise Prince Crawford, his sister, Beattie Mass and brother, Roy Lewis Crawford.

Services will be held 11 am Wednesday, May 22, 2013 at Mackey Mortuary Chapel conducted by Rev. Dr. Jimmie Harley of Taylors First Baptist Church. The family will receive friends from 9:45 to 10:45 am.

Entombment will follow in Woodlawn Memorial Park. The Hugh Badger Sunday School Class will act as Honorary Pallbearers.

In lieu of flowers the family requests memorials be made to Greenville Technical College Foundation, PO Box 5616, Greenville,SC 29606, Attention: Quick Jobs with a Future Program Scholarship in memory of Robert C. Crawford, MS 6002.

The obituary and condolences can be found online at www.mackeymortuary.com

Jackie Nell Gardo

Easley

Jackie Nell Gardo, 61, of Easley, died Friday, May 17, 2013.

Born in Greenville, she was a daughter of Jack Marshall and Guynell Smith Gardo.

Miss Gardo was employed as a bookkeeper and a member of Berea First Baptist Church.

Jackie was a race fan and Jeff Gordon was her favorite driver.

In addition to her parents, she is survived by sister, Jan L. Gardo; brother, Guy B. Gardo (Brenda Green Gardo); niece, Krystal F. Gardo; and her furry best friend, Zack, her dog.

Visitation will be held Thursday, May 23, 2013 from 1:30 p.m. until 2:45 p.m. at Thomas McAfee Funeral Home, Northwest with the funeral service following at 3:00 p.m. in the Northwest Chapel. Burial will follow in Woodlawn Memorial Park.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Lupus Foundation of America, South Carolina Chapter, 619 Oriole Street, Aiken, SC 29803-5952 or Shriner's Children Hospital, 950 West Faris Street, Greenville, SC 29605.

The family will be at the home of Jack Gardo.

Condolences may be made to the family by visiting www.thomasmcafee.com.

Clinton E. Hamlin

Seneca, SC

Clinton Eugene Hamlin, 54, of 15060 Beacon Ridge Drive and husband of Ann Rowland Hamlin, died Sunday, May 19, 2013 at AnMed Health in Anderson, SC.

Born in Anderson, he was a son of Mrs. Mary Kathleen Webb Hamlin of Anderson and the late Edward Eugene Hamlin. Clint was a 1981 graduate of Clemson University and was an engineer with Duke Energy. He attended Central Fire Baptized Pentecostal Holiness Church and enjoyed Clemson University Sports, traveling, motorcycles, cats and formula 1 racing.

Surviving in addition to his wife and mother are sisters, Kathy Betsill (David) of Anderson and Tommie Whitt (Joe) of Mauldin; 11 nieces and nephews; and 5 great nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be 4 PM, Wednesday, May 22, 2013 in the chapel of Duckett-Robinson Funeral Home with Rev. Jeff Sparkman officiating. Burial will follow in Mt. Zion Cemetery, Central.

The family will receive friends from 2:30 to 4 PM at the funeral home prior to the service.

The family is at the home of Tom and Susan Rowland, 125 Rowland Drive, Central.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to The United Way of Oconee County, 409 E. North 1st Street #A, Seneca, SC 29678 www.oconeeunitedway.org or Anderson County Humane Society, P.O. Box 2262, Anderson, SC 29622 www.achsonline.com.

Condolences may be expressed online at www.robinsonfuneralhomes.com or at the funeral home.

Gene Hancock

Greenwood

Gene Porter Hancock, 81, resident of Greenwood, widower of Gwendylon Faith Spires Hancock, died May 19, 2013 at Self Regional Medical Center.

Born in Calhoun Falls, he was a son of the late John Wiley and Louise Wilhite Hancock. He was a graduate of 96 High School and Piedmont Technical College. He was an employee of Greenwood Commissioners of Public Works from 1955 to 1986, when he retired and was elected to serve as a member of the Board of Commissioners of the Greenwood Commissioners of Public Works, a seat he currently was still holding and was currently serving as Chairman.

He was a US Air Force Veteran, having served from 1950-54, in active duty status and from 1955 to 1992, in the Reserves. He participated in the Korean Conflict and Desert Storm.

He was a member of Woodfields Baptist Church.

He was an avid University of South Carolina Gamecock athletics fan, having been a member of the Gamecock Club with which he served on the Executive Committee for the national Gamecock Club. He also served as President for 2 years and Treasurer for 15 years for the Greenwood Gamecock Club.

Surviving are a daughter, Tara (Dr. Tommy) Stoddard; a son, Rhett (Allyson) Hancock, of Greenville; grandchildren, Katie Stoddard, Thomas (Carolyn) Stoddard, Kristin Hancock and Matthew Hancock; a sister, Bobby Sue (Sam) Larkins; a brother, John (Doris) Hancock; a sister-in-law, Ramona Hancock; and a brother-in-law, Ansel (Lib) Spires.

Funeral services will be at 3:00 pm Wednesday at First Baptist Church of Greenwood. Burial with Military Honors will be in Oakbrook Memorial Park.

Visitation will be from 6 to 8 Tuesday evening at Blyth Funeral Home.

For online condolences please visit www.blythfuneralhome.com.

Olan Hare, 78, Spartanburg, died 05-07-2013.

Arrangements: Sandifer Funeral Home.

Marvin Hudson, 71, Travelers Rest, died 05-19-2013.

Arrangements: The Howze Mortuary.