Howard Lawrence Fraser Sr.

Obituary of Howard Lawrence Fraser, Sr.

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Howard Lawrence Fraser, Sr.

September 26, 1942 – September 12, 2025

Howard Lawrence Fraser, Sr., 82, of Sumter passed away on Friday, September 12 at McLeod Hospital in Florence following a brief battle with cancer.

He was born on September 26, 1942, in Laurens County. He was the son of the late Mary and William

(Will) Fraser. He grew up in a loving family of six children, with his older brother Will, younger brothers Tommy and Hugh, and younger sisters Mary (Payne) and Pat (Spencer).

He graduated from Mayewood High School in 1958 and loved telling stories of friends, football, and

driving a school bus.

On February 10, 1968, he married the love of his life, Gulie Corbett Rowland of Sumter. They built a

beautiful family and life together with 4 children Miriam Moore (Kurt), Margaret Barron (Tommy), Larry (Rebekah), and Brett (Jessica), and 16 grandchildren - Maggie McGranaghan (Josh), Gigi Moore, TJ Barron, Corbett Bell (Patrick), Sarah Teems (Ryan), Lawrence Fraser (Mary Beth), Emory Moore (Sarah), Jonathan Fraser, Hannah Witt (Ethan), and Kasey, Abi, Carleigh, Katherine, Mary, Claire, and Jase Fraser. He also leaves behind 6 great-grandchildren - Dawson, Raya, Aida, Josie, and Millie McGranaghan and Jesse Witt.

In his extended family, Howard cherished the love and fellowship of his late parents-in-law, Maggie and

George Rowland, his 12 brothers and sisters-in-law, and their combined 30 children.

Later in life, Howard chose to pursue his dream of higher education. While working full time and raising

a family, he began taking classes in the evenings at USC-Sumter and then Troy State's Sumter Campus

obtaining both his Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration and Master's Degree in Human

Resources. His family was very proud of his accomplishment, and he proudly wore his 1993 Carolina

class ring. Following high school, Howard joined the Army National Guard, where he served as a Drill Sergeant. He went to work at Sonoco Products Company (Hartsville) as a skilled welder for 36 years in the machine fabrication division, retiring in 1997. He then began a second career with the SC Vocational Rehabilitation Department in Sumter where he served for 23 years, retiring in 2021.

Howard and Gulie are members of the faith community at Harmony Church. They have been blessed

with dear friendships in the Zigrang Sunday School Class and the "Sunday Night Gang with Skeet

Keeton."

Howard (Daddy, Granddaddy) leaves behind a tremendous legacy of love for God, his family and their

Sunday lunches, his country, his Gamecocks, time managing his property "The Hill" and his hunting time in the swamp with his sons, grandsons, and nephews. He led a rich, full, and meaningful life. He was our patriarch and he will be deeply missed.

A private graveside service will be held at Hebron Presbyterian Church in Oswego. An outdoor memorial service will follow at The Hill, 3500 Ben Sanders Road, Dalzell, at 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, September 16. Family and friends are warmly invited to attend.

Memorials may be made to Lugoff Bible Fellowship Church, 883 Pine Grove Road, Lugoff, SC 29078.

On-line condolences may be sent to www.sumterfunerals.com

Elmore Hill McCreight Funeral Home & Crematory, 221 Broad Street, Sumter, is in charge of the arrangements (803) 775-9386.