Last Updated on 12/1/2008

Published on 7/29/2008

Azalee Cantley

Azalee Smith Cantley, 88, of Andrews, widow of Albert Lee Cantley, died Saturday, July 26, 2008, at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) in Charleston.

Funeral services were at 3 p.m. Tuesday, July 29, 2008, at the Bloomingvale Baptist Church. Burial, directed by the Andrews Chapel of McKenzie Funeral Home, followed in the church cemetery.

Mrs. Cantley was born Dec. 31, 1919, in Andrews, the daughter of Joseph Sampson Smith and Meddie Geneva Feagin Smith. Most of her life, she worked on the family farm. For 5 years, she worked at RD Cantley Carpet. She has been an active member of the Bloomingvale Baptist Church for 80 years, joining when she was 8 years old. Over the years, she has served on several committees; was a member of the chancel choir; and was a Sunday School teacher for more than 50 years.

She was predeceased by her parents, her husband, several siblings, and two children, Wade Hampton Cantley and Audrey Ann Cantley Hallwell.

Surviving are: one sister, Vivian S. Mobley of Andrews; three grandchildren, Eric Cantley, Byers Hallwell, and Albert Dubose; two great grandchildren, Kateland Elizabeth Hallwell and Kelsey Emma Hallwell; and a number of nieces and nephews.

Elizabeth Caughman

Elizabeth Jennings "Libber" Caughman, 99, of West Columbia, widow of J. B. "Red" Caughman and mother of six, died Tuesday, July 29, 2008 at her home at Still Hopes Episcopal Home in West Columbia.

Funeral services will be Saturday, Aug. 2, 2008 at 11 a.m. at Washington Street United Methodist Church in Columbia. Her son-in-law, the Rev. Joe Harvard, and the Rev. Paul Harmon will officiate the service. The family will receive friends Friday, Aug. 1, 2008 from 5 to 7 p.m. at Dunbar Funeral Home, Devine Street Chapel. Burial will be in Greenlawn Memorial Park.

Mrs. Caughman was born in Winnsboro, the daughter of the late James Marvin and Madeleine Workman Jennings. She was a graduate of Converse College in Spartanburg.

She was preceded in death by her husband, J. B. Caughman and her oldest son, J.B. "Jack" Caughman Jr.

Survivors include: daughter-in-law, Anne Ferguson Caughman of Callawassie Island, S.C.; daughters, Madeleine C. Ritchie (Tom) of Pawleys Island, Carlisle C. Harvard (Joe) of Durham, N.C. and Lee C. Piepenbring (Mike) of Georgetown; sons, Marvin J. Caughman (Sally) of Columbia and Dr. S. Wright Caughman (Alison) of Atlanta, Ga.; 13 grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren.

Memorials may be made to the Elizabeth J. Caughman Music Performance Endowment of Converse College, 580 E. Main Street, Spartanburg, SC 29302 or to Washington Street United Methodist Church, 1401 Washington Street, Columbia, SC 29201.

Mattie Lou Estridge

Mattie Lou "Aunt Tat" Hoffman Estridge, 83, of Swansea, died Monday, July 28, 2008.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, July 30, 2008 in Sardis Baptist Church with burial in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends prior to the service, from 9:30 until 11 a.m., at the church.

Culler-McAlhany Funeral Home of North, S.C., is in charge of the arrangements.

Survivors include: her husband, Harold W. Estridge of the home; two daughters, Annette Bodiford (Lamar) of Pawleys Island, and Alecia Eddins (Jerry) of Swansea; three grandsons, Scott Bodiford (Melanie), Clay Bodiford (Sheila) and Jason Eddins (Laurel); six great-grandchildren; three sisters; and a brother.

Memorials may be made to St. Paul Pentecostal Holiness Church, or to the Sardis Baptist Church Cemetery Fund.

Paul E. Ethridge

Paul E. Ethridge, 86, of Andrews, died Monday, July 28, 2008, in Georgetown Memorial Hospital.

Funeral services will be at 4 p.m. Wednesday, July 30, 2008, at the Andrews Chapel of Mayer Funeral Home. Officiating will be the Rev. Donald P. Sapp and the Rev. Elmer Lambert. Burial with Masonic Rites will follow in Andrews Memorial Cemetery. Sign a guestbook at www.mayerfuneralhome.com.

The family received friends at the Andrews Chapel of Mayer Funeral Home from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, July 29, 2008.

Mr. Ethridge was born in Williamsburg Co. near Andrews on May 26, 1922, a son of the late Lizzie Corrine Ethridge. He served in the Navy during World War II and retired after 41 years with International Paper Co. After retirement, Mr. Ethridge worked with S.C. Wildlife and Marine Resource Department as a deputy conservation officer for 13 years. He was a member of the First Baptist Church of Andrews, Harper's Lodge No. 225, AFM, and Omar Shrine Temple in Mt. Pleasant.

Surviving are: his wife, Cora Long Ethridge of Andrews; a son, John Paul Ethridge (Libby) of Andrews; a daughter, Janice E. Cantley (David) of Andrews; seven grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren.

Fred Geathers

Fred Geathers, 89, of Georgetown, died Thursday, July 24, 2008 at Prince George Healthcare Center.

Funeral services will be at 1 p.m. Friday, Aug. 1, 2008 at Greater Singleton AME Church. Burial will be under the direction of Wilds Funeral Home.

The family will receive friends at 6 p.m. Thursday, July 31, 2008 at Wilds Courtyard Chapel.

Mr. Geathers was born Feb. 29, 1919 in Charleston, a son of the late Jobie Hales and the late Ms. Mary Houston. He attended Charleston County schools and Singleton AME Church. He was a U.S. Army veteran. He was a disabled wood sorter with International Paper Co.

Survivors include: his wife, Clara Geathers of Georgetown; four sons, Richard Geathers and Norman Geathers of Georgetown, Fred Geathers Jr. of Philadelphia, Penn. and Henry Geathers of Columbia; five daughters, Cleo Gaston, Carmen Geathers-Hart and Tiffany Geathers-Bell, all of Charlotte, N.C. and Pat Geathers-Outlaw of Columbia and Mary Geathers-Solomon of Summerville; a sister, Rosa Lee Weston of Georgetown.

Doris Howell

Doris Howell, 66, of Conway, wife of Frederick Howell, died Monday, July 28, 2008 at her residence.

Funeral services will be held at 2:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 1, 2008 at Little Lamb Pentecostal Holiness Church, with burial at Pauley Swamp Baptist Church Cemetery.

The family will receive friends at the church beginning at 3 p.m. Thursday, July 31, 2008. Sign a guestbook at www.conwayfuneralsvc. com.

She was preceded in death by her parents; a grandson, Jay Howell; a brother, Elwood Howard; and a sister, Nora Howard.

Surviving, in addition to her husband of Conway, are: two sons, Dan Howell (Tammy) of Conway and Tim Howell (Cindy) of Nichols; a daughter, Melissa Howell of Conway; two brothers, Jackie Howard of Florence and John Howard of Andrews; two sisters, Joann Blackwell and Nina Pope of Hemingway; eight grandchildren: Arcissia Herndon, Kayla Howell, Caleb Boyd, Nadia Howell, Katya Howell, Isaac Howell, Patrick King and Nicholas King; and one great-grandchild, Hailey King.

Alec Johnson

Alec Johnson of Georgetown died Sunday, July 27, 2008 at Georgetown Memorial Hospital.

Funeral arrangements will be announced by McKnight-Fraser Funeral Home.

Tammy M. Johnson

Tammy Mechelle Johnson, 39, of Georgetown, died Saturday, July 25, 2008 at Georgetown Memorial Hospital.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, July 31, 2008 at First Calvary Missionary Baptist Church with Rev. Dr. Lorenzo Smalls, pastor, officiating, and Pastor Clinton Holmes will be the eulogist.

The family will receive friends from 11 a.m. Thursday, July 31, 2008 until time of the funeral.

Miss Johnson, a daughter of Iona Johnson and the late Ollie Davis Sr., was born May 12, 1969 in Georgetown County. She was educated in the Georgetown County public schools and was a member of Jesus Christ Assembly.

Surviving are: two sons, Travelle Lee Johnson of Turbeville and Robert Anthony Adams of Georgetown; one daughter, Sharmaine Johnson of Georgetown; her mother of Georgetown; three sisters, Mary Davis, Louise A. Johnson and Catina L. Johnson, all of Georgetown; and one brother, Tyrone Johnson of Georgetown.

Sammy E. Julius

Sammy Edward Julius, 58, of Georgetown, died Saturday, July 26, 2008 at his home.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, Aug. 1, 2008 at First Calvary Missionary Baptist Church. Burial will follow at First Calvary Memorial Gardens under the direction of Wilds Funeral Home.

The family will receive friends at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, July 31, 2008 at Wilds Courtyard Chapel.

Mr. Julius was born Oct. 26, 1949 in Georgetown, a son of the late James Julious and the late Earline Ward Julious. He attended Georgetown County schools and Horry-Georgetown Technical College in Conway. He attended First Calvary Missionary Baptist Church.

He was a retired paper maker at International Paper Co.

Survivors include: three sons, Sammy E. Julius Jr. and Rodrick Julius of Atlanta, Ga. and Sammy Andre Pinckney of Charlotte, N.C.; three daughters, Sonya Julius-Cummings of Norcross, Ga., Shayla Evans and Makesha Dixon of Georgetown; his former wife, Lena Julius of Pawleys Island; his sister, Bettty Green of New Haven, Conn.; and a brother, Bernard Kennedy of Georgetown.

Marguerite F. Lane

Marguerite Floyd Lane, age 88, of Pawleys Island, wife of the late Rembert Reed Lane and formerly of Conway, died Friday, July 25, 2008 at the Lakes at Litchfield following an illness.

Funeral services were held at 3 p.m. Sunday, July 27, 2008 from Trinity United Methodist Church with Rev. Carl Hunsucker officiating. Burial followed in Lakeside Cemetery directed by Goldfinch Funeral Home, Conway Chapel.

The family received friends in the Parlor of Trinity United Methodist Church from 2 until 3 p.m. Sunday, July 27, 2008.

Sign a guestbook at www.goldfinchfuneralhome.com.

Mrs. Lane was born in Sumter, a daughter of the late Emory Lee and Glenn Whaley Floyd. She was predeceased by a brother, Whaley Floyd and a sister, Eleanor Graham.

Mrs. Lane was a Charter Member of Trinity United Methodist Church in Conway where she served on many committees; one very important thing to her was the building of the new sanctuary. She was a member of the Ladies Sunday School Class and United Methodist Women.

Prior to retirement, she worked many years at Peoples Savings and Loan Association and retired as senior vice president.

Mrs. Lane was a Laubach Literacy Tutor for the South Carolina Adult Education Association for over 10 years.

Surviving are: one daughter, Rosalind Barker (Robert "Bob") of Pawleys Island; one grandson, R. Reed Barker (Audra) of Pawleys Island; and two brothers, John Floyd of Florence and James L. Floyd of Galivants Ferry.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to Trinity United Methodist Church, 198 Long Ave., Conway, SC 29526.

James W. Shokes

James W. Shokes, 89, of Georgetown, widower of Dorothy Hardee Shokes, died Monday, July 28, 2008 In Prince George Healthcare Center.

Funeral services will be held Wednesday, July 30, 2008 at 11 a. m. in Graham Funeral Home Chapel. Officiating will be Dr. Ted Sherrill. Burial will be private. The family will receive friends immediately following the service. Sign a guestbook at www.grahamfuneralhome.org.

He was born April 15, 1919 in Georgetown, a son of the late Warren Jackson Shokes and the late Daisy Morgan Shokes.

Mr. Shokes was the retired owner and operator of Shokes Barber Shop and was a U.S. Army World War II Veteran.

Surviving are: one son, Ron Shokes (Linda) of Newton, N.C.; one daughter, Gladys S. Correll (Lanny) of Pawleys Island; three grandchildren, Brad Shokes (Karen), Jake Shokes (Wendy) and Morgan Davis; two great-grandchildren, Emma Shokes and Collyn Shokes; one brother, Jessie Shokes; two sisters, Mittie Holmes and Vivian Richburg, all of Georgetown.

Memorials may be made to the charity of one's choice.

May W. Short

May W. Short, 93, of Murrells Inlet, formerly of Niagara Falls, N.Y., died Friday, July 25, 2008 in Waccamaw Community Hospital.

Local arrangements are being handled by Lane Funeral Home of Niagara Falls, N.Y.

Interment will be at a later date in Acacia Park Cemetery, Town of Pendleton.

Mrs. Short was born May 27, 1915 in Niagara Falls, N.Y., and was the daughter of Edgar and Teresa Dahlgren Wheeler.

She attended local schools and graduated from Niagara Falls High School in 1932, and then attended Kelly Business Institute.

Mrs. Short worked for Doctors Hodge, Wilson and Stevins for 10 years. On Feb. 26, 1944, she married Lester F. Short and worked as vice president of the Lester F. Short Insurance Agency.

She is survived by: her son, Lawrence ''Larry'' Short (Lilly) of Myrtle Beach; two grandchildren, Eric L. ''Rick'' Short and Lori Ann Short Previtte; six great-grandchildren; and 11 nieces and nephews.

She was the sister of the late Stanley Wheeler and Elizabeth Wheeler Karnes.

Delores C. Smith

Delores Mae Clayton Smith, 81, of Murrells Inlet, died Monday, July 28, 2008 at her home.

Services will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, July 31, 2008 in Murrells Inlet Presbyterian Church. Entombment will follow in Hillcrest Mausoleum. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, July 30, 2008 at Goldfinch Funeral Home, Beach Chapel.

Sign a guestbook at goldfinchfuneralhome.com.

Born in West Newton, Pa., she was the daughter of the late John M. and Carolyn Clayton. Mrs. Smith was the owner of Garden City Supermarket and the Candlelight Motel in Garden City Beach.

She was formerly the head of the Order of the Eastern Star in Indiantown, and a member of the Myrtle Beach Chapter 180 Order of the Eastern Star. Mrs. Smith was also a member of Murrells Inlet Presbyterian Church since 1969.

She was preceded in death by a son, John Arthur Smith.

Surviving are: her husband of 57 years, Robert Harmon Smith Sr.; son, Robert Harmon Smith Jr. of Murrells Inlet; daughter, Carolyn Virginia Smith of Murrells Inlet; grandchildren, Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Clayton Lee, Robert Harmon Smith III and Ashley Nichole Smith; and five great-granddaughters.

Memorials may be made to Murrells Inlet Presbyterian Church, Organ Fund or Little Chapel Fund, P.O. Box 418, Murrells Inlet, SC 29576.