Obituaries July 21, 2021
James Thad Hendley Sr.
Mr. James Thad Hendley, Sr. of Cheraw, SC, age 78, passed away surrounded by his loved ones on July 14, 2021. The son of the late Thomas Monroe Hendley, Sr. and Ethel Boswell Hendley, he was born February 3, 1943 in Baltimore, MD. Growing up in Cheraw, he excelled at many sports, and eventually went to play for the freshman basketball team at Wake Forest University before serving in the US Air Force in Vietnam. While deployed, he was able to take a break in Hawaii in order to get married to the love of his life, Patricia (Patsy) Ann Jordan.
After returning home from his service, Thad completed studies in English Literature at The University of South Carolina and became a lifelong Gamecocks fan. He worked in many different jobs throughout his life but always liked to surround himself with people he could help in some way. Whether this was working as a high school teacher, a football coach, or as a librarian at Evans Correctional Institution, he would aim to brighten the lives of others using both his kindness and quick wit. He left a lasting impression on everyone who met him. You could often find Thad cooking his famous recipes, reading the newspaper, completing crossword puzzles, and watching Jeopardy. He also really enjoyed being out in the sun, especially at the beach where he was able to spend his last days.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother, Jerry Hendley. Surviving are his wife, Patsy; children, James Hendley of West Columbia, SC, Summer (Stuart) Butler of Myrtle Beach, SC, and Chase Hendley of Greenville, SC; grandchildren, Ian, Lana, Oliver, Seth, and Finn; and brother, Tom (Lou) Hendley of Cheraw, SC; as well as many nieces and nephews.
A memorial service was held on Sunday, July 18 at 4:00 p.m. at Old St. David’s Church in Cheraw, SC.
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Edward William Rodgers Jr.
Edward William Rodgers, Jr. was born on September 25, 1923 to the late Serilda and Edward William Rodgers Sr. in McBee, SC. E.W. as he was affectionately called by friends and family, was the eldest child born of this union. He departed this life at his home on July 8, 2021 at the age of 97.
At a young age in McBee, E.W. learned to do various odd jobs while gaining the knowledge that hard work pays off. He, being the eldest, took on the responsibility to care for his younger siblings by encouraging education as a factor for a better life and opportunity. As E.W. grew older, he set his sights on joining the military.
He enlisted in the United States Navy during World War II at the age of 17 – months before the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Assigned to a troop transport ship, the USS Crescent City as a steward’s mate, he was trained to man his battle stations during numerous drills for enemy air attacks and sea combats, including: the liberation of the Philippines, consolidation of the southern Solomon Islands, Okinawa, Guadalcanal, Guam and Leyte. He also saw operations in Australia, Japan and China.
Shortly after leaving the Navy, he married Ethel Mae Murphy and had two sons – Edward III (Chuck) and Vincent (Von) both born in McBee, SC. They subsequently migrated to Brooklyn, New York in 1950 where three additional children were born – Donald, Celeste and Kevin.
He worked a long tenure with the Veteran Administration (VA) New York Harbor Health Care System Hospital and received his HVAC certification to become a refrigeration engineer. He served as a shop steward and later as President of the local union AFGE 2094. He retired from the VA in 1985 after 39 years of service. Although retired, he did home improvement jobs for many years. E.W. enjoyed taking his sons to work with him and showing them what his daily workday entailed.
Living in Brooklyn during the 1960s, E.W. was an advocate in community service. He started a Little League baseball team in BedFord-Stuyvesant called – Stuyford Little League. In the 1970s E.W. participated in educating the youth about the abuse of drugs, its effects and how to avoid them. The organization was called the Self Help Unit for Narcotics (S.H.U.N), which was an assisted recovery home for substance abusers and about educating our youth.
He loved to travel with family and friends. He coordinated trips to Montreal and Toronto in Canada and visited Germany and Denmark in Europe and various states throughout the United States.
After their retirement E.W. and Ethel returned to McBee to live a more leisurely life where he walked daily, raised enough vegetables in his garden to give away to neighbors and continued his quest to successfully document his family roots back to pre-civil war times. His love for Nascar races took him to several race tracks throughout the East coast.
He is survived by his beloved wife of 74 years, Ethel Mae Rodgers, the loving mother of his five children, Edward III and Dianne (Carr) Rodgers of Jamaica, NY, Vincent Rodgers of McBee, SC, Donald Sr. and Deborah (Byrdsong) Rodgers of Woodbridge, VA, Celeste (Rodgers) Baker and Douglas Alston of Greenville, SC, and Kevin and Lena (Jensen) Rodgers of Copenhagen, Denmark. The true joys of his life were his 11 grandchildren (Aaron, Jessica, Rita, Tasha, Lakisha, Donica, Donald Jr, Janelle, Winston (Alex), Nija and Blake and his is 17 great grandchildren (Arahna, Laurie, Larry, Lincoln, Soraia, Sonora, Layla, Alexis, Elisha, Donald III, Noah, Arabella, Atallia, Avery, Noralis, Emelina, and AJ (Alejandro), whom they affectionately called Papa.
E.W. leaves a host of brothers (Thomas Rodgers and Exodus Rodgers), sisters (Sarah (Rodgers) Thompson, Mary (Mclean) Andrews, Lettie McLean, Ella Sue Wooten, and Alice Odom), nieces, nephews, in-laws and friends.
He joins his siblings Bennie Rodgers, Robert Rodgers, Rose Rodgers, Theodore Rodgers, James Rodgers, Christine Rodgers, Gloria Sutton, Willie Nichols, Edward Rodgers, Jr., Florence (Rodgers) McCoy, and Martha Rodgers.
His Viewing was July 17 from 4-6pm at Young and Young Funeral Home, 711 S. 6th Street, Hartsville, SC with the Homegoing service on July 18, 11am at Pine Forest Memorial Cemetery, McBee, SC.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Boys and Girls Club of America.
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Bobby Gene Sessoms Sr.
CHERAW – Bobby Gene Sessoms, Sr.77, of Cheraw, SC passed away Saturday, July 10, 2021 at McLeod Regional Medical Center in Cheraw. He was born February 20, 1944 in Marlboro a son of the late Willie T. and Lillie Belle Quick Sessoms.
Mr. Sessoms retired from Carolina Canning Company and later in life pastored several Holiness Churches in our area.
Funeral services were conducted Saturday, July 17, 2021 at 2:00 P.M. at Wallace Holiness Church with Rev. Anthony Dial officiating. Burial followed in the church cemetery.
Surviving, His wife Tressie Sessoms of Cheraw; Sons, Boot Sessoms and wife Kathy of Hamlet and William Sessoms of Myrtle Beach, SC; Sister, Betty Hatchell of Cheraw; Five grandchildren and four great grandchildren.
The family received friends from 1-2 P.M. prior to the service at the church.
Online condolences may be made at www.watson-kingfuneralhome.com Watson-King Funeral Home in Hamlet is serving the Sessoms family.
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Jerry Wayne Southard
PATRICK – Mr. Jerry Wayne Southard, age 76, went home to be with the Lord on Saturday, July 17, 2021. Funeral services will be 2:00 PM Tuesday, July 20, 2021 from the Chapel of Miller-Rivers-Caulder Funeral Home by Bro. Odell Shepard and Bro. Cecil McLain with burial to follow in the Palmetto Baptist Church Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6:00 – 8:00 PM Monday, July 19, 2021 at Miller-Rivers-Caulder Funeral Home.
Mr. Southard was born April 21, 1945 in Ronda, NC a son of the late Quincy Cletus and Rosa Belle Vanhoy Southard. He was a retired employee of INA Bearing and a faithful member of St. John Freewill Baptist Church. Jerry loved his church and served the Lord there throughout the years as Deacon, Trustee, Building and Grounds Chairman, and Cemetery Coordinator. A man who was always willing to help others, Jerry enjoyed visiting people in the community, and traveling to yard sales and flea markets always looking for things someone else needed. He enjoyed fishing and spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren.
In addition to his parents, Mr. Southard was also preceded in death by his brother, James Southard; father-in-law & mother-in-law, Reid Whittington and Katherine Whittington Cox; brothers-in-law & sisters-in-law, Kermit and Alice Harrelson, Eugene Chappell, Reid and Linda Whittington, David Whittington, Robert Funderburk, Melissa Whittington, and Fred Heath.
Survivors include his devoted wife of nearly 57 years, Ella “Sue” Southard of the home; children, Tammie (Randy) Morton, and Robin (Johnny) Rivers both of Chesterfield, SC, and Wayne (Cynthia) Southard of Ruby, SC; grandchildren, Scott (Stephanie) Morton, Nathan Rivers, Jeremy (Ben) Rivers, Katherine Owensby, Makayla (Daniel) Curtis, Bailey Southard, Landon Southard, Cierra Southard, Marissa Southard, and Summer Southard; great grandchildren, Jannessa Morton, Randi Lynne Morton, Adrian Morton, Peyton Morton, Stella Owensby, and Sully Owensby; sisters, Betty Heath of Pollocksville, NC, and Rosa (Johnny) Davis of Mayesville, NC; sister-in-law, Mae Southard of Trenton, NC; numerous nieces and nephews; his wife’s brothers & sisters whom he called his own, Barbara Funderburk of Patrick, SC, Janette Chappell of Ellerbe, NC, Mary (Odell) Shepard of Rockingham, NC, and Ronnie (Jean) Whittington of Cordova, NC.
The family would like to express their heartfelt appreciation to Kristen Sellers, Yolanda Douglas, Evelyn Watkins, Deborah Turner, Julie Sims, Chaplain Rev. Don Rhyne, and the entire staff of Regency SouthernCare Hospice of Chesterfield for their extraordinary care and love shown to Jerry and the family.
Memorials may be made to Regency SouthernCare Hospice of Chesterfield, 205 E. Main Street, Chesterfield, SC 29709 or to St. John Freewill Baptist Church, 1843 St. John Church Road, Patrick, SC 29584.
Miller-Rivers-Caulder Funeral Home of Chesterfield, SC (www.mrcfuneralhome.com) is serving the Southard family.
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Laura Helene Ziobrowski
Laura Helene Ziobrowski, 68, has passed away on, Tuesday, July 13, 2021. Born in Flushing, NY, she was the daughter of the late Harry Robert and Jane Claire Lubrich. Living on Long Island in Medford, NY for most of her life and then settling down in Cheraw, SC, 9 years ago. Over the years she has held many jobs with complete passion. From Pennysaver News and the Suffolk County Contractors Association to Act III Services and Nature’s Bounty and finally retiring from the Suffolk County Police Department in New York. She was an active member of the North Cheraw Baptist Church in Cheraw, SC. Laura enjoyed spending time with her family, as well as crafting many different things and always maintaining all her plants and flowers.
She is survived by her husband of 48 years, Ralph Ziobrowski, son Jay (Jen) Ziobrowski of Fort Mill, SC and granddaughter, Claire Marie Ziobrowski, her little “Skittles.”
The family received friends from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM on Saturday, July 17, 2021 at North Cheraw Baptist Church.
A funeral service followed at 2:00 PM on Saturday, July 17, 2021, at North Cheraw Baptist Church.
In Lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials to be made to, McLeod Hospice, 1203 East Cheves Street, Florence, SC 29506.
Online condolences may be made at www.kiserfuneralhome.com