Obituaries Nov. 9, 2022
Ernestine Hewett Barnes
CHERAW/OCEAN ISLE BEACH, N.C. – Ernestine Outlaw Hewett Barnes, 89, died Friday, November 4, 2022. Born in Cheraw, SC she was a daughter of the late LeVan Outlaw and Eva Mae Hatcher. She was the widow of Robert Barnes. She was a member of Westside Baptist Church, Cheraw, SC from 1957 to 2011 when she became a member of Jennies Branch Baptist Church, Shallotte, NC. Mrs. Barnes was retired (after 46 years of service) from Highland Industries (James Fabrics). She enjoyed knitting, being with family and friends, walking on the beach collecting shells, making ornaments and lamps. She was the # one fan of her grandchildren and great grandchildren, always going to baseball games, football games and encouraging her favorite dance team and cheerleaders.
Surviving is her son, William W. “Bill” (Beverly) Hewett, Jr. of Ocean Isle, NC, a daughter, Debora Kerr Hewett Swedberg and son-in-law, Daniel Swedberg of Sarasota, FL, brother, Larry Gene Outlaw (Marie) of Oxford, MS, grandchildren, Dwayne Heath Hewett, Laura Hewett Little, William W. Hewett, III, Kelsey Cornelia Swedberg, Brittany Taylor Hewett, Kristen Marie Swedberg, great grandchildren, William Ty Little, Benjamin Kolbe Little and Virginia Mabry Little.
She was preceded by her parents and husband listed above, also, a daughter, Audrey Lee Hewett and siblings, Jeff Outlaw, Minnie Outlaw Hatcher, Lois Outlaw Layton and Junior Outlaw.
The family received friends 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM, Tuesday, November 8, 2022, at Kiser Funeral Home. A funeral service was held 2:00 PM, Tuesday, November 8, 2022, at Kiser Funeral Home. Burial was in Chatham Hill Memorial Gardens.
Kiser Funeral Home has been entrusted to serve the Barnes family in their time of grief.
Online condolences may be made at www.kiserfuneralhome.com.
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Earl Lindsay Daniel
BENNETTSVILLE – Earl Lindsay Daniel, 94 of Bennettsville, SC died Sunday, October 30, 2022. A native of Charlotte, NC, he was the son of Edgar Bowles Daniel and Winifred Graham Daniel. He was preceded in death by his wife Gladys Gaster Daniel. Three brothers also preceded him in death- Howard Graham Daniel, Walter Freeman Daniel and Clyde William Daniel.
He is survived by his daughter, Lindsay D. Bennett and son-in-law Robby Bennett of Cheraw, SC. Mr. Daniel is also survived by his grandson, Daniel McArn Bennett of Washington, DC and his wife, Dr. Katie Jeter Bennett of Charlotte, NC. He is survived by a sister, Virginia Daniel Ewart, of Atlanta, Ga.
Earl attended Charlotte schools and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He served in the United States Air Force and was stationed at Ft. Knox Kentucky. He retired from the transportation sector having spent most of his career in sales in the trucking industry. Also, he was employed as Personnel Manager at Crown Cork & Seal Cheraw for several years.
He was a member of First United Methodist Church in Bennettsville. Earl enjoyed all sports, playing baseball in his youth and golf in his adult years. He was an avid fan of college basketball and the UNC Tarheels. In 1971, he was coach to the Marlboro Academy Boys Basketball State Champions. Mr. Daniel and his wife along with longtime friends returned to the Bluegrass State for over 30 years to attend the Kentucky Derby. In 2013 he was named a Kentucky Colonel by the Governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky.
A graveside service was held on Thursday, November 3 at 11:00am at Old St. David’s Cemetery – 91 Church Street in Cheraw, SC.
The family is appreciative of his FUMC Bennettsville friends and Magnolia Restaurant Breakfast buddies for their calls, cards and visits. Also, the family will remember the kindness shown to Mr. Daniel by his caretakers and staff from Crescent Hospice group.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the McArn Community Ministry – PO Box 372- Cheraw, SC 29520, or to the St. David’s Cemetery Association – PO Box 1196 – Cheraw, SC 29520 or to Old St. David’s Episcopal Church c/o The Chesterfield County Historic Preservation Commission -230 Third Street- Cheraw, SC 29520.
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Shelby Jean Edwards
PAGELAND – Mrs. Shelby Jean Edwards, age 80, entered into rest on Monday, October 31, 2022 at her home. A graveside service was held at 11 O’clock AM, Friday, November 4, 2022 at the Jefferson Town Cemetery. The family greeted friends after the service at the graveside.
Mrs. Edwards was born September 22, 1942, a daughter of the late Vernon and Louise Rollins Bowers. Shelby was a homemaker that loved her children, family, and friends more than anything. She enjoyed traveling and going to the flea markets.
In addition to her parents, Shelby was also preceded in death by her husband, Roy Lamar Edwards; daughter in law, Lisa Edwards; and brothers, Lyde Rollins and Buck Rollins.
Survivors include her sons; Eddie V. “Pete” (Lisa) Edwards of Mt. Croghan, Lenny D. Edwards of Virginia, son Thomas (Michelle) Kelly of Atlanta, Georgia; grandchildren, Casey, Cory, T.C., Brandon, and Matt; nephew, Lyde Rollins Jr. of Jefferson, SC; niece, Tracy Rollins of Jefferson, SC; and her fur babies, Harley Dog and Emma.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the charity of one’s choice.
Miller-Rivers-Caulder Funeral Home (www.mrcfuneralhome.com) of Chesterfield, SC is serving the Edwards family.
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Ruby Sutton Keith
CHERAW – Ruby Sutton Keith, 93, died Wednesday, November 2, 2022. Born in Ruby, SC she was the daughter of the late Richard C. and Frauline Bruton Sutton. She was the widow of John D. Keith. She was a member of Pleasant Grove United Methodist Church where she had served for many years as the church Treasurer. Mrs. Keith was retired from J.P. Stevens. She enjoyed playing golf.
Surviving is her son, W. Carey (Nell) Keith of Florence, SC, a daughter, Paulette K. (Tommy) Ballard of Rock Hill, SC, also several grandchildren and great grandchildren.
A graveside service was held 11:00 am, Saturday, November 5, 2022 in Chatham Hill Memorial Gardens. The family received friends following the service at the gravesite.
Memorials to the charity of your choice.
Visit kiserfuneralhome.com to share an e-condolence.
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Harvey Hamilton Leavitt III
WADESBORO, N.C. – It is with profound sadness and heavy hearts that we share that our beloved husband, father, brother, uncle, colleague and friend, Mr. Harvey Hamilton Leavitt, III, 63, passed away peacefully on Monday, October 31, 2022, in the company of family at The McWhorter House at Hospice of Union County in Monroe following a courageous year-long battle with cancer.
The funeral service was 3:00 PM, Friday, November 4, 2022, at First United Methodist Church, Wadesboro, with Rev. Stacey Lundy officiating. Interment with masonic rites will follow in Eastview Cemetery.
There were two opportunities for friends to see the family on Thursday, November 3, 2022, from 2:00 PM until 4:00 PM or 6:00 PM until 9:00 PM at Leavitt Funeral Home.
A native of Wadesboro, he was born December 11, 1958, a son of the late Harvey H. Leavitt, Jr. and the late Nancy Jean Summers Leavitt. He graduated from Bowman High School in 1977, the University of North Carolina in 1981 with a degree in Business Administration, and Gupton-Jones College of Funeral Services in Atlanta in 1982. He promptly returned home to join his father in the family business which had been established by his grandfather, Harvey H. Leavitt, in McFarlan in 1914. His professional education, however, began long before his formal schooling. At an early age, both he and his sister assisted their parents with many of the day-to-day activities of the funeral home operation and closely observed the empathy and compassion with which their parents comforted the many families who came under their care. He eagerly continued this tradition and in 1996 he and his father broke ground at the current Morven Road site for the construction of the new Leavitt Funeral Home, a lifelong dream of father and son to provide a spacious and modern facility to meet the needs of the community they served. The new building was opened the following year just months before the death of his father. The original funeral home was donated to the Anson County Historical Society and presently serves as a museum for local history and artifacts. He continued to work through his illness this last year as he felt an obligation to the many families he served in their time of greatest need.
Harvey found many other ways of serving his community through membership in the Kilwinning Masonic Lodge #64 in Wadesboro, the Oasis Shrine, activities of the Civitan Club, sponsorship of the Anson County Arts Council and Ansonia Theatre, leadership initiatives with the Anson County Chamber of Commerce, a board member of Uwharrie Bank, an active member of Wadesboro’s First United Methodist Church, Uptown Wadesboro, Inc., and participation on numerous other civic boards, committees, and organizations.
He especially enjoyed his years of service on the Board of Trustees of South Piedmont Community College, most recently as Vice-Chairman and he was recently honored by the college in naming their auditorium for him in recognition of his years of service and the significant accomplishments during his tenure. In 2008 he was awarded the Silver Beaver Award, scouting’s highest honor, by the Boy Scouts of America for his distinguished service to the Central NC Council. Likewise, he served his profession through his leadership of the NC Funeral Directors Association, where he was a Past President, Past President of the North Carolina Board of Funeral Service, a member of the Cemetery Funds of North Carolina, serving with the International Conference of Funeral Service Examining Boards and was a member of the National Funeral Directors Association. Through internship opportunities at the funeral home, he mentored many aspiring funeral directors who went on to successful careers in funeral service.
Due to the demands of his chosen career, he often noted that vacations were infrequently planned and most often interrupted. Following his marriage to Carrie Tyson in 2008 and the subsequent birth of daughter Madeline and son Tyson, his greatest joys became simple family activities: a dance recital, a church picnic, a youth baseball game, an afternoon dip in Patsy’s pool, a viewing of “National Lampoons Christmas Vacation” following a Thanksgiving meal with extended family, a family bike ride, and a meal at PaPa and Mammy’s house. As a lifelong Carolina fan, Harvey especially enjoyed attending a UNC football game with the family in Chapel Hill on the same field on which he had performed years earlier as drum major leading the Marching Tar Heels band. December was to hold a special meaning for the Leavitt family this year as Harvey, Carrie, Madeline and Tyson all would be performing again in the Union County Youth Ballet’s annual production of The Nutcracker, and this year father and daughter were to dance as partners onstage. Here on earth, not all our prayers are answered, nor all our dreams fulfilled.
Harvey was always optimistic and joyful, viewing difficult situations as challenges and opportunities for renewal. He was relentlessly hardworking but disciplined and organized, always making time for those tasks and those people who needed his attention. He was curious and inquisitive about the workings of the world and the lives of those around him, always interested in the well-being of others. His laughter often filled the room but, much like his sense of humor, was tempered with humility and self-deprecation and never at the expense of others. His honesty and integrity were always evident in his dealings with others. He was generous with his time and money and kind in his words and deeds, most often without the wish or expectation of recognition. In his varied roles as husband, father, employer, businessman and friend, he modeled these traits daily and all those around him will forever benefit from his example.
Survivors include his wife, Carrie Tyson Leavitt, a daughter Madeline (12) and a son Tyson (11) all of the home, a sister Nancy Jane Leavitt Wagnon (John) of Cheraw, SC; two nieces Mary Kathryn Wagnon of Denver, CO and Elizabeth Dillon (Tim) of Charleston, SC; a nephew Michael Leavitt Wagnon of Blacksburg, VA; great-nieces and great-nephew, Liles, Smith and Knox Dillon.
Also surviving is his extended family at Leavitt Funeral Home, who he served with on a daily basis, Odell Cox, Ken Caulder, Jeremy Burr and Amy Tucker and the support staff members, Glenn Caulder, Lynn Chewning, Ricka Clarkson, Pete Cox, Bob Garris, Julie Johnson, Steven Kelly, Brice Taylor and Dan Taylor all of whom he cared for like his family.
The family suggests memorials to First United Methodist Church Music Fund, 118 E Morgan St., Wadesboro, NC 28170, or The Harvey H. Leavitt III Memorial Fund at South Piedmont Community College at SPCC Foundation, PO Box 5041, Monroe NC 28111 or by online donation at: SPCC.edu/Harvey-Leavitt-Memorial-Fund or The Eastview Cemetery Trust, P.O. Box 274, Wadesboro, NC 28170.
Online condolences may be made at www.leavittfh.com
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Ronald ‘Ronnie’ Lucas Merriman
CHERAW – Mr. Ronald “Ronnie” Lucas Merriman, age 74, entered into rest on Monday, October 31, 2022. A memorial service was held at 3:00 PM Sunday, November 6, 2022 from the chapel of Miller-Rivers-Caulder Funeral Home by Pastor Mark Phillips and Brent Taylor. The family received friends from 2:00-3:00 O’clock PM prior to the service at the funeral home.
Mr. Merriman was born August 2,1948 in, Chesterfield SC a son of the late Buck and Dorothy Gaskins Merriman. Ronnie retired from Delta with 40+ years of service. He enjoyed fishing, watching westerns on tv, and doing woodworking. Ronnie loved to engineer things and loved talking about his working days at the plant. His greatest passion was spending time with his grandchildren and family.
In addition to his parents, Ronnie was also preceded in death by his son, Bucky Merriman; brother, Tony Merriman; sister, Barbara Ann Wilkes; and cousin Frank Lear.
Survivors include his wife of 52 years, Debbie Merriman of the home; son, Lee Merriman of Cheraw, SC; daughter, Wendy (Dougie) Boan of Cheraw, SC; grandchildren, Jamie Boan of Loris, SC and Amber Boan of Cheraw, SC; Great-grandchildren, Chandler, Miranda, Kaylie; brothers, Freddie (Helen) Gaskins of North, SC and Bennie Gaskins of Chesterfield, SC, in addition to numerous nieces and nephews.
Memorials can be made St Jude’s Children’s Hospital, 501 St Jude’s Place, Memphis, TN 38105
Miller-Rivers-Caulder Funeral Home of Chesterfield, SC (www.mrcfuneralhome.com) is serving the Merriman family.
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Alice Stricklin Smith
HENDERSON, N.C. – Alice Stricklin Smith, 95, of Henderson and Emerald Isle died October 31, 2022 at her home.
She was born in Cheraw, SC, to Frances Dixon Stricklin and Joseph N. Stricklin, Jr. She graduated from Cheraw High School and Columbia College. She was a teacher and taught English and Drama prior to her marriage. After raising her family, she enjoyed a successful career in real estate and was former owner/broker of Sunsurf Realty in Emerald Isle.
A graveside funeral service was held Thursday, November 3, 2022 at 2:00 PM by Rev. Matthew Copple at St. David’s Cemetery in Cheraw, SC.
Surviving are her husband of 72 years, R. Frank Smith, her daughters, Jo Riggan (J.C.), Carol Andrews (Andy) and Shelly Smith, her son, Frank Smith, Jr., and her grandsons, Bo Andrews and Hudson Smith.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her granddaughter, Rhyne Andrews Callens, her sister, Bettie Gail Stricklin and her brother, David Lee Stricklin.
Flowers will be accepted or memorials may be made to First Presbyterian Church Henderson, 222 Young St, Henderson, NC 27536.
Online condolences may be made at www.jmwhitefuneralhome.com.
Arrangements are by J.M. White Funeral Home.
Kiser Funeral Home is assisting J.M. White Funeral Home in serving the Smith family.