Obituaries May 31, 2023
Patricia Bryson Leppard Adams
CHESTERFIELD – Mrs. Patricia Bryson Leppard Adams, age 67, entered into rest on Tuesday, May 23, 2023. A Celebration of Life service was held at 11:00 AM Friday, May 26, 2023 at Hopewell Baptist Church by Rep. Pastor Richie Yow, Dr. Edward “Mac” Leppard, and Linda Harper. The family greeted friends immediately following the service in the church fellowship hall. A family graveside service was held at the Chesterfield Cemetery on Friday, May 26, 2023 at 10:00 AM.
Mrs. Adams was born October 24, 1955 in Charlotte, NC a daughter of the late Senator Edward McIver and Virginia Emory Leppard. With her sharp wit, personable demeanor, and contagious smile, Mrs. Adams could make friends with anyone. Pat enjoyed gardening and working with flowers. She also had a talent for cooking and canning which she used to ensure that her loved ones were well fed. Mrs. Adams was a historian and lover of Chesterfield and its residents. Pat was also a pet person who raised many goats, dogs, and cats. Mrs. Adams liked beach music and she would dance whenever an opportunity presented its self. Above all else, Pat will be remembered for her great love and dedication to being a wife to Larry, and a full-time mother and caregiver to her special-needs daughter, Julie.
Survivors include her husband of 46 years, Larry J. Adams of the home; daughter, Julie Allene Adams of Chesterfield, SC; siblings, Virginia Leppard (Dick) Watson of Colorado Springs, CO, Dr. Edward McIver “Mac” (Connie) Leppard of Columbia, SC, Sara Leppard (Roger) Henderson of Chesterfield, SC; sister-in-law, Betty Adams Jordan of Chesterfield, SC, Faye Adams Funderburk of Chesterfield, SC; and numerous nieces and nephews.
The family would like to express their gratitude to Janice White and Linda Harper for being the loving caregivers of Mrs. Adams’ daughter, Julie.
Memorials may be made in Mrs. Adams memory to the Shriners hospital at donate.lovetotherescue.org.
Miller-Rivers-Caulder Funeral Home (www.mrcfuneralhome.com) of Chesterfield, SC is serving the Adams family.
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James Cecil Cunningham
WALLACE – James Cecil Cunningham, 68, died on Thursday, May 25, 2023. Born, January 20, 1955, in Wadesboro, NC, he was the son of the late James and Lydia Moore Cunningham. Cecil served his country proudly, in the United States Navy, and worked as a Lab Technician at Ina Bearing in Cheraw, SC. He was a member of The Lighthouse Church in Wallace, SC, and enjoyed welding, watching movies and spending time with his family.
Along with his parents, listed above, Cecil was preceded in death by his loving wife, Vickie Jean Cunningham, and a son, Theodore Jason McPherson.
Cecil leaves behind to cherish his memory, his sons, Sammy Cunningham (Cindy) of Asheville, NC, and Eugene McPherson (Beth Hinson) of Wallace, SC; a daughter, Kelli Brannen (Mark) of Wallace, SC; grandchildren, Tara McPherson (Michael Huggins), Cody McPherson, T.J. McPherson, Garret McPherson, Josh Faile, and Austin Hinson; and great-grandchildren, Skylar McPherson, Jason McPherson, Hayden Huggins, Ethan Huggins, and Madilynn McPherson.
A funeral service was held at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, May 28, 2023, at Kiser Funeral Home in Cheraw, SC. Burial followed in White’s Creek Freewill Baptist Church Cemetery in Wallace, SC.
The family received friends from 1:00 until 2:00 p.m. just prior to the service on Sunday at the Funeral Home.
Kiser Funeral Home has been entrusted to serve the Cunningham family in their time of grief.
Online condolences may be made at www.kiserfuenralhome.com.
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Michael ‘Mike’ Roy Elmore
CHERAW – Michael “Mike” Roy Elmore, age 68, passed away on May 27, 2023.
Mike was born on September 17, 1954, in Florence, South Carolina, the son of the late L.E. “Louie” Elmore, Jr., and Harriet B. Elmore. A passionate golfer, Mike found great pleasure in playing the sport with his sons and friends.
As a dedicated member of the First United Methodist Church of Cheraw, Mike’s service on numerous committees was a testament to his dedication for helping others and living a life of compassion.
Professionally, Mike dedicated 39 years of his life to the Schaeffler Group in Cheraw where his tireless work ethic made him a valued member of the organization.
In his final months, Mike selflessly participated in research studies conducted by the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, FL. His noble act aimed to assist future patients suffering from frontotemporal dementia, ALS and related neurological illnesses.
Mike Elmore will be remembered for his unwavering love, his kind heart, and his dedication to his family, faith, and community. He will be deeply missed by all who had the privilege of knowing him.
In addition to his father, Mike was preceded in death by his brothers Robbie and Frank.
In addition to his mother, listed above, he is survived by his wife of 40 years Debbie, sons: Baker (Anna) of Washington, DC, McCuen (Lauren) of Lancaster, SC, brother; Ken of Jacksonville, FL; sister-in-laws Lee of Greenville, SC, Kathy (Harry) and Sandra (Scott) both of Columbia, SC and numerous nieces and nephews.
A funeral service was held at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 30, 2023, at First United Methodist Church in Cheraw, SC. Burial followed in Saint David’s Cemetery in Cheraw, SC.
The family received friends from 1:00 until 2:00 p.m. just prior to the service on Tuesday, in the Parlor of First United Methodist Church in Cheraw.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial gifts on Mike’s behalf be designated for ALS and Neuromuscular disease research (Mayo Clinic Jacksonville, FL). Department of Development, Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN 55905; www.mayoclinic.org/development.
Kiser Funeral Home has been entrusted to serve the Elmore family in their time of grief.
Online condolences may be made at www.kiserfuneralhome.com.
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Ruby Elizabeth Paul Raffaldt
CHESTERFIELD – Mrs. Ruby Elizabeth Paul Raffaldt, age 97, entered into rest on Thursday, May 25, 2023. Funeral services were held at 11:00 AM Monday, May 29, 2023 at Thompson Creek Baptist Church by Dr. Ronnie Grizzle with burial following in the church cemetery. The family greeted friends from 10:00 – 11:00 AM Monday, prior to the service at the church.
Mrs. Raffaldt was born May 21, 1926 in Ellerbe, NC a daughter of the late Zack and Carrie Johnson Paul. She was a dedicated homemaker and a life-long member of Thompson Creek Baptist Church, where she held the distinct honor of being the oldest member. Ruby also served as former Sunday school teacher and W.M.U. Director. A lady that truly embodied the essence of a homemaker, Mrs. Raffaldt enjoyed gardening, canning, working in her flowers, and feeding the birds and squirrels. In order to spend time with her husband, she also developed the love of fishing. Her greatest passion was family, from planning and organizing the Raffaldt family reunion to spending quality time with her immediate family, she was the epitome of a family matriarch.
In addition to her parents, Mrs. Raffaldt was also preceded in death by her husband, C.B. Raffaldt; daughter, Janice Merlene Raffaldt; son, Fred Robert Raffladt; grandchildren, Teresa Raffaldt Huen, Freddie Raffaldt, Mary Ann Smith, Brinnon Joel Raffaldt, and Robert Maurice Raffaldt; brothers, Ray Paul, Lee Douglas, and Junior Paul.
Survivors include her children, Betty Faye Raffaldt (Dr. William) Rivers of Bel Air, MD, Carroll B. (Myrtle) Raffaldt of Chesterfield, SC, and Shirley Jean Dockray (Jerry) Satterfield of Cheraw, SC; grandchildren, Cindy Holden of Chesterfield, SC, Robin Loftin of Mt. Gilead, NC, Susan Raffaldt of Mt. Croghan, SC, Rev. William Anthony “Tony” (Jewell) Rivers of Boiling Springs, SC, Horace Kevin (Melissa) Rivers of Yorktown, VA, Jan Annette (Jamie) Scott of Aberdeen, MD, Christopher Carroll Raffaldt of Peachland, NC, and Phillip Brinnon (Melinda) Dockray of Ruby, SC; numerous great grandchildren, great – great grandchildren, and great-great-great grandchildren; in addition to generations of nieces and nephews.
Memorials may be made to Thompson Creek Baptist Church, 3403 Wamble Hill Rd, Chesterfield, SC 29709; or to Connie Maxwell Children’s Home, 212 Zoar Road, Chesterfield, SC 29709, or to Southeastern Children’s Home, 115 Childrens Way, Duncan, SC 29334.
Miller-Rivers-Caulder Funeral Home (www.mrcfuneralhome.com) of Chesterfield, SC is serving the Raffaldt family.