Area Obituaries

Rita Carol Parris, age 69, of Laurens, passed away on Friday, September 8, 2017, at National Healthcare Center of Laurens. Born in Laurens, she was the daughter of the late R.T. and Betty Campbell McGinty.  Rita was a homemaker and was a member of Second Baptist Church. A memorial service will be held at 3:00…

Mr. Jesse Roy “Slick” Philson, 70 passed away Friday, September 08, 2017 at Martha Franks Retirement Home in Laurens, S.C. He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Emma Philson; two daughters, four brothers, three sisters, six grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Services for Jesse Roy “Slick” Philson were held Wednesday, September 13, 2017 at Antioch AME…

Charles Melvin Hipp, age 78, of Laurens, S.C., passed away on Friday, September 8, 2017, at his home. Born in Laurens, S.C., he was a son of the late Boyd Edgar and Mattie Kelly Hipp. Melvin was a US Army Veteran and was a member of Second Baptist Church in Laurens.  He attended Ford High…

Karl Heinz Niebacker, of Wheelock, Vermont, died peacefully after a short period of declining health on September 7, 2017. Karl was born on March 12, 1920 to the late Elisabeth Ostermann Niebacker and Karl Niebacker in Braunschweig, Germany.  He was their only child and proudly immigrated to the United States on March 18, 1926. Karl…

Mabel Elizabeth Howard Ferrell, age 89, of 327 Hillbrook Road, Laurens, S.C., and widow of Rev. Norman Reid Ferrell, Sr, passed away on Thursday, September 7, 2017, at National Healthcare Center of Laurens. Born in Hartwell, Ga., she was a daughter of the late L.N. and Clara Mae Paige Howard.  Mabel was a member of…

Waterloo, S.C. – John Howard, Jr., 71, of 9004 Riverfork Road, died Wednesday, September 6, 2017 at his home. Born in Spartanburg County, S.C., he was a son of the late John Sr., and Lillian Lawson Howard. He was of the Baptist faith. Mr. Howard was a two time Past Grand Master of the Independent…

Jess “Grady” Steadman, Jr. 37, of 432 Skippers Lodge Road, Cross Hill, S.C., husband of Deborah Fess Steadman, died Sunday, September 3, 2017 at Self Regional Medical Center. Born in Greenwood, he was the son of Myra Pickens Lawson and the late Jess Grady Steadman, Sr. Grady was a welder. He was a caring person…

Clinton, S.C. – Eunice Marie Nelson Handback passed away Saturday, September 2, 2017 at the NHC of Clinton. She was the widow of Lester Handback. She was born in Laurens County and was a daughter of the late Mack Floyd Sr. and Julia Kate Nelson. Mrs. Handback is retired from the Greenwood Mills and later…

James “Jimbo” Johnson, age 60, passed away Saturday, September 2, 2017 at his home in Mountville, S.C. He was born in Clinton, S.C., and was a son of Melvin D. Johnson and the late Nettie Johnson. Mr. Johnson is survived by his daughters, Jamie Johnson of Laurens and Kendall Johnson of Clinton; his sisters, Trudy…

Elizabeth Norman Wilson, 95, formerly of 914 Herman Rd., Laurens, S.C., and wife of the late F. Guy Wilson, Jr., passed away Friday, September 1, 2017, at The Langston Place in Clinton. Born in Greenwood, she was a daughter of the late William Henry Norman, Sr. and Ethel Darnell Norman.  She was employed with Bargain…