Area Obituaries

Saluda – Ernestine Beck Matthews, 70, died Saturday, December 31, 2016 at her residence. Born in Laurens County and a daughter of the late Ernest E. and Ada Masser Beck, she was the wife of the late Aaron Matthews. Funeral services will be held 11 a.m., Tuesday, January 3, 2017 at Ramey Funeral Home Chapel.…

Ms. Claree Lyons was born June 28, 1934, to the late Walter and Elizabeth Spurgeon in Mountville. On Friday, December 30, 2016 at the Martha Franks Retirement Home in Laurens, God called home one of His strongest soldiers. Services for Ms. Claree Lyons were held Thursday, January 5, 2017 at Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church…

Jimmy Lee “Jim” Williams, age 88, of 101 Circle Drive, Laurens, and husband of the late Mary Ann Nelson Williams, passed away on Friday, December 30, 2016, at Greenville Memorial Hospital. Born in Enoree, Jim was the son of the late Wesley Furman and Ollie Mae Taylor Williams of Lanford Station. Funeral services will be…

Cassie Mae Jones Hughes, age 75, of 110 Hwy. 49, Laurens, and widow of Bluford Hughes, passed away Wednesday, December 28, 2016 at the Laurens County Memorial Hospital. She was born in Statesboro, Ga., and was a daughter of the late W.H. and Lottie Mae Bazemore Jones. Funeral service will be held Monday, Jan. 2,…

Harry Herman Hays Jr., 83, of 982 Hayes Dr., Gray Court, and husband of the late Hellen Smallwood Hays, passed away at his home, Tuesday, December 27, 2016. Born in Liberty, Miss., he was a son of the late, Harry Herman Hays Sr. and Donis Wilkenson Hays. A U.S. Air Force veteran, he was a…

James Larry Bagwell, age 58, of 2304 Ekom Beach Road, Laurens, and husband of Kathy Elaine Moon Bagwell, passed away on Sunday, December 25, 2016, at Self Regional Medical Center in Greenwood. Born in Laurens, he was a son of the late James Carrol and Nancy Smith Bagwell. Funeral services will be held at 2:00…

James Arthur “Jimmy” Pearson, age 88, of 714 Church Street, Laurens, and husband of the late Frances Mary Dixon Pearson, passed away on Sunday, December 25, 2016, at National Healthcare Center of Laurens. Born in Philadelphia, he was a son of the late Harold Earl and Doris Ellen Williams Pearson. Jimmy was a U.S. Navy…

Louise McPheeters Wright, age 100, passed away on Sunday, December 25, 2016. Mrs. Wright was a former long-time resident of Poplar Bluff and Doniphan, Mo. She moved over 10 years ago to Laurens to be with her daughter and son in-law and was currently residing at Martha Franks Baptist Retirement Community in Laurens. She was…

Bernice Brown, age 71, of 74 Cedar Valley, Laurens, died Friday, December 23, 2016, at the Self Regional Medical Center, Greenwood. She was born in Cross Hill, a daughter of the late Tommy Grant and Linda Lee Sanders Grant. Funeral service will be held 1 p.m., Wednesday, December 28, at the Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist…

James William McDaniel, 78, of Salisbury, N.C., passed away December 22, 2016 at his residence. Born March 5, 1938, in Charlotte, N.C., he was a son of the late Carrie Dagnall McDaniel and William Lee McDaniel. Visitation: 3-4:00 p.m., Wednesday, December 28, at Summersett Funeral Home Service: 4:00 p.m., Wednesday, December 28, at Summersett Memorial…