Funeral services for Mrs. Eartha ‘Bell’ Pinkney Brown, 83, of Orangeburg, were held Monday, May 23, 2011, at St. Paul Baptist Church. Eartha ‘Bell’ Pinkney-Brown, 83, was born August 1, 1927, in Calhoun County. She was the daughter of the late Freddie and Matilda Snell Footman.

Funeral services for George G. Cogburn Jr., 74, of Bamberg, were held Saturday, May 21, 2011, at River Fork Church in Bamberg. He was born December 7, 1936, in Bamberg to the late George Galphin Cogburn Sr. and the late Elise Hutto Cogburn. He was a member of River Fork Church in Bamberg. He served in the U.S. Air Force and retired from the S.C. Army National Guard after 22 years of service with the rank of Sergeant First Class.

Funeral services for Mrs. Mildred Daniels, 87, of Bamberg, were held Saturday, May 21, 2011, at Goodland Baptist Church in Bamberg. Mrs. Daniels was born on October 25, 1923, in Bamberg County to the late Johnny and Emma Barnwell Haynes.

Funeral services for Roland B. Grant Jr., 59, Chantilly, Virginia, were held Thursday, May 19, 2011, at St. Philip's Episcopal Church, Voorhees College, Denmark. He received his BA degree in history from Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia, and his M. S. W. degree in social work from Atlanta University. Services were held at the Bamberg Church of God in Bamberg Friday, May 20, 2011.

Henry Daniel Griffin, 57, of Allendale died Monday, May 16, 2011, at Allendale County Hospital. Born March 1, 1954, Mr. Griffin was the son of the late Benjamin Franklin Griffin Sr. and Nellie Mae Carrigg Griffin. He was a lineman for utility companies. Services were held at the Bamberg Church of God in Bamberg Friday, May 20, 2011.

Mrs. Mary Belle Vaughn Mitchell, 71, of Blackville, died Sunday, May 22, 2011, at her residence. Funeral services were held Wednesday, May 25, 2011, at Willow Swamp Baptist Church in Norway. She was born July 1, 1939, in Orangeburg County, the daughter of the late Luther Vaughn and the late Mary Phillips Vaughn.

Funeral services for Mr. Robert Elmore Steedley, 70, of Bamberg, were held Monday, May 23, 2011, at Mt. Carmel United Methodist Church, Bamberg. Mr. Robert Elmore Steedley was born on December 18, 1940, in Denmark, to the late Helen and Theodore Steedley.

Mr. Johnny ‘Joe’ Sweat, age 53, of Denmark, was called from “Labor to Reward” on Saturday, May 14, 2011 at the Bamberg County Hospital. Mr. Sweat was born on May 17, 1957 in Newark, New Jersey. He was the beloved son of the late Johnny Sweat Jr. and Mittie F. Sweat. Mr. Sweat moved to Ehrhardt, SC, from Newark, NJ, and then to Denmark, SC. He worked as a construction worker for many years. Funeral Services were held Saturday, May 21, 2011.

Deacon Joe Varn, 73, died Saturday, May 21, 2011, at his residence. Funeral services were held Wednesday, May 25, 2011, at Thankful Baptist Church in Bamberg. Deacon Varn was born August 25, 1937, to John and Lila Wright Varn in Bamberg County. He graduated from Richard Carroll High School and Greenville Tech College. Deacon Varn retired as a truck driver from ABF Freightliners. He served faithfully as a deacon, senior choir member and Sunday school teacher at Thankful Baptist Church.

Thelma Josephine Tant Murray Williams, 81, of Santee, widow of Gene Edsel Williams, passed into her heavenly home on Friday, May 20, 2011, at Trident Medical Center, Charleston. Funeral services were held Monday, May 23, 2011, at Indian Field United Methodist Church. Thelma was born on November 9, 1929, in Denmark, a daughter of the late Erell and Annie Bonnette Tant. She was a licensed Cosmetologist and owner of Thelma's Beauty Salon.