Mattie Joe Whittle Blume, 85, died Thursday evening, October 27, 2011, at UniHealth Post-Acute Care of Bamberg after an extended illness. Funeral services were held Sunday, October 30, 2011, at First Baptist Church of Denmark. Mrs. Blume was born April 8, 1926, in Orangeburg County. She was the daughter of the late Nathan Burton and Ruth Knotts Whittle. She was the widow of Johnny L. Blume Jr. She retired from Southern Bell as a telephone operator.

Memorial services for Alma C. Duncan, 72, of Denmark, were held Thursday, October 27, 2011, at Honey Ford Baptist Church in Denmark. She died Friday, October 21, 2011, at the Regional Medical Center in Orangeburg. Ms. Alma was born on April 19, 1939, in Bamberg to the late Albert Cain and Francener Jones Raysor Cain. She attended the public schools of Bamberg County. At an early age, she joined Honey Ford Baptist Church.

Mr. Jesse Griffith Ferguson, III of Brunson, SC died early Sunday morning October 23, 2011 at his residence. Born August 21, 1945 in Oxford, NC he was the son of the late Jesse Ferguson, Jr. and Louise Tison Ferguson. Mr. Ferguson was a retired Sargent with the South Carolina Highway Patrol in Bamberg County retiring after 23 years of service. He was a Mason and a Shriner and a member of the Estill Presbyterian Church.

Mr. General Allen Hickman, 57 of Lodge, entered into eternal rest on Saturday, October 22, 2011, at Roper Hospital in Charleston. Funeral services were held Tuesday, October 25, 2011, at Carter’s Ford Baptist Church in Lodge. Mr. Hickman was born July 22, 1954, in Kingstree and was a son of Earline Pollard Hickman and the late Marion Hickman. He was a Water Operator for the Town of Ehrhardt, volunteer Fire Fighter and First Responder for Lodge Rescue Squad, and was a Reserve Policeman for the Ehrhardt Police Department. He had just completed certification for Water Treatment, Distribution and Bio Testing. He attended Carter’s Ford Baptist Church and was a member of Hope Masonic Lodge, No. 122.

The funeral for Sybil Gilliam Proveaux, 85, of Bamberg, was held Wednesday, November 2, 2011. She was born March 7, 1926, in Barnwell to the late Henry Gilliam and the late Vivian Hutto. She was the widow of the late Favion Proveaux Sr. She was a member of First Baptist Church in Bamberg and retired from Bamberg County Hospital with 26 years of service.

Annie Ruth Marshall Rutland, 94, of Bamberg, formerly of Orangeburg, died Wednesday, October 26, 2011, at UniHealth Post-Acute Care of Bamberg. She was born July 14, 1917, in Monroe County, Ga., to the late Walter C. Marshall and the late Margaret Coleman Marshall. She was the widow of Webber A. Rutland. She was a Baptist and enjoyed gardening and fishing. A graveside service was held Friday, October 28, 2011, in Crestlawn Memorial Gardens in Orangeburg.

Funeral services for Louis Willis, 77, of Bamberg, formerly of Denmark, was held Wednesday, November 2, 2011, at Bethlehem Olar Missionary Baptist Church, Olar. Mr. Willis died Friday, October 28, 2011, at Bamberg County Hospital. Born May 25, 1934, to the late Cleo Willis, he attended the public schools of Bamberg County. He was united in holy matrimony to the late Daisy Mae Walker. Louis was employed for more than 30 years with Kearse Manufacturing Co. in Olar. He joined Bethlehem Olar Missionary Baptist Church at an early age.