Bobby Vantus Burleson, 77, of Orangeburg, died Sunday, March 11, 2012, at his residence. Funeral services were held Tuesday, March 13, 2012, at Word of Life Pentecostal Holiness Church in Bamberg. He was born May 10, 1934, in Buncombe County, N.C., the son of the late Vantus Vanburen Burleson and the late Edna Johnson Burleson. Mr. Burleson loved his family and he loved singing gospel music. He never met a stranger, always had a smile on his face despite his disabilities. He was a very dedicated member of the Word of Life Pentecostal Holiness Church and was a Sunday school teacher. He participated in several wheelchair marathons for orphanages. He was able to drive and worked until 2008. He was a disabilities advocate for South Carolina, and also worked for years in prison and nursing home ministry.

Funeral services for Caleb Andrew Greene, 21, of Orangeburg, were held Thursday, March 8, 2012, at Andrew Chapel Baptist Church. Caleb Andrew Greene, son of Pastor Donald E. Greene and Candice McNeil Greene, was born November 27, 1990, in Ocala, Fla. He departed this life on Saturday, March 3, 2012, as a result of an automobile accident in Orangeburg. He was educated in the public schools of Orangeburg and graduated from Orangeburg-Wilkinson High School, class of 2008, where he participated in numerous activities and was a member of several organizations, including the International Baccalaureate Program (IB), the Highlight Society (HLS), and the Drama Club. He was enrolled in the Bridge Program as a full-time student at Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College. He was a member of Andrew Chapel Baptist Church. He was employed by Sleep Inn.

Mr. Henry Albert Hartzog, 92, of Orangeburg, died Sunday, March 11, 2012. Funeral services were held Wednesday March 14. Mr. Hartzog was born in Bamberg, a son of the late Chester Hartzog and Bessie Sanford Hartzog. He was retired from South Carolina State University from the maintenance department. Mr. Hartzog was a member of St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, the Men’s Bible Class and served as an Usher. He was a member of the Woodman of the World, a Mason and member of the Shibboleth Lodge #26, a Shriner and a former member of the Lions Club of Orangeburg.

Erma Ruth Tisdale Jones, 87, of Orangeburg entered into eternal rest Thursday, March 8, 2012. Erma Ruth was born December 16, 1924, in Kingstree to Johnson and Mamie Evans Tisdale. At an early age, Erma joined Mt. Zion United Methodist Church, Kingstree and later became a member at Trinity United Methodist Church. She served as the Sunday School Superintendent for over twenty five years, a Lay speaker, a leader of the district for the South Carolina conference Council on Youth Ministries, Order of Eastern Star, Charter Member of Mu Chapter of Zeta Phi Beta sorority, Incorporated, The Elks, Flamingo Club, Sunlight Club, Evergreen Garden Club. She received several awards, a member of Claflin University Hall of Fame, Claflin University Alumni 1st runner-up to Miss Claflin National Alumni Association, 2000 Millennium Inductee into the South Carolina Chapters of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated Hall of Fame and numerous other organizations and awards. She graduated from Tomlinson High School, Kingstree, South Carolina and later graduated from Claflin College, the University with a B.A. in English with a minor in Biology. She did further studies at Benedict College, Furman University, Clemson University, Morris College, the University of South Carolina, and received her Masters degree in Counseling from South Carolina State College. She was also certified as a reading and speech specialist. She taught over 40 years in the public schools, Fairfax training school, Estill training school, Lewis L. Butler Elementary School, Bamberg-Ehrhardt Junior High, and High School. Denmark-Olar Elementary and Claflin University for 16 years.

Funeral services for Mr. Have Kearse Jr., 78, of Orangeburg, were held Sunday, March 11, 2012.

Mrs. Minnie Lee Folk Mitchum, 94, widow of George Homer Mitchum entered into eternal rest on Tuesday, March 6, 2012. Funeral services were held on Saturday March 10, 2012. Mrs. Mitchum was born September 15, 1917 in Olar and was the daughter of the late Julius Augustus Folk and Lalla Maye Rush Folk. She was a member of St. Johns Baptist Church where she was a former Sunday school teacher. She loved working in her yard, quilting and canning. She will always be remembered for her famous peanut brittle.