Ben Tillman “B. T.” Darnell, 83, of Denmark, passed away Friday, March 30, 2012. The funeral service were held Monday, April 2, 2012 at Ghents Branch Baptist Church. Mr. Darnell was the son of the late Ben and Annie Darnell. He was a member of Ghents Branch Baptist Church. He was retired from the city of Denmark. The family asks that you keep them in your thoughts and prayers.

Trudo Meurice Kinard Robbins, 95
Trudy was the last surviving child of Levi and Lillie Bishop Kinard. She was born June 25th, 1916 in Ehrhardt, SC and died March 22, 2011 in the Woodlands, TX. After graduation from Lodge High School, she fulfilled her lifelong dream and completed her education in Nursing. Trudy served her country as an Army First Lieutenant and a member of the Nurse Corps during World War II where she was stationed in England during the D Day invasions. It was during this time that she met and married the love of her life Marshall Robbins in Reims, France, the day before the bomb dropped at Hiroshima. She was an active member of the Good Shepard Episcopal Altar Guild, The Daughters of the King, American Legion and The Eastern Star Chapter #1065 in Pearland, TX. An Honor Guard Memorial Service was held Friday, March 30 2012, at the Veterans Cemetery in Houston.

Eloise J. Woodard, 91, Orangeburg, died Wednesday, March 28, 2012, at the Regional Medical Center in Orangeburg. The funeral was held Saturday, March 31, 2012 at Memorial Church of the Nazarene, Orangeburg. Mrs. Woodard was born February 6, 1921, in Bamberg County, a daughter of the late Kenny Hicks and the late Kathleen Jones Varn. She was an honor graduate of the class of 1938, Bamberg High School and a member of Memorial Church of the Nazarene. Mrs. Woodard was very active in her church: she was a Sunday school teacher, a department leader and a recipient of the Distinguished Service Award in the Nazarene Church. She was retired from Hygrade Food Products in 1967. She was a former employee of Belk and the Department of Public Utilities.

Peggy Bramblett Batchelor, 59, Denmark, died Saturday, March 24, 2012. A graveside service was held Monday, March 26 2012, at Bamberg Memory Gardens in Bamberg. She was born May 2, 1952, the daughter of Dorothy Kinard Bramblett and the late Ossie C. Bramblett.

The funeral for Isreal “Johnnie” Gadson, 61, Brooklyn, N.Y., was held Saturday, March 24, 2012, at Mount Zion AME Church. Isreal “Johnnie” Gadson, son of the late James and Ruby Gadson, was born on April 8, 1950, in Branchville. He attended the Branchville public schools. After his schooling, he worked for Utica Tools in South Carolina. In 1971, he moved to Brooklyn, where he met and married Careatha Walters. Johnnie remained an active member of Teamsters Local Union 282 for more than 25 years, where he retired from Cofire Construction Co. in 2008. He served as president of the Green Ave. Block Association from 1988 to 1990. In 1989, Johnnie became a member of the Bedford- Stuyvesant Volunteer Ambulance Corps where he received his New York state emergency medical technician certification and was later promoted to 2nd vice president of the ambulance corps. In 1992, Johnnie was initiated as a Mason in Stones of Howard McMann Lodge. He transferred to Brotherhood of Kings Lodge 881 under the National Supreme Council, where he received his 32nd degree.

Funeral services for Mrs. Betty Johnston Gibson, 79, of Barnwell, SC, wife of the late E. J. Gibson, Jr. were held Monday, March 26, 2012 at the First Baptist Church of Denmark. Mrs. Betty passed away on March 21, 2012 at her home in Barnwell. She was born in Barnwell County on August 8, 1932 to the late Thomas and Kellah Collins Johnston. Mrs. Betty was a homemaker.

Mr. William Henry Gray, 77, passed away March 19, 2012 at the Regional Medical Center of Orangeburg. Mr. Gray was born June 9, 1934 in Bamberg County. He was the son of the late John Ulysses and Annie Laurie Gillam Gray. He served in the United States Air Force, attended college, and was self-employed in the construction business. He was a member of Ghents Branch Baptist Church. Services were held Thursday, March 22, 2012 at Ghents Branch Baptist Church in Denmark.

Funeral services for Carrie B. Keith, 77, Orangeburg, formerly of Denmark, were held Saturday, March 24, 2012. Mrs. Keith was born on October 10, 1934, in Orangeburg County to Lawrence Mintz Sr. and Lucille Watson. Carrie was a graduate of Voorhees Junior College in 1953. At an early age, she joined Capernaum Baptist Church. Upon moving to Orangeburg, she became a member of Orangeburg Church of Christ. She was united in holy matrimony to the late Eddie Keith Jr. on Oct. 10, 1956.

Graveside services for H. L. “Scooter” Martin Jr., 55, of Augusta, Ga., who entered into rest Sunday, March 25, 2012, were conducted Saturday, March 31, in Jackson Memorial Cemetery. Mr. Martin was a native of Branchville, having made the Augusta area his home. He was a Baptist and an iron worker.

Dr. Hugh W. Mole, 86, of Orangeburg, died Wednesday evening, March 21, 2012, at his residence. Funeral services were held Sunday, March 25, 2012 at Sandy Run Baptist Church, Hampton. Dr. Mole was born in Brunson, a son of the late Lewis and Ruth McMillan Mole. He was a graduate of Wofford College and received his doctorate from the Medical University of South Carolina. Dr. Mole was a retired obstetrician-gynecologist for more than 50 years, serving the Denmark, Bamberg, Orangeburg, Winston-Salem and Savannah areas. He was a U.S. veteran serving in the Navy and Marine Corps.

India Beatrice Weeks, 86, St. George, entered into eternal rest on Saturday, March 24, 2012, at her daughter’s residence in Reevesville. Funeral services were held Monday, March 26 2012, at Reevesville Baptist Church. She was born in Reevesville on September 19, 1925, a daughter of the late Perry Edward Walters and the late Mary Rodicia (Dicie) Smoak Walters. Mrs. Weeks was a lifelong member of Reevesville Baptist Church where she served as a substitute Sunday school teacher and on the hospitality committee. She was a retired supervisor from Carolina Industries, where she dearly loved and was loved by her work family. She was a devoted mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother who will be fondly remembered for many acts of kindness and for the love and laughter she shared with all who passed her way.