The funeral service for Walter Lee “Dilly” Brown Jr., 49, of Bowman, was held Saturday, April 28, 2012, at Mount Olive AME Church, Holly Hill. Walter Lee Brown Jr. (“Dilly”) was born on August 8, 1962, in Holly Hill to Mr. and Mrs. Walter Lee (Rosa) Brown Sr. He was reared in the home of Mr. and Mrs. Jeff (Lillie) Brown Sr. He was the fourth of eight children. He departed this life on Saturday, April 21, 2012 after a brief illness. Walter was educated in Orangeburg County at Roberts High School. He was a member of Mount Olive AME Church. He was employed by Super Sod in Orangeburg for 17 years. In his earlier years, he was also employed by Matthews Construction Co.

Doris Lott Croft, 64, the wife of the late Billy F. Croft, Sr., passed away April 28, 2012, at the Regional Medical Center in Orangeburg. Mrs. Croft was born December 5, 1947, in Bamberg County. She was the daughter of the late Frank Lott, Jr. and Kathleen Kinsey Lott. Mrs. Croft was a homemaker and a member of Main Street Methodist Church in Bamberg. Services were held Tuesday, May 1st.

William “Allen” Fogle, 50, of Moncks Corner, died Friday, April 20, 2012, at Bon Secours St. Francis Hospital in Charleston following a brief illness. A celebration of life service was held Friday, April 27, 2012, in Orangeburg. Mr. Fogle was born June 27, 1961, in Charleston to Sylvia Ann Smoak Fogle and the late Joseph Clyde Fogle Sr. He had worked as a foreman with Jacobs Engineering Company, with 32 years of dedicated service. Allen worked well with his hands and had a unique ability to create something from nothing. He was a master carpenter, a metal fabricator, and in his spare time, liked racing lawn mowers. He was a devoted and loving father and enjoyed spending time with his family. Of all his amazing qualities, Allen will be fondly remembered for the love and compassion he possessed for others. He found good in everyone and believed in life’s motto of loving your neighbor as thyself. Allen was always giving of himself and continued to exhibit unselfishness even unto death. It was his personal request that following his death, his corneas be harvested for transplantation. His request was carried out. It is his family’s desire that now, in some way, the recipient will not only be able to see the beauty of life but the good in others, as Allen did.

Mrs. Charley Clay Laboard, Branchville, died Monday, April 23, 2012, at her residence. Funeral services were held Thursday, April 26, 2012 at Free Gift Baptist Church, Bamberg County. Born August 2, 1930, in Branchville to the late Charley and Dora Haynes Stewart, she was a graduate of Richard Carroll High School, where she was valedictorian. Upon relocating to Queens, N.Y., she and her husband Joseph went on to provide a better life for the family. There she joined Bethany Baptist Church, where she sang in the choir. She was employed by the United States Postal Service. Upon coming back to her home state of South Carolina, Charley rejoined Free Gift Baptist Church.

Justin Blake and Jeremy Benjamin Gibson, infant twin sons of Bart and Stacy Smith Gibson of 307 Susan Constant Dr., Newport News, VA died Monday, April 23, 2012 at the Naval Medical Center in Portsmouth, VA. Funeral services were held on Saturday, April 28, 2012 at Cool Springs Baptist Church, in Franklinville.

Bessie Barrs Blume Smyth, 92, formerly of Branchville, died Tuesday, April 24, 2012. She was the widow of Ralph Frank Blume and Fred F. Smyth. A memorial service was held Sunday, April 29, 2012, in Irmo/St. Andrews. Mrs. Smyth was the daughter of the late Ida Carter Barrs and Dan Barrs and foster daughter of the late Meta Metts Byrd and Marvin Raysor Byrd.

Glenn Lee “Polly” Varn, 85, of Manning, husband of Kathleen “Kass” Peterson Varn, died Saturday, April 28, 2012, at Clarendon Memorial Hospital. A funeral service was held Monday, April 30, 2012, in Manning United Methodist Church. Born March 30, 1927, in Branchville, he was the son of the late Fletcher Otis Varn and the late Elizabeth Knight Varn. He was a United States Navy Veteran, a retired teacher, coach and principal, and a member of Manning United Methodist Church and the Men’s Bible Class.

Funeral services for the Rev. Bernard Wiggins, 88, Walterboro, were held on Sunday, April 29, 2012, in Ehrhardt. Born October 1, 1923, to the late Otis and Minnie Jones Wiggins, he attended the public schools of Colleton County. The Rev. Wiggins was called to carry the word of the Lord. With this calling, he served the Lord in many churches. In his last church he was as a minister for the Church of God and Christ in New York.