Funeral services for Shirley Gean Still Black, 65, of Hilda, were held Tuesday, July 31, 2012, at Hilda First Baptist Church. Mrs. Shirley passed away on Saturday, July 28, 2012. Born in Barnwell County, she was a daughter of the late Thomas Lide Still and Mada Hutto Still. She formerly worked for Sunbeam in Denmark and White Oak Florist in Barnwell. She was a member of Hilda First Baptist Church, where before her illness she was very active in many different departments, served on many committees and sang in the church choir. She was a member and secretary of the Hilda Fire Dept. She was a member of the Woodmen of the World.

Arrye Violet Tant Craig of Branchville passed away peacefully in Canton, Ga., on Thursday, at the age of 82. Funeral services were held in Branchville on Sunday, July 29, 2012. She was born in Denmark in 1930 to parents Susie Lee Byrd Tant and Julius C. Tant. She is the widow of SSG Robert M. Craig Sr., who died serving his country in Vietnam. Arrye graduated from the University of South Carolina with a Master’s Degree in Nursing. Through the course of her career, she worked at Orangeburg Regional Hospital in Orangeburg, the Veterans Affairs Hospital in Long Beach, Calif., and as a clinical nurse specialist for the Department of Health and Environmental Control in Columbia.

The graveside service for Johnnie F. “PaPa” Dozier Sr., 92, of Orangeburg, were held Sunday, July 29, 2012, at Crestlawn Memorial Gardens in Orangeburg. He was born November 13, 1919, in Marion County, the son of the late Lavoy Dozier and the late Kittie Shaw Dozier. He served in the U.S. Army 46th Division of Engineering. He was retired from Epting-Ballenger Corporation.

Mrs. Lillie R. Spells, 72, of Orangeburg, died July 25, 2012, at her residence following an extended illness. Funeral services were held Tuesday, July 30, 2012 at Good Hope AME Church. Mrs. Lillie R. Spells was born February 29, 1940, in Orangeburg County, the daughter of the late Mrs. Ruth Simpson Seabrook and Mr. John Simpson Jr. She married James B. Spells on May 21, 1960, and they soon moved to Brooklyn, N.Y. To this union three children were born. At an early age, Mrs. Spells joined Emanuel AME Church in Cope. Upon returning to South Carolina in 1973, Mrs. Spells joined Good Hope AME Church, where she served as the Building Fund secretary and a faithful member of the Women’s Missionary Society until her health began failing. Mrs. Spells graduated as valedictorian from George Washington Carver High School in Cope in 1958. She received a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration in 1980 from South Carolina State University. While residing in New York, Mrs. Spells worked at Chase Manhattan Bank for several years. Upon returning to South Carolina, Mrs. Spells was employed at South Carolina State University in the Financial Aid Department. Mrs. Spells was later employed in the Personnel Department at the State Board for Technical and Comprehensive Education. She later served as the Personnel Director at Denmark Technical College, Central Carolina Technical College and Midlands Technical College.

Lina Nell Williford, 83, of Bamberg, died Saturday, July 28, 2012.

Juanita Phillips Summers Williams, 77, of Brooklyn, N.Y., died Thursday, July 19, 2012. The funeral was held Thursday, July 26, 2012 at Evening Star Baptist Church in Brooklyn. Mrs. Williams was born September 10, 1934, to the late Rannie Jenkins and Julius Phillips. She was educated in the public schools of Branchville. She attended Zion AME Church. She relocated to New York in the 1960s. She worked at Sach’s Curtains and Leviton Co. until she retired in 1980. She served at Evening Star Baptist Church in Brooklyn.