Solomon E. Abel, 62, of Bamberg, died Monday, August 13, 2012, at his residence. Services will be announced at a later date.

The Rev. Charles Anthony “Tony” Black, 57, of Orangeburg, died Tuesday, August 7, 2012, at the Regional Medical Center in Orangeburg. Funeral services were held Saturday, August 11, 2012, at Greater Cherry Grove Christian Church D.O.C. in Brunson. Charles Anthony “Tony” Black was born February 17, 1955, at Green Pond Hospital in Brooklyn, N.Y., to Charles and Clara Green Black. At an early age, he realized the need of a Savior and joined Cherry Grove Christian Church D.O.C., where he served in many capacities. Charles was educated at Fairfax Elementary School, Denmark-Olar High School, Voorhees College and Lexington Theology South University. The Rev. Black accepted the call into the ministry and served as pastor of Galilee Christian Church in Nashville, Tenn.; East Maple Church in Lexington, Ky.; Hutto Chapel in Hilda; Gethsemane Baptist Church in Bamberg; Cherry Grove Christian Church D.O.C. in Brunson; and Tabernacle Baptist Church in Blackville. He was the founding pastor of Light of the Word and Alpha and Omega Christian Ministries in Bamberg. He was also employed by several mental health agencies in Bamberg, Florence, Marion and Orangeburg, and also worked with the Department of Juvenile Justice in Bamberg.

The life of James Thomas “Jimmie” Burch, Jr., 95, was celebrated Sunday, August 12, 2012, at Trinity United Methodist, Bamberg, S.C. where he and “Lib”, his beloved wife of nearly seventy years, were life long members. Jimmie Burch was a good man and a gentleman. He loved God, his family, his church, his country and community and it truly showed as all who knew and loved him would agree. He grew up in Bamberg and after graduation from Wofford College in 1939, where he was a member of the baseball team and Kappa Sigma Fraternity, he entered the United States Military. He served honorably in the Army Air Force as a Staff Sergeant and was stationed in Alaska during World War II. On November 28, 1942, he married Elizabeth “Lib” Morris of Olar. Both before and after the war he joined Colonel James F. Risher as a biology and history teacher at Carlisle Military School. He influenced the lives of numerous “Carlisle boys” with his firm but compassionate discipline and was affectionately known by them as “Daddy Rabbit.” He ended his career at Carlisle as Major Burch, baseball coach and director of athletics. Numerous former students from all over the United States stopped to visit him over the years even up to the past few months of his long life. In 1954 he went into business for himself as owner of the Bamberg Western Auto Store, a store that became a local institution and thrived for over 49 years. He was proud to be a small businessman and was among the last of an era of small community merchants dealing in general merchandise and auto parts and repair and who knew their customers by name. Many will remember Santa’s toy shop, tire and bike repairs, store credit, delivering bicycles on Christmas Eve and even occasional hunting and fishing stories. When Main Street was significantly changed with the widening of US 301 the city appropriately honored Jimmie Burch at the reopening at the Bamberg Ole Daze Celebration in October, 2007, by naming him the Parade Grand Marshall. Jimmie’s service to community and church was unending. Among his many distinguished activities he was a member of Bamberg City Council and after 55 years in the Lions Club which he served as President, he was awarded the Chevron award for his years of service. He was a longtime member of the Order of the Elks and served as President of the Bamberg Men’s Garden Club. He served in literally every position in his local church including as Board Chair and Lay Leader for over thirty years. He was most proud of his almost 50 years of teaching the Men’s Bible Class. He loved the outdoors and for many years was an avid hunter, fisherman and golfer.

Mrs. Ethel Hiers Chassereau, 86, of Ehrhardt, passed away Wednesday, August 8, 2012, at The Regional Medical Center in Orangeburg. She was the widow of Mr. John Glenwood Chassereau. Funeral services were held Saturday, August 11, 2012 at Mount Pleasant Lutheran Church, Ehrhardt. Mrs. Chassereau was born March 20, 1926, in Charleston and was a daughter of the late William Harley Hiers and Ethel Mae Crosby Buchanan Hiers. She was a retired employee of Delevan. She was an active and faithful member of Mount Pleasant Lutheran Church, where she taught Sunday School for many years and was an active church steward.

Regina Grimes, 94, of Denmark, died Saturday, August 11, 2012, at the Regional Medical Center in Orangeburg. Services will be announced at a later date.

Favion Proveaux Jr., of Denmark, died Monday, August 13, 2012, at his home after an extended illness. He was the husband of Carolyn Proveaux. Funeral plans will be announced at a later date.

David Ritter, 66, of Olar, died Saturday, August 12, 2012, at his residence. Services will be announced at a later date.

Lewis Smith, 56, of Bamberg, died Monday, August 13, 2012, at his residence. Services will be announced at a later date.

Nyesha A. Walker, 12, of Denmark, died Saturday, August 11, 2012, at the Regional Medical Center. Services were held Wednesday, August 15, 2012, at Honey Ford Baptist Church, Denmark. She was born April 5, 2000, in Orangeburg, to Anthony and Norma Pressey Walker. Nyesha attended Denmark-Olar Elementary School, where she had completed the fifth grade. She was so looking forward to being able to move on up to the next grade, but due to her sudden illness this was not to be. She was a member of Faith Ministries.