Solomon Eddie Able Sr., 62, of Bamberg, died Monday, August 13th, at his residence. Funeral Services were held Friday, August 17th, at Bethel United Methodist Church in Bamberg. Mr. Able was born April 28, 1950, in Bamberg, to the late Woodrow V. Able Sr. and Pauline Brabham-Able. He was a graduate of Bamberg-Ehrhardt High School and continued his education at Voorhees College. Solomon became a member of the Omega Phi Psi Fraternity and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree. He later became a member of the Denmark Alumni Chapter of Voorhees College. On July 31, 1971, he was joined in holy matrimony to Dorothy M. Lowray. Shortly after, he moved to New York, where he worked in the banking industry until his retirement in April 2006. Once he retired, he returned to Bamberg and renewed his membership with Bethel UMC.

Maggie G. Conelly, 56, of Denmark, died Monday, August 20, 2012, at her residence. Funeral services are incomplete at this time and will be announced at a later date.

Sarah Smoak Davis, 83, of West Columbia, died Monday, August 20, 2012, at Lexington Medical Center in West Columbia. Funeral services were held Wednesday, August 22, 2012, at Bethany Baptist Church in Orangeburg. She was born December 23, 1928, in Orangeburg County, the daughter of the late Hydrick Smoak and the late Mamie Berry Smoak. She was preceded in death by her husband of 41 years, Judson C. Davis, and by two brothers, F. Harrison Smoak and Howell E. Smoak.

Ben William Goodwin (Bennie) of Tryon, NC died Wednesday, August 15, 2012, at The Currituck House in Moyock, NC after a lengthy battle with cancer. A memorial service was held at Tryon First Baptist Church, Tryon, NC on Sunday, August 19, 2012. Bennie was the loving husband of Gwen Goodwin for 47 years. Born in Spartanburg, SC on March 15, 1935, Bennie was the son of Ben P. and Helen Bell Goodwin. A graduate of Spartanburg High School and Wofford College, Bennie served in the U.S. Army and was a member of the Army Band while stationed in Japan. He was a professional flutist who played with the Spartanburg and Anderson Symphonies and led or participated in numerous musicals in Polk, Henderson and Rutherford counties. He was a member of Tryon First Baptist Church where he sang in the choir for many years. He was an active member of the Jeff L. Nelson Masonic Lodge and served on the Harmon Field Board. Bennie retired in 1992 as Band Director of Tryon High School.

Elma Griffis, 89, of Orangeburg, died Saturday, Aug. 18th, at her daughter’s residence. The funeral was held Monday, Aug. 20th, at Limestone United Methodist Church in the Wolfton Community. She was born Oct. 28, 1922, in Bamberg County, the daughter of the late Luther Cornelius and the late Annie Bishop Cornelius. She was a member of Limestone United Methodist Church and was retired from Stone Manufacturing Company. She was the widow of Eugene Griffis and was preceded in death by a son, Leonard Griffis, and a daughter, Lillian Hagen.

Regina Grimes, 94, of Denmark, died Saturday, August 11th. Funeral services were held Thursday, August 16th, at Eden Baptist Church in Denmark. Regina was born September 2, 1917, in Bamberg County, a daughter of the late Henry and Mamie Sue Halyard-Grimes. She became a member of the Eden Baptist Church, where she was the mother of the church, served on the usher board and was the secretary of the missionary board. Regina attended the public schools in Bamberg County. She relocated to the state of New York, where she worked in domestics. Soon after retiring, she moved back home to Bamberg and continued working for the Ferber family and was adopted by them. Even though Regina never had any children of her own she was known to many as Grandma, Aunt Regina and Auntie.

Favion Proveaux Jr., 85, of Denmark, died Monday, August 13th, at his home after an extended illness. He was the husband of Carolyn Proveaux. Funeral services were held Thursday, August 16th, at Bamberg Church of God. Mr. Proveaux was born June 12, 1927, in Bamberg to the late Favion Proveaux Sr. and the late Ethel Hyatt. He was a member of the Bamberg Church of God. He was a retired truck driver, and southern gospel singer. Some of his favorite activities included singing, golfing, hunting, and fishing. He loved singing gospel music, and sang with different groups for more than 50 years.

David “Dave” Ritter, 66, of Olar, died Sunday, August 12th, at his residence. Funeral services were held Saturday, August 18th, at Bethlehem Missionary Baptist Church in Olar. David Ritter was the son of the late Archie and Emma Sheppard Ritter. Dave, as he was known by family and friends, was born January 14, 1946, in Olar. He attended the public schools in Olar. He was a member of Bethlehem Missionary Baptist Church of Olar.

Funeral services for Lewis E. Smith, 56, of Bamberg, were held Sunday, Aug. 19th, at Mount Zion United Methodist Church, Bamberg. Deacon Smith was born June 25, 1956, in Bamberg County to Edgar and Francena Smith. He attended the public school system in Bamberg and graduated from Richard Carroll High School in 1975. After graduating, he relocated to Atlanta, where he worked at Landers Cleaners. After a few years, he came back to Bamberg and was employed by Rockland Industries until 1995. At an early age, Bubba dedicated his life to the Lord and became an active member of Springfield Baptist Church, where he served as the choir director and later became an active deacon. He was an original member of the Sensational Four and co-wrote two of their biggest hits, “Nobody But You,” and “God’s Not Dead.” After years of singing and recording a gospel album with the Sensational Four, he started a group with his sisters named Voices of Zion. This later produced a youth group called the Voices of Christ which included his nieces, nephews, and younger cousins. Lewis traveled near and far as a master of ceremonies for countless programs.

Joseph “Bryan” Wiles, 60, of Branchville, died Wednesday, August 15th, at the Regional Medical Center in Orangeburg. Funeral services were held Friday, August 17th, 2012. Mr. Wiles was born March 13, 1952, in Orangeburg County, the son of Myrtlene Nettles and the late Willie “Bubba” Woodrow Wiles. He served in the National Guard.