Mrs. Lois Elizabeth Kinard Barnes, 85, of Kearse Road, Ehrhardt, entered into eternal rest Thursday, December 20, 2012 at her residence. She was the widow of the late J. W. Barnes, Sr. Funeral services were held Saturday, December 22, 2012 at St. Johns Baptist Church, Ehrhardt. Mrs. Barnes was born June 29, 1927 in Fairfax and was a daughter of the late H. J. Kinard and Sadie Priester Kinard. She was a member of St. Johns Baptist Church.

The funeral for Mrs. Ethel Lee G. Bethea, 88, of Branchville, were held Saturday, December. 22, 2012, at Canaan Baptist Church, Branchville. Ethel Lee was born October 8, 1924, in Branchville to the late Sam and Hattie Glover. She was a member of Canaan Baptist Church and confessed Christ at an early age. She retired from Lockett Elementary School as a dietary employee. She was preceded in death by her husband, John Bethea; daughter Mary Bethea; and son Donald M. Bethea.

Services for Eartha Coleman, 77, of Orangeburg, were held Saturday, December 22, 2012, at Rome Baptist Church, Denmark. The burial followed in Bamberg County Memory Gardens.

Jennie Ruth Dewitt, 64, of Branchville, died Tuesday, December 18, 2012, at her residence after an extended illness. Funeral service were held Sunday, December 23, 2012, at Jericho Baptist Church. Ms. Dewitt was born December 27, 1948, to the late O. D. and Diecy Carson. Ms. Dewitt, also known as Effie Ruth, a lifelong resident of the Branchville Community, was a pillar of the community. She was employed by Brabham Oil as a store manager for E-Z Shop #10 in Branchville. She was a member of Jericho Baptist Church, where she served faithfully.

Lt. Larry Gene Elliott, retired, 59, of Brunson, died Friday, December 21, 2012, at his residence. A memorial service in his memory was held Wednesday December 26, 2012 in the chapel of Peeples-Rhoden Funeral Home, with honors provided by the South Carolina Highway Patrol Honor Guard. Born August 2, 1953, in Mullins, he was the son of the late Haywood Elliott and Kathleen Shelly Elliott. Mr. Elliott was a 1971 graduate Loris High School and a 1975 graduate of the Patrol Academy; he retired after 35 years as a lieutenant with the South Carolina Highway Patrol. He will be remembered for his love of riding his Harley-Davidson, working in his yard, and his monthly breakfast with retired law enforcement friends.

Infant King Ka’son Ny’heem Graham of Barnwell died Saturday, December 15, 2012, at the Medical College of Georgia Hospital. Graveside services were held Wednesday, December 19, 2012, in the Ned Branch Missionary Baptist Church cemetery in Barnwell. Infant King Ka’son Ny’heem Graham was born on Friday, December 14, 2012, at the Medical College of Georgia Hospital in Augusta, Ga.

Francis R. “Scotty” Scott Jr., 59, of Orangeburg, died Tuesday, December 18, 2012. Memorial services were held Saturday, December 22, 2012, at St. John’s United Methodist Church. Mr. Scott was born August 28, 1953, in Orangeburg, a son of the late Francis R. Scott Sr. and the late Jessie Pearl Kinsey Scott. He served in the U.S. Air Force.

Funeral services for James Edward Walling, Jr., 53, of Bamberg, were held Friday, December 21, 2012, in Williston. James passed away Tuesday, December 18, 2012, at his home. Born in Bamberg, he was a son of Sarah Sandifer Walling Driggers and the late James Edward Walling, Sr. He was a member of Main Street United Methodist Church of Bamberg and was a pressman for the Advertizer-Herald in Bamberg for over twenty-five years.

Dorothy L. Whitt, 89, of Hollywood, widow of Joseph S. Whitt Sr., passed away Tuesday, December 18, 2012, at Trident Medical Center. Visitation was held Friday, December 21, 2012, at Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church, Hollywood, with the funeral service following. Mrs. Whitt was born April 23, 1923, in Edisto Island, daughter of the late Clifford Bruce Antley and Lucille Driggers Antley Futch. She attended St. Paul’s High School. She enjoyed fishing and crabbing on the Toogoodoo River. She was a member of Calvary Baptist Church and worked at the Piggly Wiggly in Hollywood as a cashier.

Ruth Evelyn Adams, 57, died on Wednesday, December 19, 2012, at her home. A Memorial Service was held on Thursday, December 27, 2012, at Tar Landing Baptist Church. Ruth was born in Onslow County and was the daughter of the late William and Evelena Blume Adams. A brother, David Adams preceded her in death. She served her country honorably with the United States Army and achieved the rank of Private First Class. She enjoyed art, animals and learning. She was a professional student.

Joan S. Brink, 82 of Bamberg, died peacefully at her home December 20, 2012, after a brief illness. She will be loved and missed by her many friends and extended family. A celebration of Joan's life will be held on January 18, 2013 at 3:00 pm at Cooner Funeral Home in Bamberg. Internment at the family cemetery in Bradford, Vermont will follow at a later date. Joan was born May 29, 1930 to Charles W. and Vera (Gilbert) Silloway in Morristown, Vermont. She was raised on the family farm in Bradford, Vermont by her parents and then step-mother Elna Silloway. She graduated from Bradford Academy in 1948. She moved to Hartford Connecticut to pursue a career as a dental hygienist. There she met the love of her life, a handsome fireman, Carl B. Brink, Jr. They were married September 27, 1953 in Bradford. They moved to Hanover, New Hampshire in 1957 and Carl began his plumbing career. For many years Joan was his partner and “right hand” in their successful plumbing business. After Carl became Superintendent of Hanover Water Works, Joan returned to dentistry, working for a local orthodontist. Under the tutelage of her step-mother, Joan became an expert rug hooker and her rugs are family treasures. She also knitted many sweaters, mittens and Christmas stockings for her family and friends. The vegetable garden she tended contributed to her wonderful recipes. Her great joy was, along with Carl and a group of Hanover parents, attending all of her son's athletic events through his high school years. That interest continued through the swimming and football careers of her grandsons. Annual hunting trips to the Dartmouth Grant and camping with the “out-laws” provided many memorable stories to share including the “great bear hunt”. Carl's involvement in the New Hampshire and New England Water Works Associations led to many adventures and life-long friendships from attending meetings and conventions. In retirement, she and Carl discovered a new passion, the game of golf and they played almost daily at their home course Paw Paw Country Club in Bamberg and their Northern golf home, Lake Morey Country Club in Fairlee, Vermont, making many friends on courses wherever they went. After moving to Bamberg they summered at Rest N' Nest campground in Thetford, Vermont, again surrounded by many good friends.