Obituaries

Apr 3, 2022

James L. Fesperman, 77, of Florence, SC, passed away on Sunday, April 3, 2022.  He was born in Alamance, NC, a son of the late Frances and Jerry Clarence Fesperman.  In addition to his parents, he is also predeceased by his wife, Mamie Hicks Fesperman and two sisters, Debra K. Westbrooks and Jeri Irene Guthery.  James was a veteran...

Mar 31, 2022

Gordon Charles Girard, Sr., 82, Passed away in Florence, SC on Thursday, March 31, 2022 with his beloved wife of 61 years, Carol by his side. Gordon and his family had made Brunswick County, NC their home for the last 35 years. He was born in Winchendon, MA, a son of the late George Joseph Girard, Sr. and the...

Mar 30, 2022

Constance Carraway, known as Connie, passed away on March 30, 2022. She was born in Seattle, Washington on May 2, 1945 to Mary Ella and William Henry Fortune Jr. From the very beginning, Connie dedicated her life to serving others. She went out of her way to help, from making dresses for her younger sisters to taking her Grandma...

Mar 19, 2022

Gloria Florence Polston, 84, was born on March 20, 1937 and on March 19, 2022, she passed away peacefully at her home surrounded by her loving family and friends under Hospice Care.  She was born in Sussex, England and joined the Royal Air Force.  She married Jesse Polston.

She leaves to mourn her passing, four children, Stephen...

Mar 16, 2022

Nancy Torino Hunt, 53, of Florence, SC, passed away on Wednesday, March 16, 2022, after a courageous battle with cancer.  She was born in Bamberg County, a daughter of the late George Lewis Hair and the late Lottie Mae Zorn Hair.

Nancy was a truck driver for the Savannah River Nuclear Site and for Bush's Recycling.  She...

Mar 9, 2022

Edwin Karl Johnson, Jr., 69, of Florence, SC, passed away on Wednesday, March 9, 2022.  He was born in Saugus, Massachusetts, a son of the late Edwin Karl Johnson, Sr. and the late Doris Gladys Bailey Johnson.

Edwin was much loved and will be missed by his friends and family.  He loved his wife very much and...

Mar 4, 2022

Jeffrey "Jeff" Wayne Collins, 55, of Florence, SC, passed away on Friday, March 4, 2022.  He was born in Parkersburg, WV, a son of Betty Jane West Collins and the late Alvin Eugene Collins.

Jeff earned his BA at Marshall University as an undergrad and went on the earn a Master's Degree in Mathematics and Education from...

Mar 3, 2022

Michael Purvis, 65, of Florence, SC, passed away on Thursday, March 3, 2022.  He was born in Darlington, SC, a son of the late Mary and Wesley Purvis.  He is also predeceased by a son, Timothy Ryan Purvis.  Michael was a great husband and father.  He enjoyed carpentry and was an avid motorcycle rider.  He proudly rode with the...

Feb 24, 2022

Thomas "Tom" William McQuade, 86, of Florence, SC, passed away on Thursday, February 24, 2022.  He was born in New York, NY, a son of the late John and Agnes Krautwald McQuade.  He is also predeceased by two sisters, Ann Katherine McQuade and Rosemary A. McQuade Jarvie.

Tom was a veteran, having served in the US Army...

Feb 19, 2022

Eugene Kelly Wayland, 64, of Florence, SC, left this world and entered his heavenly home on Saturday, February 19, 2022.   He was born in Charlotte, NC a son of the late Ernest Eugene Wayland and Mary Sue Kelly.  Surviving is his foster mother, Mary Hoffmeyer, 2 sisters, Karen Anderson (Alex) and Kathy Jones (Jim) and several nieces and nephews. ...

Feb 12, 2022

Jamie Lee Meadows, 30, of Coward, SC, passed away on Saturday, February 12, 2022.  He was born in Florence, SC, a son of Gary Odell Meadows, Sr. and the late Tamra Lynn Smith Meadows.  Jamie was a graduate of Wilson High School and worked for Dodson Pest Control.  He enjoyed fishing, mud bogging and working on cars.  He loved...

Feb 11, 2022

Melissa Davis Ellington, 44, of Columbia, SC, passed away on Friday, February 11, 2022.  She was born in Florence, a daughter of the late Randall L. Davis and the late Kathryn Capps Hodge.  Melissa was a graduate of South Florence High School, Class of 1996.  She attended the University of South Carolina, graduating with her nursing degree and almost...

Feb 9, 2022

Gabriel John Batarseh, 89, of Florence, South Carolina, died Wednesday, February 9, 2022. Gabriel, the son of Hanna and Helaneh Batarseh, was born in Jaffa, Palestine, and grew up in the Batarseh ancestral home in Bethlehem and in Jerusalem.

He received his foundational education in French, English and Arabic at the College des Freres in Jerusalem until...

Feb 8, 2022

Frederick James Swearingen, 72, of Florence, SC, passed away on Tuesday, February 8, 2022.  He was born in Sonoma, CA, a son of the late Fred and Nellie Elston Swearingen.  In addition to his parents, he is predeceased by a sister, Janice Marie Swearingen Menezes and his step-mother, Frances Swearingen.

Fred attended high school in Hawaii and...

Feb 7, 2022

Karl Christian Maria Kapfinger, 74, of Lynchburg, SC, passed away on Monday, February 7, 2022.  He was born in Kufstein, Austria, the son of the late Karl Kapfinger and Maria Gasser.  He is also predeceased by a step-son, Larry Wesley Matthews, Jr.

Karl served in the Austrian Army as a sharp shooter and competed in biathlons.  He...

Feb 7, 2022

Temple Gardner Psillos, 60, of Florence, South Carolina, passed away on February 7, 2022.

She was born to parents Raymond Gardner and Jacqueline Eagerton Gardner, on September 11,1961 in Sumter, South Carolina.

Temple grew up in Florence and graduated from West Florence High School in 1979.

She went on to Florence Darlington Technical...

Feb 6, 2022

Lemaster Glenn Cain, 72, of Pamplico, passed away on Sunday, February 6, 2022 at his residence.  He was born in Lake City, SC, a son of the late Lemaster Gussie Cain and Mary Cockfield Cain.  In addition to his parents, he is also predeceased by two brothers, Edward Cain and Deland Cain.

Mr. Cain served proudly served...

Feb 4, 2022

Charles Hoyt Kirby, III, "Bill", 76, died on Friday, February 4, 2022.  Bill was born September 20, 1945, in Hickory, NC.  He was a son of the late Charles Hoyt Kirby, Jr. and the late Gladys Williams Kirby. In addition to his parents, Bill was preceded in death by a son-in-law, Todd Chappell.

Bill was a graduate...

Feb 1, 2022

Emery Carr Daughtry of Charlotte, NC and Florence, SC passed away suddenly on February 1, 2022.  Emery was born on February 5, 1976 in Florence, SC, the son of Dr. Curtiss Wilson Daughtry and Flora Anne Williams.

Having grown up in Florence and graduating from James F. Byrnes Academy, Emery attended Clemson University where he graduated in...

Feb 1, 2022

Ernest "Ernie" Frederick Strauss, 75, of Florence, SC, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, February 1, 2022, to be with the Lord after a hard fought battle with cancer.  He was born in Stuttgart, Germany, a son of the late Ernest Frederick and Lizzette Kuhn Strauss.  He is also predeceased by a son, Adam Barlowe.

Ernie received his...