All Obituaries

Thomas "Tom" W. Blackwell, Jr., age 69 passed away Sunday, April 11, 2021. Arrangements are incomplete at this time. 

Harold T. Smith, 83, died Saturday, April 10, 2021 at his residence. The family will receive friends from 2:00 until 3:00 on Wednesday, April 14 at Belk Funeral Home, with a graveside service following at 3:15 in Grove Hill Cemetery. Harold was born in York, SC, son of the late Ben and Viola Quin Smith. He served in the United States Navy and was a graduate of the University of South Carolina. He retired from being a Certified Public Accountant, and loved to deer hunt in his free time. He...

Timothy Justin “T.J.” Wilkes, age 39, died Saturday, April 10, 2021.  A graveside service will be held in Newman Swamp Cemetery at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, April 13, 2021, directed by Belk Funeral Home. He was born in Florence, SC on November 17, 1981, son of Janet “Jan” Yarborough and the late George Tillman Wilkes.  T.J. loved hunting, fishing, spending time with his dogs and spending time on the lake, he was an enormous outdoor lover. T.J. enjoyed playing...

Sammy Nance DARLINGTON- Samuel “Sammy” A. Nance, age 84, went home to be with his Lord on Friday, April 9th, 2021. The family will receive friends from 5:00 until 7:00 on Sunday, April 11, 2021. A funeral service will be held on Monday, April 12, 2021 at 2:00 Temple Free Will Baptist Church, with burial following in the church cemetery. Born in the Mont Clare community of Darlington on May 7, 1936, he was the son of the late Val B. Nance, Sr. and Ruby Elizabeth...

Joann Wood Sturkie, age 80 passed away Wednesday, April 7, 2021. Joann was born in Denmark, SC to Kenneth and Pearl Wood on April 29, 1940. She Married the love of her life, McKendall “Kenny” Sturkie in 1958 and had four beautiful children. Joann loved her family and enjoyed traveling to anywhere with a beach or mountains. She is survived by her four children, Terry (Debora) Sturkie, Freddy (Debbie) Sturkie, both of Darlington, Melba Ann (Sarge) Register, and Crystal (Billy)...

William Cowan Ervin (Willie) died on Tuesday April 6, 2021 at McLeod Hospice House in Florence South Carolina.  He was 90 years old. Willie was born March 27, 1931 to Samuel Fulton and Jane Barron Ervin and was reared with his six brothers and sisters in the Back Swamp Community where he attended St. Winnifred’s Academy, a one room schoolhouse, until the sixth grade.   He graduated from McClenaghan High School in Florence, South Carolina and attended Clemson College...

Joan Bumgarner Bloom, 74, passed away Thursday, April 1st surrounded by loved ones. She was born in Asheville, NC, on November 25, 1946; daughter of Charles Bumgarner and Jean Deitz Bumgarner. She lived in Lamar for 49 years and was a teacher for over 30 years in Darlington county schools. She was a member of St. Anthony's Church and the Women of St. Anthony's. She'll be remembered as a loving wife, mother, and grandmother. She was a giving and loved member of the community and...

Carlisle “Buddy” O. Thames, Jr., age 67, passed away Wednesday, March 31, 2021. Born on July 21, 1953, Buddy was the son of the late Carlisle O. Thames, Sr. and Frances Louise Summerford. He retired as Operations Manager of Motion Industries. He was an avid Carolina Gamecock fan who also enjoyed playing golf at Oakdale Country Club in his younger days. He was a very loving father and grandfather. His wisdom touched many people over the years. Surviving are his daughter, Mary...

Jack Edward Richardson, age 70, son of the late Sion “Red” Richardson and Essie G Robinson, passed away Tuesday, March 30, 2021. Jack was born on February 5, 1951 in Greenwood, SC. He was a 1969 graduate of Greenwood High School. He graduated from the Mendenhall School of Auctioneering in 1973 and obtained an Applied Science degree from Florence Darlington Technical College in 1975. He served his country in the United States Army and was stationed in Germany during the Vietnam...

James E. Bird Jr., fondly known as “Papa Jim”, passed away on Saturday, March 20, 2021 at the age of 83. He lived in Chapin, SC with his wife of 61 years, Betsy Banks Bird.  Jim was born on March 28, 1937 in Columbia, SC and was a graduate of Columbia High School (’55) and The Citadel (’59).  He proudly served in the US Army from 1960-1990, to include time spent in Germany and Vietnam earning the Bronze Star, eventually retiring as a Full Colonel. Jim was a...