James Edward Sessoms

James "Ted" E. Sessoms, age 88, passed away on Wednesday, July 31, 2024. A visitation will be held in Belk Funeral Home on Saturday, August 3rd from 6:00pm until 8:00pm. A graveside service will take place on Sunday, August 4th at 2:00pm in Grove Hill Cemetery.

Ted was born in Darlington on February 22, 1936 son of the late, Frank Sessoms and Maggie Garrison Sessoms. Ted Graduated from St. John's High School in 1954, in his senior year he was elected President of the Student Body and co-captain of the basketball team. Later in 1954 Ted went to work with the Darlington Manufacture Co. as a preventive Maintenance Mechanic. He was later promoted to Plant Machinery Inspector, until the plant closed in 1956. Ted always joked saying he did such a great job that it only took him two years to close the plant down permanently. In 1957 he was employed by Sonoco Products Co. as a Machine Design Draftsman and taught a class in machine design at Florence Darlington Technical College. Later in 1993 Ted retired from Sonoco with 36 years of service as a Machine Design Associate Engineer. Ted also served in the National Guard for three years.

Surviving Ted is his wife of 68 years, Syble Byrd Sessoms, his daughters Cheryl Sessoms Watson of Sumter and Jody Sessoms of Charleston, two granddaughters, Carr Watson and Anne-Hayes Watson of Sumter, sister, Annette Martin (Marty) of Darlington, sister-in-law, Harriett Sessoms, brother-in-law, Joe (Sue) Byrd of Florence and thirteen nieces and nephews.

Ted was preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Maggie Sessoms, sisters, Earline Sessoms Morgan, Oline Sessoms, Kathryn Sessoms Mechawin, Josephine Sessoms Cox, and Ethel Sessoms Albrecht, and his brothers, Walter and Frank Sessoms.

In honor of Ted, memorials may be made to a charity of one's choice