Obituaries

Charles T. Clanton, retired Army chaplain (colonel), 83, of Sumter, died July 8, 2019. He was a graduate of Furman University and Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. During his time in the Army, he was awarded the Silver Star, Bronze... Continue Reading »

Samuel Morgan Chasteen Sr., 85, of Anderson, died June 30, 2019. He was the founder and owner of Sam’s Curb Market and served as pastor at Asbury Baptist Church and later Grace Memorial Baptist Church. Surviving are his wife... Continue Reading »

Philip B. Welchel, 83, of Boiling Springs, died May 21, 2019, at Spartanburg Medical Center. A native of Gaffney, he served in the South Carolina Army National Guard for nine years. He attended Fruitland Baptist Bible College, and retired... Continue Reading »

H. Thomas “Tom” Swilley, 80, of Myrtle Beach, longtime pastor and denominational leader, died June 5, 2019. A native of Summerton, he was a graduate of Carlisle Military School, International Bible Institute, and International Seminary of Plymouth, Fla., and... Continue Reading »

Ronell Lester Owensby, 86, of Gaffney, died May 13, 2019. He was a graduate of Mars Hill Junior College, Carson-Newman University and Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. He served as a trustee at Carson-Newman University for five years. He served... Continue Reading »

H. Laverne Hancock Sr., 89, of Columbia, died May 22, 2019. A graduate of Furman University and Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, he served in his first pastorate at a Native American church in North Carolina. He later served as... Continue Reading »

Martha Ponder Gantt, 78, of Lexington, died May 17, 2019. A native of Spartanburg, she was a graduate of Furman University, Long Island University and Western Kentucky University. While her husband was a chaplain in the U.S. Army, she... Continue Reading »

Brenton “Benny” Davis, 74, of Easley, died June 9, 2019, at McCall Hospice House in Simpsonville. A native of Rock Hill, he was a retired minister who served as pastor in several South Carolina churches, including McConnells Baptist Church,... Continue Reading »

Michael Lee “Mickey” Campbell, 71, of Easley, died May 11, 2019. A Greenville native and U.S. Army veteran, he was a retired plant manager and minister. Campbell served as pastor at Friendship Baptist Church as well as Mount Pisgah... Continue Reading »

Freddy Dean Garner, 70, of Powdersville, died April 27, 2019. Born in Anderson County, he was pastor of Lighthouse Baptist Church, Conway; Carolina Baptist Church, Green Sea; and most recently Riverview Baptist Church, Powdersville, where he served for nearly... Continue Reading »

Mary Elizabeth “Mary Lib” May Causey, 80, of Statesville, N.C., and wife of former South Carolina pastor Jack Causey, died May 1, 2019. A native of Meridian, Miss., she and her husband began their ministry together at First Baptist... Continue Reading »

Curtis William Cameron Sr., 85, of Lancaster, died March 22, 2019. A native of Great Falls, he studied at Columbia International Bible College, Baptist College of Charleston (now Charleston Southern University), and Mid-Atlantic Bible College. He served as pastor... Continue Reading »