Obituaries

George Alexander Jones, 96, died Feb. 12, 2016, at his home in Hendersonville, N.C. He served as pastor of The Baptist Church of Beaufort, S.C., from 1955 to 1970, during which time he led the church to launch a... Continue Reading »

Jack W. Hester, 85, of Easley, died Feb. 14, 2016. He attended Tennessee Temple University and North Greenville University. He was a former pastor of several Upstate Baptist churches, including Grace in Simpsonville, Cannon Memorial in Central, Powdersville First,... Continue Reading »

Hugh Aldrich Burlington Jr., 71, of Cary, N.C., died Feb. 25, 2016. He graduated from Furman University and Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and served in ministry at Dunwoody Baptist Church in Atlanta; as Baptist campus minister in Spartanburg; and... Continue Reading »

Roy Arthur Arnold, 78, of Columbia, died Feb. 27, 2016. Born in Anderson County, he was a graduate of Clemson University and Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. He served as pastor of churches in Virginia, South Carolina and Florida, and... Continue Reading »

Timmy Keith Stephens, 33, of Duncan, died Feb. 5, 2016. He previously served as pastor of Reedy Fork Baptist Church, Converse Baptist Church, and as youth minister at Browns Chapel Baptist Church. Survivors include his wife, Jennifer Price Stephens,... Continue Reading »

Harold A. Shirley, 87, of St. Petersburg, Fla., founding pastor of NewKirk Baptist Church in Rock Hill, died Jan. 23, 2016. Born in Meridian, Miss., he graduated from Samford University and Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He served as a... Continue Reading »

Willie Adolphus Honea, 86, of Liberty, died Feb. 2, 2016, at the Hospice House in Anderson. Born in Westminster, he was a graduate of Anderson College and later attended Furman University and Erskine College. He also served in the... Continue Reading »

David C. Hayes, 48, of Monroe, N.C., died Jan. 26, 2016. He served as senior pastor at Gowensville First Baptist Church in Landrum, and also churches in Texas and North Carolina, most recently as executive pastor of Hopewell Baptist... Continue Reading »

George Raymon Hamer, 84, of Travelers Rest, died Jan. 13, 2016. A native of Carrollton, Texas, he was a U.S. Air Force veteran of Korea and a retired Southern Baptist pastor, having served at Cross Plains, Cox Chapel, and... Continue Reading »

Lloyd E. Batson, 91, of Easley, long-time pastor of Pickens First Baptist Church and a denominational leader, died Feb. 5, 2016. He was a native of Alcolu. Following military service during World War II, he graduated from Furman University... Continue Reading »

Posey Belcher Jr., 83, of Rock Hill, died Jan. 22, 2016, after a long battle with Parkinson’s Disease. A native of Inman, he graduated from North Greenville Junior College, Furman University, and Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. He served as... Continue Reading »

Louie Lavern Anderson, 79, of Aiken, died Jan. 19, 2016. He was born in Cassatt, and held several South Carolina Baptist pastorates, including Shiloh, Central, Abney, Reedy Branch, Middendorf, White Springs and North Cheraw. He also served as interim... Continue Reading »