Ella Louise McClain (Iggy) departed this life April 11, 2020 at the Kindred Hospital, Green Cove Springs, FL.

She was born April 23, 1938 to Alonzo & Evelyn McClain in Hendersonville, North Carolina. She attended school in Asheville, North Carolina until the family moved to Gaffney, South Carolina. She graduated from Granard High School in 1955. She attended Friendship Jr. College in Rock Hill South Carolina.

Ella moved to New Haven, Connecticut and worked in Stamford for many years. She became well known for her gift for singing. Singing with gospel, Jazz and pop groups. She performed regularly in the 60’s at the Apollo theater in New York. After traveling extensively throughout the country, she returned to her home state of North Carolina and lived in the Raleigh-Wake Forest area. When her health was declining, she moved to Florida to be near her sisters. She was a nature lover, she loved the mountains, fishing, bird watching, and most of all, her family. She had a special love for her nieces and nephews and always boasted of their accomplishments.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her sister Elizabeth William, Robert (Robby).

She is survived by Gladys Brown of Jacksonville, FL, Alonzo McClain Jr. (Evelyn) of Goldsboro, NC, Calle Atkins (William) of Fleming Island, FL and James E. McClain of Jacksonville, FL.

A memorial will be announced at a later date. Services are provided by Corey-Kerlin Funeral Homes and Crematory.  www.corey-kerlin.com

Courtesy of The Gilmore Mortuary

Joe L. Stevenson, 76, of 302 Serene Dr., passed away Thursday, April 9th, in Cherokee Medical Center.

He was the husband of Pondrienna Bridges Stevenson. He was born in Gaffney, SC on December 24th, 1943, to the late Glasgo Falls and Annie Huskey-Stevenson.

Joe attended Granard High School, Class of 1962. After high school, he began to work for his father Glasgo Falls, in Tile and Concrete. Later he moved to Detroit Michigan where he furthers his career in tile and concrete. He then moved back to Gaffney, SC where he established his own company, Joe Stevenson Tile and Concrete, a thriving black owned business in our community. He was a member of Limestone Missionary Baptist Church where he also served faithfully for many years as a trustee and usher until his health began to decline.

In addition to his parents and step-parents, Buddy and Cernora Stevenson, Bessie Falls and Willie Mae Jeter, he was preceded in death by: his brothers and sisters, Luther Jeter, Odell Jeter, Gerald Mervine Jeter-Sims, Elizabeth, an In-Law Pon, and Lottie Louise Byers-Bridges.

He leaves to cherish his loving memories: loving wife, Pondrienne B. Stevenson of 37 years; fourteen children, Angela Dawkins of Gaffney, SC, Joe Stevenson Jr. (Nikia) of Gaffney, SC, Antonio Dewight Stevenson (Michelle) of Spartanburg, SC, Dedra Fowler (Kerry) of Gaffney, SC, Jorinda Hare (Ronald)of Charlotte, NC, Bobby Stevenson (Jill) of Gaffney, SC., Bettina Brannon of Gaffney, SC, Angela Brooks of Philadelphia, PA, Robenna Dewberry (Laymond) of Gaffney, SC, David Miller (Jacqueline) of Greenville, SC, Ashela Bonner (Marvin) of Gaffney, SC, Dominque Stevenson (Angela) of McKinny, TX, Andrienne Stevenson of Naples, FL., and Byron Stevenson of Gaffney, SC; four sisters, Sarah Francies Tate “Pat”, Ollie Stevenson Houg, Corles Jeter Smith, and Anna Jeter Watkins all of Gaffney, SC; thirty grandchildren; thirty-five great grandchildren; friendly companion name “Fuzzy”; a host of nieces, nephews, and other relatives.

Private Graveside Service will be Friday, April 17, 2020, at 12 noon in Oakland Cemetery.

Public Viewing will be Thursday, 1:00 to 6:00 p.m.

The Gilmore Mortuary