William Herbert Dawkins was born in Gaffney, SC on August 9, 1937 to Booker T. Mayberry and Laura Finley Dawkins. He answered The Master’s call on Wednesday, February 10, 2021, in his home.

“Big B’, as he was affectionately called by his family and friends, was the widower of Margaret Allen Dawkins. He was a member of Greater Hope Ministries, Inc. and a retired employee of Brown’s Packing Company.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a son, Dennis Jefferies; brothers, Sam Shears and Howard Dawkins; sisters, Nannie Lee Davidson and Barbara Dawkins Webster.

He leaves to cherish loving memories: sons, Herbert O’Neal Ross, Tony William Morris (Alice), Elder Fredrick Allen (Tressa), and Vincent Morris (Pamela); daughters, Shelia Smith, Deborah Morris, Shirley Jefferies, and Sheryl Allen; an aunt, Essie Belle Richardson,; sisters-in-law, Rosa Mae Allen, Minnie Leach, and Betty Smith; brother-in-law, Mr. Frank Webster; 23 grandchildren; 41 great-grandchildren; 3 great-great grandchildren; other relatives and friends.

Public Viewing will be held Thursday from 12:00 to 6:00 p.m.

A Service will be held Friday, February 19th, 1:00 p.m., in Greater Hope Ministries with The Rev. Caroline Allen-Jones officiating.

Due to the pandemic and the need to observe social distancing, only the Immediate Family and the program participants will attend the service. The Service will be live-streamed via Greater Hope Facebook Live, website, www.greaterhope ministries.com and You Tube.

Melvin Van Holmes, Sr., 70, of 155 Watts Drive, passed away Friday, February 12, 2021, in his home.

He was born in Gaffney and was a son of the late Javan Holmes, Jr. and the late Christine Watts Holmes Thompson.

He was a 1969 graduate of Gaffney High School; a member of Concord Baptist Church; a veteran of the U.S. Army, and a retired employee of Overnite Trucking Company. Melvin was also a member of the Smooth Crew Social Club and the Black Rodeo Riders of Boiling Springs, NC.

He leaves to cherish loving memories: 4 sons, Melvin V. Holmes, Jr. (Antiya) of Summerville, SC, Marvin S. Holmes (Paige), of Camron, NC, Marwin S. Holmes and Demarcus Holmes (Brittany), of Gaffney; 2 daughters, Demetria L. Holmes of Gaffney and Christa Holmes of Charleston; brothers, Louis Holmes (Genelle) and Curtis Wray (Ethel), of Gaffney; 2 sisters, Patricia Harris of Grover, NC and Sadie Phillips (Roger), of Gaffney; 17 grandchildren; 4 great- grandchildren; other relatives and friends.

Funeral Service will be Wednesday, 1:00 p.m., in The Gilmore Mortuary Chapel with Rev. Dr. Michael A Bridges officiating. Interment will follow in Concord Baptist Church Cemetery.

Wardell Rainey was born in Gaffney, SC on September 30, 1945 to James and Isabelle Jackson Rainey. He departed this life on Sunday, February 10, 2021 in Spartanburg Medical Center.

He was a graduate of Granard High School in Gaffney, a member of Mt. Sinai Baptist Church and a retired employee of Cherokee Landscaping.

Wardell was preceded in death by his parents; siblings, Virginia Bishop, Evelyn Martin, Joyce Dawkins, Miriam Battle, James, Roy Dean, and Willie Rainey. He leaves to cherish loving memories: his devoted wife of fifty-five (55) years, Annie Tate Rainey; a daughter, Malisa Robbs (Phillip); a niece, Ginger Tate, raised as a daughter; a brother, Robert Rainey; grandchildren, Marcellus Robbs, and Mackenzie Robbs; a host of nieces and nephews, including LaBreshia Tate and Allen Knuckles, both reared in the home; brothers-in-law, Joe Dawkins, Hillard Tate, Danny Tate; sisters-in-law, Jean Tate, Gwen Tate other relatives and friends.

Graveside Service will be Sunday, 1:00 p.m., in Mt. Sinai Baptist Church Cemetery with Rev. C.A. Wallace officiating. In case of inclement weather, the service will be held in The Gilmore Mortuary Chapel with a limit of 50 attendees.