On Monday morning, August 24, 2020, Reverend S. Elbert Gaffney transitioned from Grace to glory with his wife and stepdaughter by his side.

Elbert was born on April 28, 1936 in Gaffney, SC to the late Warren and Marie Gaffney. He was the eighth of nine siblings, all whom preceded him in death. He also had one daughter, Jacqueline Gaffney from his first marriage, that preceded him in death as well. Reverend Gaffney was a graduate of the Spartanburg County School System. Upon graduating high school, he served our country during the Korean Conflict. After serving his country, he decided to further his education and attended the Elkhart Institute of Technology in Indiana.

Professionally, Elbert started his career as a barber in Spartanburg, SC and kept his license for many years. Having a love for research, he worked in pathology for more than thirty years and created the “Gaffney Stain” which is still being used to this day. After retirement in 1991, Reverend Gaffney devoted his life to full time ministry.

At the age of eleven, Elbert received Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior and throughout the years served within the church in a number of ministries. In 1982, Elbert was ordained as a minister of the Gospel at Kent Baptist Church of Landover, MD. With a slew of talents and a heart for the Lord, he served as a Pianist, Organist, Minister of Music, and a published author. One of his proudest musical accomplishments was being the Founder and Director of Reverend S. Elbert Gaffney and the Voices of Praise, of Landover, MD.

Five years after the loss of his first wife, he married Sandra L. Hinnant in 2001. In 2009, they moved to Gaffney, SC and joined Island Creek Baptist Church. Since 2010 Reverend Gaffney served as Associate Minister and Church Organist, at Island Creek Baptist Church in Cowpens, SC.

Reverend Gaffney leaves to cherish his memory his loving and devoted wife, Sandra; three daughters from his previous marriage: Cordelia Gaffney, Marvella Williams and Lisa Gaffney; four stepchildren: Keith Hinnant, Sheri Van de Cruize (James Tender), Kevin Hinnant, and Tiffany Boulware (Jeremiah); eleven grandchildren and eight great grandchildren; a loving, devoted and assistant caregiver niece/daughter, Sandra McHam; and a number of family and friends.

He will truly be missed, because no one could ever replace his wonderful sense of humor.

Funeral Service will be Thursday, 12:00 noon, August 27th, in Island Creek Baptist Church with Rev. Dr. Timothy L. Hunter officiating. Interment will follow in the church cemetery.

Mrs. Georgia Ann Porter White, 75, of 102 Granite Dr., passed away Wednesday, August 12th, 2020, in her home.

She was the wife to Leroy White, Sr. for fifty-nine years.

Georgia was born in Cleveland County on April 27, 1945 to the late Oetzel and Ophelia Wood Porter.

She was a member of Antioch Kingdom Building Ministries where she was a deaconess and an office staff, graduate of Granard High School “Class of 1963”, employed at Fiber and a certified self Cosmetologist for many years.

She was preceded in death by her parents, a son, Leroy White, Jr.; a daughter, Trinia White and mother in-law, Mrs. Sarah Porter.

Georgia leaves to cherish loving memories: her husband, Leroy White, Sr. of the home; four daughters, Antionette Hames, Donna White, Tracey White, and Tania White all of Gaffney; a son, Glenn White (Carolyn) of Gaffney; a sister, Cheryl Willis of Shelby, NC; 15 grandchildren; 17 great grandchildren; 8 great-great grandchildren; a host of other relatives and friends.

Funeral Service will be Monday, August 17th, in The Gilmore Mortuary Chapel with a walk thru visit and view starting at 12:00-1:00 p.m., followed by service at 1:00-1:30 p.m., with Pastor M. Alice Littlejohn officiating. Interment will follow in Galilee Baptist Church Cemetery.

Public Viewing  will be Sunday, August 16th from 12:00 – 6:00 p.m.

*Masks and Social Distancing* will be required in the mortuary and cemetery!

Vordia Lockhart Dawkins, 88, of 208 W. Carolina St., passed away Saturday, August 1, 2020 in Mary Black Hospital.

She was born February 14, 1932 to the late Sam Gill and Daisy Mae Lockhart.

She was a member of The Divine True Holiness Church of God, Blacksburg, SC, a retiree of Magnolia Finishing Plant, Chartered Elder of the DTHCOG and ordained by Bishop Leila Cunningham.

She was a mother of 3, grandmother, great grandmother, auntie, God mother, friend confidant, and most important a “True Woman of God”. With humor when she would have a conversation, she would follow with a scripture. She would smile and light up any room. She had a way of meeting anyone and making them seem like they were more important. She had a listening ear and always responded with Godly advice.

In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by a grandson, Kelton (K.J.) Ross; four sisters, Nellie Proctor, Gertrude Kilgore, Pollie Weathers, Mattie Jo Lockhart five brothers, Thomas (Frank) Lockhart, Freddie (Nathaniel) Davis, Raymond (Jim) Gill. Norris (Flat) Gill, Arnold (Tom) Gill.

She leaves to cherish loving memories: a son, Lonnie Devon Dawkins, Sr. (Joyce) of Winter Haven, Fl; two daughters, Leslie Dawkins Lynch (James) of Wake Forest, NC and Jane Ross Crosby (Vincent) of Gaffney; a sister, Tecola Gill Plummer (James) of Kannapolis, NC; five grandchildren, Gaderria Ross, Lonnie Dawkins Jr., Jada Lynch, Jasmine Lynch, Jared Lynch; three great grandchildren, Alex Ross, Layla Dawkins and Alysa Wrapp; mother in-law, Marie Dawkins; son in-law, Butch Ross; two brother in-laws, Roy Weathers Sr. and W.C. Manning; sister in-laws, Alsie Gill, Mary Jo Davis, Sally Davis, Shelia Dawkins, Pamela Black, Etta Jones, Jessie Mae Manning, Rev. Mary Jefferies; a great niece, Madysyn Lockhart; a host of other relatives.

A walk through viewing will be Saturday, 10:00a.m. to 12:00 noon. in The Gilmore Mortuary. Graveside Service will follow in The Divine True Holiness Church of God Cemetery with Rev. Alvin Lockhart officiating. *Masks and Social Distancing* will be required in the mortuary and at the cemetery.