John Franklin Lightening, 56, of 102 McArthur Street, passed away Tuesday morning, September 8th, in his home.

He was born in York County, SC and was a son of Mary Lightening and Winnie B. Parker Feemster. John was a former employee of Brown’s Packing Company.

He was preceded in death by his mothers; fiancé, Parnice Studyvance Hughes; grandmother, Mattie Parker; a sister, Jean Ervin; and brothers, Harold Parker, Sr. and Charlie Lightening; aunts, Ole Mae Howell and Jessie Mae Foster; nieces, Jeannie and Tammy Parker.

He leaves to cherish loving memories: brothers, John Lightening and Arizona Reid; brother-in-law, Nathaniel Ervin and 9 others; 7 sisters-in-law; nephews, Harold Parker, Jr. (Kim), Tyrone Parker (Shawn), Mike and Travis Parker, Corey and Martain Ervin; including Marcus Valentine of Gaffney and L.J. Goode of Lyman who were reared as his sons; nieces, Mary Bromell, Patricia Byars, Lisa Robinson (J.J.), Sheryl and Portia Ervin; a special friend, Sherry Rodgers, who was like a sister; aunts, Helen Camp and Helen Butler; 17 great nieces & nephews; 12 great-great nieces & nephews; other relatives and friends.

Funeral Service will be Sunday, 2:00 p.m., in Mount Sinai Baptist Church with Rev. C.A. Wallace officiating. Interment will be in Gaffney Memorial Park.

Public Viewing  will be Saturday from  12:00 – 6:00 p.m.

*Masks and Social Distancing* will be required at the church and cemetery!

Zoar “Zo” Watts, 84, of Gaffney, passed away Thursday, September 3rd, in Spartanburg, SC.

Husband of Barbara Sarratt Watts, he was born in Cherokee County, South Carolina to John Henry Watts and Sadie Manning Watts.

He was a member of Concord Baptist Church and a retired truck driver.

Zoar loved driving trucks, watching westerns, drinking coffee, and being a practical joker to
everyone.

He was preceded in death by his parents; four siblings, Audrey Johnson, Nellie Littlejohn, Christine Thompson, and John Henry Watts, Jr.; a grandson, William O’Brian Smith; mother-in-law, Maggie Bell Sarratt.

He leaves to cherish loving memories: his devoted wife, Barbara Watts, of the home; daughters, Charlene Watts of Gaffney, Chief Warrant Officer Wanda Watts, U.S. Coast Guard, San Francisco, CA., Dr. Bobbie Watts of Simpsonville, SC, and Kim Watts, of Gaffney; a son, 1st Class Gunner’s Mate Zoar “Lee” Watts, Jr. (Ai)of the U.S. Navy, Japan; grandchildren, Vincetta Danielle Smith of Gaffney; Zara and Zowie Watts, of Japan; great-grandchildren, William “Zhy” Haney and Larenzo Evans, of Gaffney; sister-in-law, Fannie Valentine; brother-in-law, Leon Valentine; 8 nephews; 8 nieces; other relatives and friends.

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.