Category Archives: Obituaries

Anna Beatrice Dawkins Austin

07 July 2019, 2019, Obituaries

Anna Beatrice Dawkins Austin, 73, of 109 Kennedy Street, passed away Saturday, June 29, 2019, in Spartanburg Medical Center.

Widow of John C. Austin, she was born in Cherokee County, and was a daughter of Estelle Johnson Dawkins and the late Townsend Dawkins, Sr.

She was a member of Philadelphia Baptist Church. 

Anna was a loving mother, daughter, grandmother, sister, and friend.  She was a “people person” who delighted in being around others and helping her fellow-man. We shall miss her, but we thank God for blessing us with Annie in our life. 

She was preceded in death by two daughters, Kimberly Austin and Teresa Austin; her father, Townsend Dawkins, Sr., two sisters, Ramona Dawkins and Carolyn “Tettie” Austin; brothers, Willie Johnson and Eddie Dawkins; sister-in-law, Viola Austin; brothers-in-law, Joe, Benny, and Columbus Austin.

She leaves to cherish loving memories: two daughters, Angela Hillman and Tina Austin; mother, Estelle Dawkins,; three brothers, Townsend Dawkins, Jr., Luther Dawkins (Frances), and  Orlean Dawkins; a sister, Betty Santiago; aunts, Marie Dawkins and Rosetta Dawkins; eleven grandchildren; Meka, Johnny Raymond, Sherman, and Jimmy Austin;  Bradlee Haney, Darria Crosby, Ta’garria Lattimore, Reginald and Johnny Keenan, and Freddie Smith; sisters-in-law, Joyce Offri (Edward), Rosa Austin, and Emma Austin; brother-in-law, Fred Austin; nieces, nephews, other relatives, and many friends.     

The Funeral Service will be Monday, July 8, 2019, at 2:00 p.m. in the Gilmore Mortuary Chapel with the Reverend Xavier Haney, officiating. Interment will follow in Mt. Sinai Baptist Church Cemetery, Gaffney, SC.

The Gilmore Mortuary

Bennie Mae Fowler Hemphill

06 June 2019, 2019, Obituaries

On Sunday, June 30, 2019, in Spartanburg Regional Medical Center, Spartanburg, SC, our beloved wife, mother, sister, grandmother, and friend, Mrs. Bennie Mae Fowler Hemphill, departed this earthly house and entered her heavenly home.

She was born on April 18, 1940, in Gaffney, SC to Mrs. Estella Crosby Fowler and the late James “Jim” Fowler.

Bennie Mae was united in Holy Matrimony to James “Goat” Hemphill on May 5, 1963.  Through 56 years of marriage, they were blessed with three daughters and two sons.

She joined Bethel Baptist Church at an early age and served as an usher during her early years. After twenty-five plus years of service, Bennie Mae retired from the House-keeping Department of Commercial Hotel.

“Mother” was an inspiration of strength, joy, love and encouragement to her family, friends, and people in general.  Mother had a passion for cooking and she was well-known in the community for a good hot meal.  She will always be remembered in our hearts and in the hearts of many. We love her and will miss her greatly.

She was preceded in death by: her parents, James and Estella Fowler; a daughter, Deitrich “Dede” Hemphill; a grandchild, Thomas Tyran Houey; father and mother in-law, Ebb and Mrs. Hattie Vanlue Hemphill.

She leaves to cherish loving memories: her husband, James Hemphill, of the home; two daughters, Mrs. Carol Houey (Thomas) and Mrs. Ann Jefferies (Chris), of Gaffney; two sons, Marlin Hemphill (Teresa) and Jamie Hemphill, of Gaffney; three brothers, Kerry Fowler (Dedra), of Gaffney, raised in the home as a son, MSgt. James Sarratt, U.S. Army Ret. (Margaret) of Spartanburg, and Grover Lee Fowler of Waldorf, MD; a sister, Mrs. Teresa Dawkins, of Gaffney; seven grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.

The Funeral Service will be Saturday, July 6, 2019, at 11:00 a.m. in Bethel Baptist Church of Gaffney, South Carolina, with the Reverend Dr. James Sanders, Jr., Pastor, officiating. Interment will follow in Frederick Memorial Gardens, Gaffney, SC.

The Gilmore Mortuary

Angela M. Hollis

06 June 2019, 2019, Obituaries

Angela M. Hollis, 63, of 130 Huff Rd., Cowpens, departed this life Thursday, June 27, 2019 in her home.

She was the beloved daughter of Elvena Jefferies Hollis and the late Roosevelt Hollis.

Angela was an active member of Island Creek Baptist Church and a member of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. She was a graduate of South Carolina State University and a retired teacher from Draytonville Elementary School and the S.C. Adult Education Program.

She was preceded in death by a sister, Gloria Hollis; her grandparents, Iola Jefferies and Ed and Enell Hollis. She is survived by her mother, Elvena Hollis, and sister, Sarah Hollis, both of the home.

Sigma Gamma Omega Rho Service will be Monday, 6:30 p.m., in the Gilmore Mortuary. The family will receive friends from7:00 to 7:30 p.m.

The Funeral Service will be Tuesday, 2:00 p.m., in Island Creek Baptist Church with Rev. Dr. Timothy L. Hunter officiating. Interment will follow in the church cemetery.

The Gilmore Mortuary