James “Kip” Dawkins, 50, of 523 W. Montgomery Street, Gaffney, passed away Saturday, April 29, 2023, in Spartanburg Regional Hospice Home.

Kip was born in Gaffney, SC and was a son of Wilma (Lavander) Dawkins Davis and the late Herbert O. Smith. He was reared in the home of Sybil Wilkins and the late Wash Gene Wilkins.

He joined Bethel Baptist Church at an early age.  He was a Gaffney High School graduate and was a former employee at Freightliner Custom Chassis.

In addition to his father, he was preceded in death by two brothers, Ronnie Smith and Shawn Dawkins.

He passed away Saturday, April 29, 2023, in Spartanburg Regional Hospice Home.

He leaves to cherish loving memories a son, Jalen Dawkins, of Spartanburg; siblings, Robin Williams, of New Jersey, Shavonia “Necey” Lawrence (Darrell), of Washington, D.C., Traci Smith, Dysheka Smith, Janine Dawkins Cumberlander, all of Gaffney, Michael Studyvance and Joel Trent Dawkins (Quensen), both of Gaffney, Altonnia, DeAngelo, Wash, and Kimberly Wilkins; reared in the home as siblings, Keithland, Manasha, Ninda and Ernest, Jr. McDonald; two aunts, Maxine Anderson (David), of New York City and Trudy Dawkins, of Gaffney; a special cousin, Shannon, Dawkins, of Gaffney; other relatives and friends.

A Funeral Service will be held Saturday, May 13, 2023, at 1:00 p.m., in The Gilmore Mortuary Chapel with The Rev. Dr. J.W. Sanders, Jr. officiating. Interment will follow in Gaffney Memorial Park.

The family is receiving friends at the home of his sister, Traci Smith, 123 Maplewood Drive, Gaffney, SC.

Mrs. Pernice “Tick” Thompson Knuckles was born in Cherokee County on August 26, 1945. Widow of Samuel Knuckles Jr., she was the daughter of the late Benjamin and Maggie Davis Thompson.

Mrs. Knuckles was a faithful member of the Bethel Baptist Church where she served as a member of the Nurses Guild, and a former member of the BBC Choir and the Gospel Chorus. She retired from Hoechst Celanese.

She was a 1963 graduate of Granard High School. Pernice had a profound effect on the lives of a great number of those with whom she encountered. Her contagious grin and constant willingness to assist others won’t be forgotten. She cared deeply about other people and their wellbeing, as evidenced by her direct demeanor toward them.

On Sunday, April 16, she left the comfort of her home and went to be with the Lord.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her sisters, Bessie Proctor and Ruby Proctor; her brother, Jerome Thompson.

She leaves to cherish fond memories: her daughter, Kim Thompson, of Gaffney, SC; her grandsons, Pastor Julian Thompson (Alexis), of Duncan, SC and Justin Bridges-Thompson of El Paso, Texas; sisters, Dorothy Dewberry, Bennie Knuckles, and Shirley Jamison, all of Gaffney, SC; sisters-in-laws, Beverly Thompson, Delia Ballard, Juanita Watkins, Dorothy Tate and Neller Hardy, all of Gaffney, SC; brothers-in-law, Mack Knuckles and Cossie Knuckles, of Gaffney, SC; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives, and friends.

A Funeral Service will be held Saturday, May 6, 2023, at 1:00 p.m., in Bethel Baptist Church. Interment will follow in Oakland Cemetery.

The family are receiving friends at the residence, 2009 W. Buford Street, Gaffney, SC, from 2:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. On behalf of the family please honor the respectful hours of visitation that are given.

Annita Gaston Conley, 72, of 510 Thompson Street, Gaffney, passed away Saturday, April 15, 2023 in Cherokee Medical Center.

She was born in Gaffney, SC and was a daughter of the late James Campfield Gaston and the late Bernice Linder Gaston. 

She was a member of Limestone Missionary Baptist Church, where she served on  the Woman Ministry, Usher Board, and Choir. She was  a 1968 graduate of Granard High School.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by a brother, Anthony Wood.

She leaves to cherish loving memories: a daughter, Sandra Cooper (Fredrick), of Beaufort, SC; a son, Stefan Gaston (Tracy), of Long Beach, CA; a brother, James “Ike” Lattimore, of Gaffney, SC; a sister, Brenda Gaston Dawkins (Kenneth), of Gaffney, SC; four grandchildren, Stefan Gaston, Jr., Trayen Gaston, Stephanie Gaston, and Dammon Rogers, Jr.; two great grandchildren; a host of other relatives and friends.