Edmund Dantzler Whetsell, 88, died Friday, November 15, 2024, at Black River MUSC.

Mr. Whetsell was born May 23, 1936, in Bowman, SC, a son of the late Joseph Edmund Whetsell & Louise Dantzler Whetsell Shuler. He was a 1958 graduate of Clemson College.

He was a member of Kingstree First Baptist Church, where he served as a deacon and on several committees. He was the last living member of the Building Committee for the present sanctuary.

Mr. Whetsell is survived by his wife of 65 years, Iris Cheek Whetsell; three sons, Joe (Pam) Whetsell, Mark (Lee Anne) Whetsell and John (Dawn) Whetsell; grandchildren, Krysten (Lance) McInnis, Eric, Timothy (Miranda), Matthew (Ashlee), Nathan (Madeline), Rylan, Morgan, Elizabeth, Mary, Jesse, Amy, Olivia Whetsell and Megan White; great grandchildren, Claire McInnis, Thomas, Lucas, Aiden, Scarlet and Waylon Whetsell; brother-in-law, Allen Rust; sister-in-law, Sandy Whetsell; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his brother, Dr. Wayne Whetsell and his sister Joanne W. Rust.

Mr. Whetsell was employed by Santee Electric Coop. and retired as its CEO.

Funeral services for Mr. Whetsell will be held at 2 PM Tuesday, November 19, 2024, at Williamsburg Funeral Home with burial in Kingstree Memorial Gardens. The visitation will be Monday, November 18 from 6-8 PM at Williamsburg Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Kingstree First Baptist Church, 400 N. Academy Street, Kingstree, SC 29556. Online condolences may be sent to the family on the obituary page at www.WilliamsburgFuneralHome.com

On the evening of the 15th of November 2024, Lola Mae Jacquelin Hudson Morris, loving mother of four, from Surfside entered heaven to be with her savior and Lord, Jesus Christ at the age of 95.

Born on January 4, 1929, in Indiantown, Lola was the eldest daughter of the late landowners and farmers, Harry Daniel Hudson and Fannie Mae Galloway Hudson. She was a member of the United Methodist Church of Kingstree.

Lola began her life as a farmer’s daughter in the tobacco fields of Indiantown. Where she welcomed the birth of each of her four adored younger sisters, Margie, Elise, Jeannie, and Harriet. Raised during the depression era, they were taught the meaning of hard work, perseverance, and the love of Jesus.

As a child growing up in that close knit community, Lola loved riding her horse “Nellie” in the rows of planted fields and attending church and school at Indiantown Presbyterian with her family and friends. She remembers as a young girl, her father climbing up on the roof near the steeple to help extinguish a fire. She tasted her first Coca-Cola at the age of 10 as an allowance for working on the farm.

At the age of 16, tragedy struck. Her father, who rests in the cemetery at Indiantown was struck down by a malignant brain tumor in the prime of his life. At only 45 years old, he left his beautiful bride with five little girls and no one to work on the farm. Broken hearted, their mother made the hard decision that the four younger girls would travel to Thornwell Orphanage, where they would spend the rest of their childhood. Being the oldest, at 16 Lola remained behind and worked hard to help her mother, taking a job at Ruffin’s Dept Store in Hemingway after school and on Saturdays sending what she could to her sisters and visiting them on the weekends so that they could be a “family” again.

After graduating in 1947, Lola moved to Kingstree and started working at the Kingstree Laundry. While in Kingstree, Lola met the love of her life, Harry Lee Morris. Married on October 24, 1954, after Harry’s return from the Korean War as a US Air Force Flight Engineer. Buying a home on the edge of town (which was then known as Hwy 52), they immediately began their family with the birth of their children Debrah Lee, Cindy Lou, Cheryl Lynn, and Bryan Keith. Their life was centered around family and friends. With weekends being the time for kids and adults alike to gather together for dinner parties, dancing to vinyl records blasting from a console Zenith stereo cabinet or besting each other at cards and board games at the many fold-up tables. Then off to church on Sundays and back to work on Monday where Harry owned a TV repair business beside an old-fashion Drug store and Soda Fountain shop in the heart of downtown Kingstree. Coming home with huge cardboard boxes to be carved with windows and doors for playhouses.

Sadly, that life ended after only 13 years when Harry passed away in 1967. Lola went back to work at the Kingstree Laundry and with the help of her sweet mother and cherished sister Jeannie, raised and provided for her four children, then ages 10, 7, 6 and 2. Always adventurous and brave, in 1977 she was one of the first women in SC to buy and run a full service gas station, she “dubbed” the Morris SOC Station.

From 1983 to 1998, Lola went to work as a caregiver for friends of the family (Rosa Compton and Ida Mae Woods) in Summerville where she could be close to Jeannie. Driving back and forth from Kingstree every other weekend.

In 1998, Lola retired and sold her home in Kingstree (which “fittingly” the buyer wanted for a restaurant) and moved to Murrells Inlet. There her greatest of joys was cooking endless amounts of food (with the help of her beloved grandson Shane), having all her family gather and talk about the adventures in their lives. With laughter and a self-characterization “I was born with too much humor”, she would let her opinion be known.

Lola came to live with her “baby girl” Cheryl, where she would sit outside and “you-who” to all that passed by. Charming and flirtatious, she was showered with flowers, food, gifts and adoration by friends and neighbors. She loved being teased about all her boyfriends that called her sweetheart, songbird, and beautiful. She would tell everyone that came to visit that she loved them.

Lola loved holding her phone to her ear and listening to 60’s music and old gospel hymns. Singing “You are my sunshine” “If you’ve got the money” “I saw the light” and “Jesus Loves Me”

Brave and so very precious of heart, Lola will forever be cherished and loved “More than all the stars in the Sky” by her beloved family: children, Debrah Hardee of Aynor, Cindy (Rick) Tisdale of Socastee, Cheryl Harrelson of Surfside Beach, and Bryan (Linda) Morris of  Surfside Beach; her adored “Nicky”, James Michael Griggs of Surfside; 2 bonus daughters, Kathy Vermeland of Andrews and Deborah “Little Deb” Scott of Murrells Inlet; grandchildren, Adam (Jolena) Hardee of Gallivants Ferry, Noah (Christy) Hardee of Gallivants Ferry, and Lindsy Morris of Myrtle Beach; great grandchildren, Mackenzie Forrett, Isaac Hardee, Layla Hardee, Emma Hardee, and Olivia Hardee; and sisters, Margie (Marvin) Stewart of Ashville, NC and Harriette (Max) Walker of Tucker, GA. In addition to her parents and her husband Harry, Lola was preceded in death by 2 sisters, Elise H. Scott and Jennie Lee Bowman, a much beloved grandson, Shane Harrelson, and sons-in-law, Luke Hardee and Rex Harrelson.

Graveside funeral services for Mrs. Morris will be held at 1 PM, Monday, November 18, 2024, at Williamsburg Cemetery. Her family will receive family and friends at Williamsburg Funeral Home before the funeral from 11:30 to 12:45 PM.

Online condolences may be sent to the family on the obituary page at www.WilliamsburgFuneralHome.com

Judi Bradham Ivey, 76, passed away peacefully Thursday, November 7, 2024, at McLeod Regional Medical Center in Florence, SC.

Judi was born May 8, 1948, in Kingstree, SC, the daughter of the late Dantzler Emory “D.E.” Bradham, Jr. and Miriam Epps Bradham.  She was a graduate of Kingstree High School and attended the Baptist College (now Charleston Southern) in North Charleston.  After working for 40 years at Farmers Telephone Co-op, Judi retired with pride, having dedicated her entire professional life to the company.  It was the only job she ever held, and she approached it with a sense of purpose that earned her respect and admiration from all who worked with her. 

In retirement, Judi or “Udi,” as she was affectionately called by her grandchildren, found joy in the simple pleasures of life. She loved shopping, going to the beach, spending time at the lake, and enjoying the serenity of her family farm. Above all, her heart was full of love for her family. Whether it was spoiling them with little gifts, sharing stories, or simply spending time together, Judi’s love and generosity were evident in every aspect of her life. Her family, friends, and community were often the beneficiaries of her selflessness.

Judi was deeply loved and will be greatly missed by all who knew her. She is survived by her sons, Jim (Dawn) Ivey of Florence and Mark (Amy) Ivey of Kingstree, her cherished grandchildren, Aiden Ivey, Addison Ivey, Peyton Ivey, and Ali Ivey, and her beloved companion, Jack Matthews of Cades.  In addition to her parents, Judi was preceded in death by her brother, Dantzler Emory “Dan” Bradham, III. 

Graveside funeral services for Ms. Ivey will be at 3 PM, Sunday, November 10, 2024, at Kingstree Memorial Gardens.  Judi’s family will receive family and friends at Williamsburg Funeral Home before the funeral at 1:30 to 2:45 PM.  Memorials may be made to McLeod Health Foundation, McLeod Hospice Services, PO Box 100551, Florence, SC 29502-0551 or to a charity of one’s choice. 

Online condolences may be sent to the family on the obituary page at www.WilliamsburgFuneralHome.com

James Nelson “Jimmy” Joye, 76, husband of Elizabeth Cooper “Libby” Joye, died Friday, October 18, 2024, at his home in Garden City surrounded by his beloved family.

Mr. Joye was born November 21, 1947, in Kingstree, SC, a son of the late William LeGrande Joye, Sr. and Olive Elizabeth Buddin Joye. He was a graduate of Kingstree High School and was a veteran of the SC National Guard. Jimmy worked in the finance department at Williamsburg Memorial Hospital and retired as CFO at Clarendon Memorial Hospital. He was a past officer of HFMA (Healthcare Financial Management Association) of South Carolina. He was a member of Mouzon Presbyterian Church where he was a former deacon. Jimmy enjoyed time with family and friends, often the personable host (with his wife Libby ever at his side) of gatherings at Black River and Garden City. He enjoyed the river, the beach, cooking, golf and karaoke, and was an avid Gamecock fan!

Survivors are his wife of 55 years, Libby, his sons, Greg Joye and Jason (Stacy) Joye and grandsons, Jameson and Grant Joye, all of Murrells Inlet, SC and his beloved sister, JoAnn Joye McCollough of Kingstree. In addition to his parents, Jimmy was preceded in death by his brother, William LeGrande Joye, Jr. and a sister who died as a child, Mary Elizabeth Joye.

Funeral services for Mr. Joye will be 11 AM, Monday, October 21, 2024, at Mouzon Presbyterian Church with burial in the church cemetery. Mr. Joye’s family will receive friends and family in the church following the interment. Memorials may be made to Mouzon Presbyterian Church, c/o Kay Frierson, 33 Lynchburg Road, Kingstree SC 29556.

Online condolences may be sent to the family on the obituary page at www.WilliamsburgFuneralHome.com

Brenda Jean Smith Fore, 65, wife of Robert Brian Fore, died Tuesday, October 15, 2024, at MUSC Health Columbia Medical Center after a long illness.

     Brenda was born May 9, 1959, in Kingstree, SC, a daughter of Vonnie Prosser Smith and the late Merrill Gamble Smith. She was a 1977 graduate of Williamsburg Academy and received an associate degree from Florence Darlington Technical College. Brenda retired from Santee Electric Co-Op after many years of service. She was a member of Central Presbyterian Church. Brenda displayed a great love of life to everyone around her. She loved her family dearly and they were the center of her life. She was an adventurous person who enjoyed all rides, especially a roller coaster. She was the sister, aunt, or cousin that all the family wanted by their side when anything fun was going on. At the same time, she had a soft heart when it came to animals of all kinds. Brenda loved being at the beach, but she enjoyed nothing more than a glorious Saturday afternoon in Clemson!

          In addition to her mother Vonnie and her husband Robert, Brenda is survived by:  her daughter, Crystal A. Cooper; grandchildren, Brayden Jessica Floyd and Ollie Robert Floyd; sister, Sherry (Myron) Kellahan; niece, Anna K. (Ryan) Brown; nephews, Robert M “Bert” (Kerri) Kellahan, and Joshua “Josh” (Emily) Kellahan; and 9 great nieces and nephews. Brenda was preceded in death by her father Merrill Smith, her daughter Jessica Barton Fore, her maternal grandparents, Bert and Odean Prosser, and her paternal grandparents, Gamble and Pauline Smith.

     A celebration of Brenda’s life will be 2 PM Saturday, October 19, 2024, at Williamsburg Funeral Home with burial to follow at Bloomingvale Baptist Church Cemetery near Andrews. Brenda’s family will greet friends and family beginning at 1 PM just prior to the funeral. Memorials may be made to Central Presbyterian Church, PO Box 421, Kingstree, SC 29556.

     Online condolences may be sent to the family on the obituary page at www.WilliamsburgFuneralHome.com

Robert Van Dukes, 52, passed away unexpectedly in Kingstree, SC, on Monday October 14, 2024.

     Van was born in Florence, SC on February 4th, 1972, to Robert D. Dukes and Toby Ann Morris Dukes. He was a 1991 graduate of Williamsburg Academy and received a bachelor’s degree from Coastal Carolina University. Van had a passion for baseball and played at both Anderson University and Coastal Carolina before serving as pitching coach at Williamsburg Academy for 15 years. Mr. Dukes worked previously for Albany International Corp. and DSM before becoming a salesman for Cornerstone Insurance. Van was a member of Williamsburg Presbyterian Church where he formerly served as a deacon.

          In addition to his parents, Bobby and Toby of Kingstree, Van is survived by his children, Hall Dukes and Gretchen Dukes, both of Kingstree.

     A celebration of Van’s life will be held at 3:30 PM, Monday, October 21, 2024, at Kingstree First Assembly with visitation to follow the service. Memorials may be made to Kingstree First Assembly, 872 Sumter Highway, Kingstree, SC 29556.

     Online condolences may be sent to the family on the obituary page at www.WilliamsburgFuneralHome.com