Obituaries

Jul 21, 2025

SALEM, SC ~ Ms. Recinda "Cindy" Lee Hagins, age 63, passed away July 21, 2025. Cindy was born May 4, 1962, in Lancaster, SC, a daughter of the late Joseph Lawrence Hagins and Rose Marie Horton Mackey. She enjoyed fishing, going to the mountains, camping, and gardening. Cindy was an avid Clemson fan. She was a huge lover of...

Jul 20, 2025

COLUMBIA, SC ~ Ms. Deborah Kay Fortune, age 67, passed away on July 20, 2025. Deborah was born on April 8, 1958, in Lancaster, SC, a daughter of the late William Keet Fortune, Jr. and the late Blake Polk Fortune. Kay was a 1976 graduate of Lancaster High School and a 1981 graduate of The University of South Carolina....

Jul 20, 2025

LANCASTER, SC – William Ricky Lee Starr climbed the "Stairway to Heaven", said "Mama, I'm coming home" and is now "So far Away". Ricky passed away on Sunday, July 20, 2025, a date that those close to him would know and would enthusiastically share with Chester Bennington. Born in Lancaster, SC on June 4, 2004, he was the youngest...

Jul 19, 2025

LANCASTER, SC ~ Ms. Hazeline Phillips Funderburk, age 78, passed away on July 19, 2025 at her home. She was born on December 23, 1946, in Lancaster, a daughter of the late John Lee Phillips and the late Frances Outen Phillips. Ms. Funderburk was a weaver for Springs Industries for many years before working her dream job in the...

Jul 17, 2025

LANCASTER, SC ~ Mrs. Willa "Billie" Barton Snipes, age 97, passed away Thursday, July 17, 2025 at her daughter's home. She was born on September 25, 1927, a daughter of the late William Troy Barton and the late Mary Louise Williams Barton and was the wife of the late Sidney Brint Snipes. Mrs. Snipes was raised by the late...

Jul 15, 2025

CAMDEN, SC ~ Mrs. Harri Ann Long Caskey, age 63, passed away on July 15, 2025, at MUSC-Kershaw. Harri was born on December 9, 1961, in Charlotte, NC, a daughter of the late Harry Frederick Long and the late Lola Ree West Long and was the loving wife of L.D. "Dee" Caskey, Jr. Harri enjoyed working in the yard,...

Jul 14, 2025

LANCASTER, SC – Mr. Donald "No" Richard Barton, age 83, passed away peacefully at home. Donnie was a son of the late Paul Troy Barton and the late Ethel Jeanette Jordan Barton.

He was preceded in death by his three brothers, Drennon Barton, Mike Barton, and Pat Barton.

Donnie is survived by his three children,...

Jul 13, 2025

LANCASTER, SC – Mr. Ernest Michael Starnes, age 81, passed away Sunday, July 13, 2025. He was married to the late Ernestine Bailey Starnes for 57 years. Ernest was born May 15, 1944 in Lancaster, SC. Ernest was the son of the late James Inshman Starnes Sr. and the late Margaret Rollings Starnes. He proudly served in the United...

Jul 10, 2025

INDIAN LAND, SC ~ Mrs. Donna Jane VanEssendelft, age 88, passed away on Thursday, July 10, 2025, at her home. Donna was born on May 21, 1937, in Wantagh, NY. She was a daughter of the late Peter Douglas Behrendt and the late Caroline Bailey Behrendt VanEssendelft and was the wife of David "Dave" John VanEssendelft. She grew up...

Jul 7, 2025

LANCASTER, SC ~ Mrs. Judith "Judy" Miles Carter, age 69, passed away on July 7, 2025, at MUSC-Lancaster. Judy was born on April 10, 1956, in Lancaster, SC, a daughter of the late Cleo Miles and the late Willie Mae Cassidy Miles and was the wife of the late Maurice "Moe" Eugene Carter. Judy drove a school bus for...

Jul 7, 2025

LANCASTER, SC – Mr. Donald Richard Gowan, age 87, passed away Monday, July 7, 2025. He was born August 25, 1937, son of the late Richard Thomas Gowan and the late Roey Tennyson Gowan and was the husband of the late Sybil Ford Gowan. Donald studied Agronomy at Clemson University, where he graduated with a master's degree.  He retired...

Jul 6, 2025

LANCASTER, SC ~ Ms. Paula Crenshaw, age 62, passed away Sunday, July 6, 2025 at MUSC-Lancaster. She was born on May 12, 1963, a daughter of the late Robert "Bobby" Crenshaw and the late Jeanette Jenkins Crenshaw. Paula was an avid reader, she really enjoyed her Christian books, and watching her tv shows. Most of all, she loved spending...

Jul 6, 2025

LANCASTER, SC ~ Ms. Joyce Diane Self, age 59, passed away Sunday, July 6, 2025 at Prisma Health - Richland. She was born on December 27, 1965, a daughter of the late Dalton Washington Self and the late Sadie Sara Warr Self. Joyce loved her family, especially the babies, and she always loved going for a ride.

...

Jul 4, 2025

LANCASTER, SC – Mr. Francis "Frank" Joseph Ryan, Jr., age 77, passed away Friday, July 4th, 2025, at his home. He was born February 26, 1948, in Augsburg, Germany to the late Francis Joseph Ryan, Sr. and the late Helena "Helma" Vogel Ryan.  He served in the United States Navy and Army, serving two times in Vietnam.  His first...

Jul 3, 2025

Mr. David Boyd Brasington, age 70, of Statesboro, passed away suddenly Wednesday afternoon, July 3rd, 2025 at his residence doing his favorite activity, working in his garden with his beloved wife of 33 years, Zandra Brasington by his side.

He was born in Lancaster, South Carolina. He graduated Andrew Jackson High School in 1973.  Growing up he...

Jul 3, 2025

LANCASTER, SC – Mr. Francis Laney Bell, Jr., age 82, passed away Thursday, July 3, 2025. He was born May 21, 1943, in Lancaster, the son of the late Francis Laney Bell, Sr. and the late Mary Alice "Sis" Jones Bell and was the loving husband of Deborah West Bell.  Francis was a 1961 graduate of Lancaster High School,...

Jun 29, 2025

LANCASTER, SC – Mr. Tony Ray Smith, Sr., age 74, passed away Sunday, June 29, 2025. He was born September 2, 1950, a son of the late Dee Vernual "D.V." Smith, Jr. and the late Alton Star Tyson Smith and was the husband of the late Deborah Karen Knight Smith. Tony was a 1968 graduate of Lancaster High School....

Jun 27, 2025

LANCASTER, SC – Mr. Gary Eugene Varnadore passed away peacefully on June 27, 2025, at Lancaster Grove Senior Living Community. He was born June 8, 1936, the son of the late Eugene Varnadore and the late Effie Cook Varnadore of Lancaster, SC.

Gary was a graduate of Lancaster High School where he was an outstanding drummer in...

Jun 25, 2025

LANCASTER, SC ~ Mrs. Martha Jo Lindler Mahaffey age 83, passed away peacefully on June 25, 2025, surrounded by her loved ones. Martha was born on May 9, 1942 in Blair, SC, a daughter of the late John Lomas Lindler Sr. and Lila Stoudemire Lindler and was the wife of the late James Alvin Mahaffey Sr. She was a...

Jun 25, 2025

LANCASTER, SC – Mr. David Ralph Belk, age 42, passed away Wednesday, June 25, 2025. He was born December 5, 1982, a son of Dianne Nance Belk and the late Ronald Payne Belk and was the husband of Melissa Mathis Belk. David proudly served his country in the United States Army. He was employed with ATI in Monroe, NC...