Derrill Eugene "Gene" Pitts

Derrill Eugene (Gene) Pitts, 70, of Landrum, died Friday, September 27, 2024. A native of Newberry, he was born on March 22, 1954, a son of the late Bobby L. and Betty Rhinehart Pitts. 

 Gene attended Spartanburg Community College, was an entrepreneur in several businesses and Real Estate Development, a member of First Baptist Church of Landrum and attended Milestones Church, was a longtime member of the Landrum Youth Association, serving in various roles from being a Board Member to coaching multiple sports for his children and grandchildren. As his children grew older, Gene served as a member of the Landrum High School chain crew from 2005-2010. He loved watching his children and grandchildren play sports, biking, deep sea fishing and traveling to Destin, FL, with his wife to take vacation. 

Surviving is his wife, Karen Vess Pitts; his children, Matt Pitts (Ginger), Candy Fluharty (Mike), Holly Rogers (Camden), Melissa Pitts Goode, Adam Pitts (Jessica), and Lauren Blair (Zach); grandchildren, Sydney Murphy, Shelby Pitts, Jacob Fluharty, Emily Fluharty, Taylor Rogers, Madie Rogers, Kaydyn Rogers, Jax Goode, Noah Goode, Shaw Pitts, Jaclynne Pitts and Rylee Blair; great-grandsons, Cameron Murphy, Sawyer Murphy and Carter Gene Blair; brothers, Randy Pitts, Bobby Dean Pitts and Ricky Pitts; and a sister, Deborah Williams. 

The family will receive from 11:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. Wednesday, October 2, 2024, at Landrum First Baptist Church, 300 East Rutherford Street, Landrum, SC 29356. 

A private graveside service for the family will be held Thursday, October 3, 2024, at Fort Prince Memorial Gardens, 125 Fort Prince Blvd, Wellford, SC 29385, conducted by the Rev. Chuck Mullinax. 

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Landrum Youth Association, 205 E. Earle Street, Landrum, SC 29356 or to the Down Syndrome Association of the Upstate, PO Box 25492, Greenville, SC 29616. 

Floyd’s North Church Street Chapel