Mr. James Lawrence Worthy, 92, died Monday, September 4, 2023, at his home. A native of Spartanburg County, he was born on July 18, 1931, a son of the late Lawrence Worthy and Flora Crawford Worthy Parker and was married to the late Ernestine Alley Worthy.
He was a graduate of Spartanburg Methodist College with an associate degree in criminal justice, attended USCS, Wofford College, the University of Louisville, and the FBI National Academy in Washington, DC. He was a veteran of the US Army, employed with the Spartanburg City Police Department (1965-1976) as a Sergeant and was Officer of the Year. He was Chief of Police in Manning, SC (1976-1982) and then from 1982-1993 he worked with the Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Department as a Patrol Officer, Detective, Training Officer, and Firearm Instructor retiring with the rank of Sergeant.
He was a devoted member of Pacolet Mills Baptist Church, where he served as a deacon and sang in the choir. He was a former Mason and a former member of Cowpens Lions Club.
He is survived by his wife, Sylvia Davis Cobb Worthy; his children, Renee W. O’Brien (Reggie), Elizabeth W. McManus (Mark) and Larry Worthy (Kellie), eleven grandchildren, ten great grandchildren and three great great grandchildren, and his four-legged Yorkie buddy “Sammie”; stepchildren, Todd Randall Cobb, and Vicki Cobb Dawson and three step grandchildren. He was predeceased by a son, Michael Wayne Worthy, an infant daughter, Linda Kay Worthy; sister, Flora Joyce Worthy; two infant brothers; two great grandchildren, Lauren Hyland, Austin Hyland and one step grandchild.
A visitation will be from 1:00 to 2:00 pm, Friday, September 8, 2023, at Pacolet Mills Baptist Church. Funeral services will follow at 2:30 pm in the church sanctuary conducted by the Rev. Frank Taylor. Burial will follow in Greenlawn Memorial Gardens, 1300 Fernwood Glendale Road, Spartanburg, SC 29307.
In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Pacolet Mills Baptist Church Family Life Center, P. O. Box 660, Pacolet Mills, SC 29373.
Floyd’s North Church Street Chapel
Friday, September 8, 2023
1:00 - 2:00 pm (Eastern time)
Pacolet Mills Baptist Church
Friday, September 8, 2023
Starts at 2:30 pm (Eastern time)
Pacolet Mills Baptist Church
Friday, September 8, 2023
3:30 - 4:30 pm (Eastern time)
Greenlawn Memorial Gardens- Spartanburg
Visits: 1962
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