Obituaries

Dec 25, 2022

Betty Lorene Martin Sprouse Holland, 89, of Spartanburg, SC, died Sunday, December 25, 2022 at her home, like she wished. Born April 1, 1933 in Cowpens, SC, she was the daughter of the late Farland H. and Jessie M. Harris Martin.

Betty was owner/operator of a salon. She loved her antiques and flowers; and gardening was an...

Dec 24, 2022

Harry Lipscomb Dowis, 80, of Cowpens, SC went home to be with the Lord on Saturday, December 24, 2022. Born November 26, 1942 in Cowpens, he was the son of the late John Wesley Dowis, Sr. and Lucille Lipscomb Dowis.

Mr. Dowis was a volunteer fireman at Cowpens Fire Department, a scout leader and a little league...

Dec 23, 2022

Susan Annette Miller Ramsey, 56, passed away Friday, December 23, 2022, at her residence. Born December 14, 1966, she was a daughter of Peggy Annette Kimbrell Miller of the home and the late George William Miller.

Sue was “Noni” to her two beloved grandchildren whom she adored and loved with all her heart. Sue was also a...

Dec 23, 2022

Samuel S. Buonanno, 85, of Spartanburg, SC passed away peacefully at home on December 23, 2022. He was born on December 23, 1937, in Canandaigua, NY to the late Alesandro and Lucy Vinciquerra Buonanno.

Samuel worked as an engineer for many years with the Schlegel Corporation in Rochester, NY and invented several patents for the company. Samuel...

Dec 23, 2022

William “Neil” Steward, 60, of Boiling Springs, SC, went home to be with the Lord and Savior Friday, December 23, 2022. Born October 13, 1962, in Gaffney, he was the son of the late Bill and Tootsie Mullinax Steward.

Neil was an IT Specialist. He was witty, endlessly generous, carefree, and laid back. A devoted husband, father,...

Dec 22, 2022

James Arthur Sawyer, Sr., 70, of Inman, SC, died Thursday, December 22, 2022 at his home. Born January 20, 1952, in Columbia, SC, he was the son of the late William Claude Sawyer, Sr. and Beulah Maggie Rainwater Sawyer.

James was retired from Carson’s Nut-Bolt & Tool Co. He was a member of Arcadia Masonic Lodge #285,...

Dec 21, 2022

Rita Amelia Edelston Riffenburg, 87, of Spartanburg, SC, died Wednesday, December 21, 2022 at White Oak Estates. Born March 11, 1935 in London, England, she was the daughter of the late Isaac and Sophie Benson Edelston.

Rita was a former member of Temple B’Nai Israel.

Survivors include her husband of 67 years, Raymond Edward Riffenburg,...

Dec 20, 2022

Sara Smoak Gombert, 84, of 400 Webber Road, Spartanburg, died Tuesday morning, December 20, 2022, at White Oak Estates in Spartanburg. Mrs. Gombert was the wife of the late Howard Gombert.

Born in Orangeburg, SC, Mrs. Gombert was the daughter of the late Carl Smoak and Martha Inabinet. She was a graduate of Columbia College, Columbia. She...

Dec 20, 2022

Frances Fountain Shaw McDowell, age 99, died on December 20, 2022, after a brief illness. A native of Richlands, North Carolina, Frances was the second of three children of the late Annie Cavannaugh Fountain and Jere Wilson Fountain. Her father, a rural mail carrier, was killed tragically when Frances was 12. From that point in her life, she was...

Dec 19, 2022

Joe Henry Berry, 88, of Spartanburg, SC, died Monday, December 19, 2022 at Spartanburg Regional Hospice Home. Born October 19, 1934, in Spartanburg, SC, he was the son of the late Henry Lee and Nellie Mae Johnson Berry.

A US Air Force veteran, Mr. Berry was retired from textiles and later worked with Goodwill Industries. He was...

Dec 19, 2022

Krystal Irene Burkholder, 50, of Boiling Springs, SC, passed away Monday, December 19, 2022 at her home. Born July 20, 1972 in Union, SC, she was the daughter of Eddie Ray Burkholder and Emily Irene Buice Peeler.

Krystal was a Medical Assistant at Lung and Chest Medical Associates for 21 years. She was currently employed with Spartanburg...

Dec 18, 2022

Reatha “Ray” Bracken, 83, of Wellford, SC, died Sunday, December 18, 2022 at Spartanburg Regional Hospice Home. Born May 5, 1939 in Winston-Salem, NC, he was the son of the late Carl Ray Bracken.

Ray was a HVAC technician. He was a member of The R&B Shag Club of Spartanburg.

Survivors include his daughter, Tina...

Dec 17, 2022

Donald Wayne Parris, 85, of Clinton, SC, died Saturday, December 17, 2022 at his home. Born December 12, 1937 Spartanburg, SC, he was the son of the late Alfred Ellerbee and Sarah Edna Holt Parris, and the husband of the late Margie Ellen Gregory Parris.

A US Army veteran, Mr. Parris was an owner/operator truck driver for...

Dec 17, 2022

Curtis Palmer Bishop, 67, of Spartanburg, SC, died Saturday, December 17, 2022, at his home. Born February 13, 1955 in Spartanburg, SC, he was the son of John Palmer Bishop and the late Betty Jo Henderson Bishop.

Curtis was retired from Michelin after 35 years of service. He loved to hunt deer and turkey. He loved his...

Dec 17, 2022

Lynda Bolton Turner, 80, died Saturday, December 17, 2022 at her home.  Born December 9, 1942, Lynda was a daughter of the late Dorothy Bolton and was the widow of Joseph Daniel “Buster” Turner.

Mrs. Turner was a member of View Church and served as a greeter, a member of the Good News Club and helped in...

Dec 16, 2022

T. Mitchell “Mitch” Shook, 73, of Spartanburg, SC, passed away Friday, December 16, 2022, at home. Born in Spartanburg, SC, on October 8, 1949, he was the son of the late Luther Franklin and Mildred Kate Landers Shook.

Mitch earned his degree at the University of South Carolina - Spartanburg and retired from IAC, Inc. after many...

Dec 16, 2022

Iva Amelia “Amy” Ross passed away Friday, December 16, 2022, at the age of 90 after a courageous battle with cancer.

Born in Spartanburg, Amy was one of ten children and full of stories of her parents and siblings growing up.  She became a military spouse and proud mother to five children who have remained loving and...

Dec 16, 2022

Daniel Lesesne Smith III, 84, died December 16, 2022, in Tryon, NC.  He was born in Spartanburg, SC, on January 13, 1938, to Dr. Daniel Lesesne Smith Jr. and Clara Ravenel Smith.

Mr. Smith was a graduate of Christ School and Wofford College.  He served in the U. S. Army for three years and was a Real...

Dec 15, 2022

Erica Danielle Gilbert Nichols, 29, of Converse, SC, died Thursday, December 15, 2022 at Spartanburg Medical Center. Born February 25, 1993 in Spartanburg, SC, she was the daughter of Donald Eric Gilbert and Vickie Lynn Combs.

Erica was a previously a caregiver/CNA. She was of the Baptist faith. Erica was a loving mother and friend to many....

Dec 14, 2022

Elizabeth Wells Coggins, 79, of Spartanburg, SC, died Wednesday, December 14, 2022 at Spartanburg Regional Hospice Home.  Born in Spartanburg on June 14, 1943, she was the youngest child of the late Dr. Clyde Otamus Wells, Sr. and Carrie Allene Chapman, and was the last surviving member of her immediate family.

Elizabeth grew up in Converse Heights...