South Carolina
Janice Dawkins, 53
Died February 12, 2021.
Mossy Creek Elementary School, North Augusta, SC
Special Education
Mrs. Janice Veronica Newsome Dawkins, entered into rest February 12, 2021 at University Hospital. Graveside services will be held 3 pm Tuesday, February 23, 2021 at Piveview Memorial Gardens with the Rev. Dr. Albert M. James officiating.
Mask and social distancing will be observed.
Mrs. Dawkins was a 1986 graduate of North Augusta High School. She attended Aiken Technical College where she earned certificates in Early Childhood Development. She was employed by the Old Medical College Daycare, Clare Jenkins Elementary School and Mossy Creek Elementary School where her love for her students was endless.
At an early age, she accepted Christ and joined Old Macedonia Baptist Church. Later she united with Second Providence Baptist Church where she served as a VBS instructor, a Soprano on the Mass Choir and a member of the Angel Tree Ministry.
Cherishing Janice’s memories are : her loving husband, Wade L. Dawkins, a daughter, MaKayla Dawkins, her parents, John and Mary Nabritt Newsome; stepsons, Christopher and Jaime Westbrook; sister, Cathy Grant; godparents, Alonzo and Roselee Middleton; nephews, Reco (Nichelle) Grant and Lucas (Adrienne) Grant; a host of other relatives and friends.
Holly Warren, 64
Died February 2, 2021.
Hillcrest High School, Simpsonville, SC
Attendance Clerk
Holly Ann Williams Warren, 64, wife of Reggie Dale Warren for 42 years, went to be with the Lord on Tuesday, February 2, 2021.
Mrs. Warren was born in Atlanta, GA to the late Jack Preston Williams and Louise Doris Sheets Williams. She was a member of Holy Cross Episcopal Church and worked in the attendance office at Hillcrest High School. She was a fixture at every HHS sporting event and a yearly volunteer for the HHS Miss Hilltopper pageant. Holly loved her time at the Carolina beaches with Reggie, and especially the beaches at the Gulf Shores of Alabama. In the summertime, you could always find her in Schira’s pool or Kelly’s pool enjoying the sun. When Lindsey was young, she was a back-stage mom and a Girl Scout leader. A southern lady, she was known for her red lipstick, her beautiful smile, and her warm, bubbly charm. Some of her favorite indulgences were chocolate cake, a glass of red wine with a cheese-ball, and her famous Watergate salad. Holly relished being “Nana” to her grandchildren and invested much time and love into them. Holly was a member of the Delta Zeta Sorority. She was infamous for always being on “Holly Time”.
Surviving, in addition to her husband, are a daughter, Lindsey Warren-McGee and husband Henry; a brother, Kelly Williams and wife Christi; a sister, Schira Benson and husband Ardie; three grandchildren, Brett McGee, Henry McGee II, and Bo McGee; two nephews, Luke Williams and Ben Williams; and two nieces, Ansley Williams and Arden Smith and husband Wes. She was predeceased by her son, Brett Mitchell Warren.
A Celebration of Holly’s Life will be 3 o’clock Sunday in the sanctuary of Simpsonville First Baptist Church. Burial will be in Cannon Memorial Park. The family will receive friends one hour prior the service. Memorials may be made to the Brett Warren Memorial Scholarship Award at Hillcrest High School, 3665 South Industrial Drive Simpsonville SC 29681.
Donald Beam, 68
Died January 26, 2021.
Greenville County Schools, Greenville, SC
Bus Driver
Donald Broadus Beam, 68, passed away Tuesday evening, January 26, at Bon Secours Hospital, Greenville, SC after a short illness and complications due to Covid-19. Donnie and his wife Libby Stewart Beam lived in Fountain Inn, SC. Together they shared over 30 years of marriage.
Donnie, born in Shelby, NC, was the oldest son of the late Broadus Oates Beam and Irene Norman Beam of Blacksburg, SC. Donnie and his younger brother, Randy Beam, grew up in the Antioch Community of Blacksburg. Donnie was a lifelong member of Antioch Baptist Church in Blacksburg, and he leaves behind many fond memories of his life there in Antioch.
Family left to cherish his memory are his wife, Libby, his faithful brother, Randy Beam (Jill), Nephew: Kellan Beam (Brianna) of Seabrook, SC; Nieces: Mollie Beam Dixon (Michael) and Alice Anne Beam, all of Blacksburg, SC; as well as a great niece and 2 great nephews, Madison, Mason, and Miles Dixon. Donnie also shared a close family connection with his cousins: Sammy (Julia Nichols) of Kings Mountain, NC, Lynn McCraw Rowland (Tim) of Grover, NC, and Eddie McCraw of Greenwood, SC. He will also be missed by amazing friends and neighbors at Carolina Springs Golf Club in Fountain Inn.
Donnie spent 22 years of his career at Minette Mills in Grover, NC, and the remainder of his career in South Carolina. He made so many lifelong friendships wherever he was placed in this world. After retiring from his work industry, Donnie answered a most special calling to drive a school bus for children with special needs in the Greenville County School System. This was one of his greatest passions. He experienced a grand sense of joy in this newfound workplace.
Anyone who knew Donnie can tell you that he was an avid Carolina Gamecock Fan. He was a lifetime fan through the good and the bad! Donnie was also an avid golfer until the end. Donnie’s life was a blessing. His memory will be treasured. He was loved beyond words, and he will be missed beyond measure.
Family and friends of Donnie can be visited at their perspective homes. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Humane Society of Greenville County- 305 Airport Rd. Greenville, SC 29607 or to a charity of choice.
A graveside service for Donnie will be conducted at Antioch Baptist Church, 839 Antioch Road, Blacksburg, SC at 2:00 in the afternoon on Friday, January 29. Wear your Gamecock Gear or your Black and Red (Donnie’s Favorite Colors).
*The family asks attendees please wear a mask and engage in social distancing as much as possible.
Marlene Evans, 59
Died January 18, 2021.
Virtus Academy of South Carolina, Florence, SC
Kindergarten
Marlene Myers Evans, 59, of Florence, passed away on Monday, January 18, 2021.
Mrs. Evans was born in Dillon, SC, daughter of the late Margaret Myers Harrell. She was a member of Friendship United Methodist Church, where she served as Director of Children’s Ministries for 20+ years, served as Vice-President of the United Methodist Women, was a member of the church choir and taught Sunday School class. She received the 2014 Community Leadership award by the Woodmen of the World. Marlene taught for 27 years at Easterling Elementary School in Marion and was currently teaching at Virtus Academy. She was passionate about her students, whom she called her children, and had a special place in her heart for children of special needs. She had fostered over ten foster children. She was a huge supporter of the “Help for Kids” Backpack lunches along with other charities within the community. She was a compassionate caretaker to all her friends and family, sometimes to a fault. Marlene was a devoted wife, mother, sister, and friend to all. She loved her family and she worshiped her Lord and Savior.
Surviving are her husband, Carey Nathaniel Evans of Florence; daughters, Ashleigh (Forrest) Ham and Ryleigh Evans; brothers, Wayne (Melissa) Nettles and Ronnie Nettles; sisters, Dana (Clair) Harrell, Cindy McElveen, and Farrah Jones; and her soul-sister, Terry Miller.
Memorials may be made to Help for Kids Backpack Program, 252 South Dargan Street, Florence, SC 29506.
The family will receive friends from 1:30 – 3:00 pm Thursday, January 21, 2021 at Friendship United Methodist Church. Graveside services will follow at 3:00 pm in the church cemetery directed by Stoudenmire-Dowling Funeral Home.
Please send messages to the family at the obit section of www.stoudenmiredowling.com.
Staci Blakely, 50
Died December 5, 2020.
Carolina Springs Elementary School, Lexington, SC
Third Grade
Mrs. Blakely passed away December 5, 2020. Born in Cheraw, she was the daughter of the late Jim L. Allen and Sandra DeSaye Allen. Mrs. Blakely was a graduate of Gilbert High School and received her Bachelor’s Degree from Columbia College. She was very passionate about teaching and was an advocate for reading. She loved the students she taught throughout her career. She enjoyed spending her free time at the beach. If there were waves and sand, she was happy and at peace. More importantly, she loved spending time with her family, especially her girls and her pets whom she loved and cared for deeply.
She is survived by her loving husband of 26 years, Chris Blakely; daughters, Lauren Blakely and Megan Blakely; and brothers, Johnny Allen (Cerissa) and Brian Allen (Carole).
Margie Kidd, 71
Died September 28, 2020.
Ridgeland Elementary School, Ridgeland, SC
First Grade
Margie J. Kidd, 71, of Hardeeville SC, passed away on Monday, September 28, 2020, at Coastal Carolina Hospital, in Hardeeville, SC. Visitation is Sunday, October 04, 2020, from 5 – 7 pm at Allen Funeral Home Chapel in Ridgeland, SC. Funeral Services will be held at Leonard-Lee Funeral Home in Linden, NJ. Burial will follow at Rosehill Cemetery in Linden, NJ.
Margie Kidd was born in Harlem New York to Theodore and Ruth Jamison. She was one of five siblings.
Margie was educated in the city and graduated from Louis B. Brandeis High School in 1966.
She met and married her husband Frank Kidd in New York City. They were married in October of 1972. They moved to Bluffton, SC in the ’70s, where they lived and raised their family for over three decades.
When her children were still young, Margie went back to school to obtain her teaching degree. She attended Armstrong State college; now known as Armstrong Atlantic University. Margie was an educator for over 20 years at Ridgeland Elementary School in Ridgeland South Carolina. She taught kindergarten for many years and eventually taught first grade. She served in various roles such as mentor teacher and lead kindergarten teacher.
Margie passed away on Monday, September 28, 2020. She was preceded in death by her parents and her siblings Eunice and Ronald.
Margie is survived by her husband of over 40 years, Frank Kidd, her daughters; Jinga Hamilton and husband Quentin of Newport News, Virginia, Essa Jackson and husband Walter of Norfolk, Virginia, Alafeya Bailey of Newport News, Virginia Anwarna and Carlos Zamora of Newport News, Virginia, step-children Frank Jr, Maurice, Arnold, Elaine, Tess, eight grandchildren; Leah, Dequana, Montai, Alvin, Aurianna, Amari, Ayanni, Adriana, Jada, and LJ; one great-granddaughter; her brothers Teyd Jamison of Trenton New Jersey, and brother and sister in law Clarence and Saundra Jamison of Houston Texas; one God-daughter, Tracnetta Washington; nieces, nephews, a host of other relatives, and friends.
Demetria Bannister, 28
Died September 7, 2020.
Windsor Elementary School, Columbia, SC
Third Grade Teacher
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Funeral services for a Midlands mother and her daughter were held Saturday after the two women died of coronavirus weeks apart.
A remembrance for Shirley and Demetria Bannister was held at Bible Way Church of Atlas Road.
“Our hearts are broken forever; tears have been falling for so long,” Dennis Bell, one of their family members said. “When we think of your beautiful faces, it all seems so wrong.”
Bell joined a number of other loved ones to speak on the lives of Shirley and Demetria Bannister before a masked audience, spaced apart for social distancing.
“Nothing is the same now and we doubt it ever will be,” Bell said.
Demetria, known as “Demi” among her colleagues, was a third-grade teacher considered the “life of the hallway” at Windsor Elementary in Columbia.
“I can honestly tell you that she was one of the most passionate people and she had a purpose and… her purpose was children,” Windsor Principal Denise Quickel said.
Demetria’s mother Shirley was an educator and a nurse who led the Midlands Technical College (MTC) nursing department for the past seven years.
“She remained humbled; she remained committed to students; she remained committed to service,” MTC President Ronald Rhames said.
Now that two women have been laid to rest, family and friends are trying to find hope in the pain.
“If there is a silver lining in any of this, and I believe there is, it is that Shirley and Demetria are back together again,” St. Mark Baptist Church Pastor Secaida Howell said.
An upcoming MTC blood drive was named in honor of Shirley Bannister for her service to the Red Cross and efforts to help the organization increase blood donations.