Obituaries

Susan Pearson Branton, 56, of Conway passed away on Monday, Dec. 17, 2018, following an illness. Mrs. Branton was born on Aug. 19, 1962, in Arlington, Va., to the late James Ellis Ferguson and the late Christa Helena Collins Ferguson. Mrs. Branton was a truck driver with the CB handle, “Blondie”, for over 40 years. Survivors include her husband, James H. Branton of Loris; step-son, Joshua James Branton of Conway and many aunts, uncles and family in Virginia. Visitation was held on Wednesday, Dec. 19, from 6 until 8 p.m. at Hardwick Funeral Home. Funeral services were held at 2 …

Betty L. Batten, 70, of Little River passed away on Saturday, Dec. 22, 2018. She was born on July 26, 1948, in Wilmington, N.C., the daughter of the late Paul C. and Lula White Batten. Betty graduated from Myrtle Beach High School and Columbia Business College. She retired from the Horry County School System as a teacher’s assistant to special needs children. Surviving are her children, James D. “Dusty” Batten and wife Melissa, Jenny Lynn Suggs and husband Philip, her brother, Paul C. “Cameron” Batten Jr. and wife Marsha, and six grandchildren, Austin, Brady, Abigail, Taylor, James and Preston. Also …

Gladys Lee Duncan Cooper, 95, of Loris, wife of the late Rufus Jefferson Cooper, died on Wednesday, Dec. 26, 2018. Mrs. Cooper was born in Loris, a daughter of the late Doctor Buren and Rosa Lee Todd Duncan. She was a member of Pleasant Grove Baptist Church. Mrs. Cooper was also predeceased by a daughter, Lynda C. Lee Creek, and three brothers, Franklin Duncan, A. J. Duncan and Earl Duncan. Surviving are one son, Gary R. Cooper Sr. (Mary) of Charleston; one daughter, Martha C. Boyd of Loris; six grandchildren, Gary R. Cooper Jr. (Lisa), Robin Cooper, William Creek (Stephanie), …

Jack Irvin Eargle, 86, of Conway passed away on Saturday, Dec. 22, 2018, at Grand Strand Regional Medical Center in Myrtle Beach surrounded by his loving family. He was born on July 16, 1932, in Atlanta ,Ga., a son of the late John Irvin and Lena Singletary Eargle. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by one brother, Raymond Eargle; and two sisters, Frances Kolb and Johnnie Thomas. Mr. Eargle served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. He was a loving husband, father, paw paw, brother and friend. He enjoyed fishing, keeping his yard manicured and working …

Wallace Cannon, 86, of Conway passed away on Monday, Dec. 17, 2018. Mr. Cannon was born in Horry County, a son of the late Gurley M. and Arlene C. Cannon. He was predeceased by his wife of 63 years, Hazel P. Cannon. Survivors include his son, Lanny Cannon (Diane) of Conway; three granddaughters, Lana Backus (Stacey), Lindsey Plyler (Brandan) and Cara James (Taylor), all of Conway; two special great-grandchildren, Jase James and Annabelle Plyler, both of Conway; three brothers, Olease Cannon (Sara) of Phenix City, Ala., and Dennie Cannon and Windle Cannon (Jane), all of Conway; one sister, Arlo Mishoe …

Margaret “Maggie” Hiott Roth, 55, of Loris passed away on Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2018. Mrs. Roth was born in Columbia, a daughter of Barbara Horton Register and the late David E. Hiott. She worked in the banking industry for over 30 years beginning with South Carolina National and ending her career with Wells Fargo. She was a member of St. John United Methodist Church in Columbia. She was involved in the Loris community and always had a passion for youth sports. Mrs. Roth was a devoted and loving wife, mother, daughter and sister. She is survived by her husband, Brett …

Andrew H. “Drew” Lawson Jr., 82, of Sunset Beach,d N.C., passed away peacefully on Monday, Dec. 10, 2018. Born on April 13, 1936 and raised in Wynnewood, Pa., he was the son of the late Andrew H. Lawson Sr. and Margaret Giberson Lawson. Drew was preceded in death by his parents and sisters, Patricia Ford and Barbara Bird. He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Nancy Ahlgren Lawson of Sunset Beach, and two sons, Andrew H. Lawson III and wife Mary Lawson of Malvern, Pa., and their sons, Thaddeus and Quintin and Christopher A. Lawson and wife Patricia …

Johnny T. Harper, 73, of North Myrtle Beach died on Monday, Dec. 10, 2018, at home with his daughter at his side. Born on Dec. 29, 1944, in Blacksburg, he was the son of the late Johnny O. and Mamie Martin Harper. Mr. Harper is survived by his daughter, Lynn “Missy” Harper. He was predeceased by his wife, Linda K. Harper, and sister, Patricia McAbee. A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, March 16, 2019, at 416 3rd Ave. S. in North Myrtle Beach. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Jude’s, P.O. Box 1000, …

Patricia “Pati” Ciccone, 63, of Little River died on Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2018, surrounded by the love of her family. Pati was born in Brooklyn, N.Y., the daughter of Philip and Marie (Hentschel) Gorden. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Michael, and her brother, Philip. Pati is survived by her daughter, Erin Ciccone Graham, son-in-law Buddy and her granddaughter, Lennon, whom she loved dearly. She also leaves behind her sisters, Denise Karadin of Palm City, Fla., and Maureen Hart of Long Beach, N.Y., nieces, nephew and countless friends. After moving to South Carolina …

The Lord decided to take His under sheppard, the Rev. Ronald Woodrow Ward of Conway, home to glory on Friday, Dec. 14, 2018. Born on Jan. 25, 1944, in Loris, he was the son of the late Eugene Vance Ward and the late Thelma Sawyer Ward. At a very young age, the Reverend Ward, as he would come to be known, began delivering papers for Atlantic Publishing Company. He went on to work for many years as a salesman of paper products before starting his own company, Loris Paper & Chemicals. He was a devout pastor at Mt. Tabor Baptist …