Pee Dee Homegoing Services This Week

*Williemae Sanders, April 27, 1927 - February 24, 2023*

Williemae Jacobs Sanders was born April 27th, 1927 in Florence County, South Carolina. Her parents are the late Mack Jacobs and Augusta Davis Jacobs. She was the youngest of four children: Wooster, Hosea and Ethel. Williemae attended Wilson High School and graduated in 1945. She grew up in Cumberland United Methodist Church of Florence, South Carolina.

After graduating, she attended South Carolina State College, where she had interest in education, but rather than complete her undergraduate studies, she chose to put her interests aside in order to help take care of her ailing mother who had suffered from a stroke. However, Williemae did not let this discourage her from following her desires to help children. She eventually began working as the parent coordinator for the local Head Start, which allowed her to serve young children of Florence County.

Williemae met her husband, the late Willis Sanders, Jr, and together they had four children: Jimmie, Rachel, Narcissus and Gloria. Shortly after the birth of their youngest child, Williemae had to endure the death of her husband in 1960. Even though she had four small children left to raise, she knew that with God, she would not have to do it alone. She continued to keep her trust in God and in the end, she was able to witness all four of her children graduate from both high school and college.

In her personal life, not only was she a devoted mother and grandmother, she was also a member of the Cumberland United Methodist Women, Choir #1, a youth Sunday School teacher, Florence Chapter #65 Order of Eastern Stars, Wilson High School Class of 1945 and the Florence American Legion.

Williemae was preceded in death by her parents, Mr. Mack and Augusta Jacobs, her husband Mr. Willis Sanders, Jr.; her three siblings; Mr. Wooster Jacobs, Mr. Hosea Jacobs and Mrs. Ethel Jacobs Peanort. Left to cherish her memory are her children: Rev. Jimmie (Dr. Emily) Jacobs Sanders (Savannah, GA), Ms. Rachel Sanders Dunlap (Greenville, SC), Ms. Narcissus Yvonne Sanders (Greenville, SC) and Mrs. Gloria (Elder Anthony) McCants (Florence, SC); grandchildren: Mr. Thomas M. Dunlap II (Pasadena, CA), Mr. Jeffrey (Dr. Shirleatha) Dunlap (Greenville, SC), Mr. Anthony L. McCants II (Florence, SC), Dr. Alyssa (Jarvis) Scott (Charleston, SC) and Mr. Yakub Sanders (Albany, GA); great-grandchildren: Calysa Woods (Memphis, TN), Tiana Lee (Greenville, SC) and Jada Rose Dunlap (Hartwell, GA); one brother-in-law: David (Daisy) Sanders (Tucson, AZ); special nieces and nephews; Matthew Peanort, Jr. (Hampton, VA), Marie (Arthur) Whittaker (Adelphi, MD), Geneva (Carl) Fennell (Dover, DE), Maxie (Rhonda) Jacobs (Smithfield, VA), Beverly Jacobs (New York City, NY), Patricia Coleman (Killeen, TX), Nathaniel (Velvaline) Sanders, Jr. (Clayton, NC), Dr. Renee (Dr. Bill) Sanders-Lawson (Leland, NC); two adopted families: James and Juanita Thomas (Florence, SC) and James and Marie Wilkes (Florence, SC); very special neighbors: Jessie and Terry Sanders (Florence, SC), Dave Gass and Shirley Smith (Florence, SC), and a host of close family and friends.

Please keep the Sanders family in your thoughts and prayers during their time of bereavement.

Arrangements are entrusted to Ideal Funeral Parlor, Inc.

*Rev. Ethel K. Grinkley, February 21, 2023*

Reverend Ethel K. Grinkley of Florence, South Carolina finished her earthly walk and stepped into the sunset of life on February 21, 2023,. She was a supporter, advocate and the very embodiment of strength and perseverance. Reverend Grinkley held a Bachelor’s degree in English from Johnson C. Smith University - Charlotte, North Carolina and Master’s degree in Guidance from Francis Marion University – Florence, South Carolina.

Bible teaching and preaching, writing poetry, reading and working with families were her passions. Her favorite scripture was Psalm 27:4, “One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to enquire in His temple.” Above all that God allowed her to be and to do, Rev. Grinkley was most appreciative that God allowed her to be His child!

Reverend Grinkley was licensed to preach in 1999 and ordained in 2005. She served on the Ministerial Staff at Friendship Baptist in Darlington, Associate Pastor at Mustard Seed Baptist Church in Bishopville, Darlington Ministerial Alliance and Board Member of Cultural Realism Center.

In June 2016 she retired from a successful 40-year career in public school teaching and administration serving as teacher of English and English as Second Language and Coordinator of Title 1 Curriculum, Parent Involvement, Drug-Free Schools, and Character Education programming in her hometown of Darlington, South Carolina. At the County and State level she sat on many advisory boards for Juvenile Drug Court, Character Council/Character Development Partnership, and South Carolina State Family & Community Engagement Cross-Divisional team. Reverend Grinkley was a member of the Zeta Phi Beta Sorority and a published poet.

In a similar fashion to her education and career, she put her heart and soul into ministry. She worked tirelessly with the Spiritual Life Ministry and Darlington Area Ministerial Association SC, Pee Dee Baptist Association’s Women’s Department, and Intercessory Prayer Committee Kingdom Vision Ministry Women’s Conference. Rev. Grinkley started a Tuesday morning prayer line and in 2019 during COVID she founded “The Place” that continues to meet virtually on Thursday mornings.

Reverend Grinkley loved traveling. Her vacation dream was to dip her toes in the Caribbean Ocean and watch the mountains which she was able to do on numerous vacations. While on vacation she could spend hours watching cruise ships dock and set sail. Family, friends and the community would often request her poetry for special occasions, and she never refused. Leaving her home early to pick up youth for church utilizing her own funds and car was a regular for Rev. Grinkley. Family and friends appreciated her wisdom, prayers and support. Rev. Grinkley’s love for people and her community was evidenced by the fruit of the spirit she displayed daily. Unbeknownst to many she had a beautiful operatic voice that she used at home while cleaning, doing daily chores, and when her spirit was full.

Reverend Grinkley was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Minister Steve Grinkley; two sisters, Mary Lunn and Louiza (Reverend Willie) Lee; and one brother, George Kelly.

Those left to cherish her memory and celebrate her life include her two sons, Joey K. Grinkley (Todd A. Shamy) of Reading, Pennsylvania and Stephen I. Grinkley of Florence, South Carolina; one brother, Eugene Kelly of New Haven, Connecticut; two sisters, Irene Milling (Reverend Cleve Milling) of Florence, South Carolina and Anna Johnson of Columbia, South Carolina as well as a host of sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Reverend Grinkley’s love of God, life, family, friends uplifted and inspired everyone around her. This GoFundMe is to support a charitable organization to continue her works in the community and to establish a scholarship in her honor. Please give. God bless!

The family will receive friends daily from 3 PM - 7 PM at 2154 Woodmore Circle, Florence

Please keep the family of Reverend Ethel K. Grinkley in your thoughts and prayers.

*Ruth Elizabeth Jordan, February 9, 1938 - February 25, 2023*

Mrs. Ruth E. Jordan was the only child born to the late Gladys Watson Williams McDaniel and Charles Ray Williams on February 9, 1938 at Sanders Memorial Hospital in Florence, SC. She answered the Master’s call on Saturday, February 25, 2023 at McLeod Regional Medical Center in Florence, SC.

She received her formal education from the public schools of Florence School District #4. Mrs. Jordan received her Bachelor of Arts Degree from Claflin University and her Master of Arts Degree from Francis Marion University.

She was joined in Holy Matrimony to the late Rev. Boykin B. Jordan on June 3, 1961, and they shared 61 glorious years together. Three children (Boykin Jr., Valerie, and Llewellyn) were born to this loving union.

Mrs. Jordan was a member of the Living Word Baptist Church in Timmonsville, SC of which her late husband founded and pastored until his death. At the time of her death, she served as the Minister of Music at Living Word Baptist Church and wherever else she was needed. She was the President of the St. John Baptist Association Pastors’ Wives Ministry and the Hymn time Leader for the New Hope Union.

*Betty Jean Davis, November 19, 1934 - February 24, 2023*

Mother Betty Jean Davis was 88, and departed this life Friday February 24, in Florence County. She was the mother of Vera Isreal, Marilyn Israel and Karennina Bailey. You may visit the family at 812 Ranch Rd. Florence.

Funeral services are scheduled to be held Saturday March 4, at the Tabernacle AME Church, Marion at 1:00 pm. She will be laid to rest at Devotion Gardens Cemetery, Mullins.

*Ernest Emanuel, September 23, 1954 ~ February 28, 2023*

Brother Ernest Emanuel was 68, and departed this life Tuesday February 28, in Georgetown County. He was the brother of Dave Emanuel, Amos Emanuel, Larry Emanuel, Cathy Rowell and Linda Foxworth. You may visit the family at 1124 Laughlin Rd. Marion.

Funeral services will be held at the St. Stephens Baptist Church on Monday March 6, at 11:00 am. He will be laid to rest at Florence National Cemetery. Services will be live-streamed on the Jackson & McGill Facebook Page.