James D. Wingard

James Davis “Dee” Wingard, age 76, was born Nov. 24, 1930, and died on Thursday, March 29, 2007, in a Florence hospital after an illness.

Mr. “Dee” was born in a shack at Sparkleberry Logging Camp on the hill of Santee River Swamp in the Parker community of Orangeburg County. In January 1931, his family moved to the Town of Turbeville to the Pope House on Pope Street.

He was a charter member of the Turbeville Southern Methodist Church and a trustee of the Turbeville School. He went to work for Wingard and Coker Gin, Saw Mill and Farm Service, where he worked the sawmill, firing the boiler to saw lumber. He also ran the cotton gin, as operator and manager.

He helped start the volunteer fire department in Turbeville, serving as assistant chief and later served as chief. In January 1957, he drove to Michigan to pick up the first fire truck for the Turbeville Volunteer Fire Department. He served two terms on the State Fireman’s Board.

He served on Clarendon County Farm Bureau Board for many years. He went into the trucking business hauling farm supplies, grain, cotton and tobacco. He was an avid gardener and loved to share his produce with family and friends. He joined the Airstream Club Coastal Unit No. 150 in 1996 and Camping of the Carolinas. He was a Mason and member of Fidelity Lodge No. 394.

He was preceded in death by his father and mother, George Henry Wingard and Ila Eleanor Coker Wingard: and three brothers, Harry “Jiggs” Wingard, Jack Wingard and Loren Wingard.

He is survived by his wife, Mary Lee Morris Wingard; two daughters, Candee Wingard (Ronnie) Buddin and Mary Dee Wingard (Larry) Youngblood; three grandchildren, Dustin and Jamie Buddin and Devyn Wingard Youngblood; and three step-grandchildren, Kasey Buddin Holmes, Stevie Buddin and Kara Youngblood.

Funeral services were held on Saturday, March 31, 2007, at the Turbeville Southern Methodist Church.

Burial followed in the church cemetery.

Memorials may be made to the Free Will Baptist Children’s Home, P.O. Box 229, Turbeville, S.C. 29162.

Floyd Funeral Home of Olanta was in charge of the arrangements.