Earnestine J. Boatright

Earnestine Johnson Boatright died Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2007, at Tuomey Regional Medical Center.

Born Jan. 3, 1940, in the Bloomville section of Clarendon County, she was the stepdaughter of Letha Hilton.

She received her education in the public schools of Clarendon County. She was a member of St. John Baptist Church, Bloomville section of Manning, where she was a member of the senior choir, missionary and pastor’s aide boards.

She is survived by her husband, Frederick Boatright of the home; two daughters, Ruth Ann (Kenneth) Clark and Lillian (Harold) Bradley, both of Manning; three sons, Willie James (Delores) Johnson and Stanley (Ingrid) Boatright, both of Manning, and Frederick Boatright Jr. of Seattle, Wash.; stepmother, Letha Hilton of Springfield, Ill.; five sisters, Annie Dell Jackson of Sumter, Willie Mae Pringle of Manning, Rhuenette (Harold) Ragin and Alicestine (Eugene) Watson, both of Sumter, and Lillian Wilson of Brooklyn, N.Y.; one brother, Joe (Annette) Thompson of Sumter; two stepsisters, Vicki Nordin of Springfield and Mazel T. York of Manning; two stepbrothers, Gregory Felder of California and Henry Thompson of Manning; an aunt reared as a special sister, Lilia (Johnnie) Plowden of Manning; father-in-law, Acie Boatright of Columbia; 14 grandchildren; six step-grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by a son, Neimiah; a grandmother who reared her, Leila Johnson; a brother, Harry L. Wilson; and a sister, Chinese W. Simon.

Funeral services were held on Monday, Aug. 20, 2007, at Mount Chapel Missionary Baptist Church in Manning, with the Rev. Carnell Witherspoon, pastor, the Rev. David Pugh, eulogist, assisted by the Revs. David Lawson, Ruth Pugh and Effie Hilton.

Burial followed in the St. Matthews Cemetery in Manning.

Samuels Funeral Home LLC of Manning was in charge of the arrangements.