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IN MEMORY

 

Willie N. "Billy" Cooper III

9/15/48 - 6/24/09

Willie N. Cooper, III "Billy" SUMMERVILLE - Willie N. "Billy" Cooper, III, 60, of Summerville, SC, retired vice-president and co-owner of Tri-County Ice & Fuel Company, entered into eternal rest Sunday morning in a local hospital. His funeral will be 11:00 AM Wednesday morning, June 24, 2009, in the CHAPEL OF DIAL-MURRAY FUNERAL HOME, MONCKS CORNER. Friends may call at the funeral home from 6:00 until 8:00 PM Tuesday evening. Flowers will be accepted or memorials may be made to the Harristown Road Baptist Church, 2953 Harristown Rd., St. Stephen, SC 29479. Billy was born September 15, 1948, in Williamsburg County, SC, a son of Willie N. "Bill" Cooper, Jr., and Catherine Hicks Cooper. He was a member of the Harristown Road Baptist Church in St. Stephen, he formerly served as president of the Southern Ice Exchange, and he was a past member of the National Ice Association. Billy was also a former Mason and Shriner as well as Past Master of Solomon's Lodge #1 AFM. He was formerly married to Janet Mangum Cooper. His hobby and love of baseball led him to coaching Little League in West Ashley and St. Stephen. Billy was also a US Navy veteran and served in Vietnam. Surviving are his wife, Virginia Hoffman Cooper; his mother of Summerville; two sons, Brian Cooper and Keenan Cooper, both of Summerville; two step daughters, Renee Caddell and her husband, Tommy, of St. Stephen and Heidi Butler and her husband, Gary, of Garner, NC; two sisters, Gloria Prindle and her husband, Bill, of Atlanta and Patty Dent and her husband, David, of Johns Island; three grandsons, Jordan Cooper, Riley Cooper, and Cade Cooper; a granddaughter, Morgan Cooper; two step grandchildren, Casey Caddell and Connor Butler; and several nieces and nephews. Online condolences may be sent to the family via www.dial-murrayfuneralhome.com. Visit our guestbook at www.postandcourier.com/deaths

 

 

MILFORD W. SEARS Jr.

1922-2006

Milford Wilson Sears Jr., 84, husband of Kathleen Griffin Sears for 65 years, died Friday, Oct. 6, 2006, at Tuomey Regional Medical Center.

Born in Edison, Ga., he was the son of the late Milford Wilson Sears and the late Eddie Dean Smith Sears.

Mr. Sears retired from Sifco Industries in 1985 with 43 years of service, at which time he was the president and CEO. Upon his retirement, he remained active in the ice industry as Secretary/Treasurer of the Southern Ice Exchange until 2004. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II in the 165th Engineer Combat Battalion (European Theater of Operations) and was a member of American Legion Post 15 and Grace Baptist Church.

Surviving are his wife; two sons, Milford W. "Mick" Sears III of Sumter and Donald Alexander Sears, and wife, Cathie, of Columbia; a daughter, Sandra S. Coleman, and husband, Gerald, of Hilton Head; six grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Mr. Sears was preceded in death by a son, Robert Leroy Sears; four brothers; and three sisters.
 

WE WILL MISS YOU!!

 

In Memory

Mike Thomas

Southern Ice

 
Michael L. Thomas

 The Southern Ice Exchange and the IPIA has lost a long time supporter of our organizations.  Mr. Mike Thomas passed away on June 22,2007.  He will be missed by everyone in our industry.  All thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends.

Mike Thomas became owner and President of N.C. Frozen Foods, Inc. T/A Southern Ice Company in 1990. The Company is composed of an ice business in Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina and an ice business in Plymouth, North Carolina he has owned since 1988.

Mike served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Southern Fuel Oils, Inc. from 1982 until 1992, previously serving as that companies President since 1978, after joining the company 6 years earlier in sales. During his tenure he expanded that company from a Virginia based petroleum distributor into ice manufacturing in 1986 and dairy distribution in 1990. That company sold its ice business in 1992.

Thomas a native of Richmond, Virginia, received an undergraduate degree in business from the University of South Carolina in 1972. He served in the United States Marine Corps from 1968 to 1970.

 

Dorothy Conley Stover

 

At age 72 completed her journey on this planet and left for her heavenly reward this 16th day of June, in the year of our Lord 2008. She was a devoted member of the First United Methodist Church in Prestonsburg.  Dorothy Ann was born on December 6th 1935 in Williamson, West Virginia. She was known to all as a kind and gentle soul with just a dash of mischievous humor. She could always be counted for a kind word or helping hand to anyone whether it be friend, family member, or even a stranger.  Her greatest love in life was her husband Jess, together they have set a loving example of what a life lived in love and with a love of Christ should be.  She graduated from West Virginia Tech in 1958, with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism.  In her time on this earth she was an educator, entrepreneur, and homemaker. Dorothy was a former president of the Highlands Regional Medical Center Auxiliary and served willingly in other church, civic and social organizations. Dorothy was preceded in death by her parents, George Thomas and Lola Davis Conley.  We are bereaved, but we are comforted in knowing that Dorothy is with Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in Heaven. We cannot help but praise him for the precious gift that was her life.  She is survived by her beloved husband, Jess, a daughter Leann (Robert) Rodgers, a son Tommy, and three grandchildren Sarah, Katie, and Thomas Rodgers of Frankfort, Kentucky. She is also survived by her sister Betty Conley Campbell of Yadkinville, North Carolina, and many beloved nieces and nephews. Pallbearers are Clark Allison, Tom Blackburn, James Butcher, Dave Calhoun, Eddie Clark, Romeo Delrosario, Kent Dingus, Danny Hamilton, Doug Herman, John Hill, Jay Matheny, Raffy Piedad, Tom Smith, Tony Tramber, Gary Wright and Ron Wright. Visitation will be at the Carter Funeral Home from 5 to 9 pm on Wednesday June 18th and a celebration of her life will be held on Thursday June 19th at the First United Methodist Church in Prestonsburg at 11 a.m. In lieu of flowers memorials may be sent to the First United Methodist Church Building Fund of Prestonsburg, Kentucky.