Johnnie Lovelace Obituary

SUMTER — Johnnie Eugene Lovelace, 78, husband of Eva Nell Hyatt Lovelace, died Wednesday, March 5, 2008 at the Tuomey Regional Medical Center.

Born in Gaston, North Carolina, he was a son of the late Oliver Sullivan Lovelace and the late Cora Jane Brown Lovelace.

Mr. Lovelace was a retired Corrections Office with the State Reform School. He was of the Baptist faith.

Surviving is his wife of Sumter; four sons, Douglas Lovelace and wife Janie, Wayne Lovelace and wife Tammie, all of Timmonsville, Donald Lovelace and wife Ann of Sumter, Johnnie Lovelace and wife Carla of Latta; four daughters, Diane Felder and husband Willard, Mary Hice and husband Danny, Martha Kelly and husband Michael, all of Sumter, Brenda Driggers and husband Willie, of Bishopville; a brother, Bill Lovelace of Fayetteville, NC; four sisters, Ida Payne and Elizabeth Brown of Sumter, Rachael McKenzie of Florence, Betty Lou Radcliffe of Summerville; 24 grandchildren; and 23 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by a brother, Weldon Lovelace.

Funeral services will be held at 2 P.M. Friday in the Chapel of the Elmore Hill McCreight Funeral Home with the Rev. John Baughn officiating.

Burial will be in the Byrd Cemetery in Timmonsville.

Grandsons will serve as Pallbearers.

The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 P.M. Thursday at the Elmore Hill McCreight Funeral Home and other times at the home of his daughter, Mary Hice, 10 Haile Street.

Special thanks is given to the staff at Sumter Health & Rehabilitation, East Building, South Wing for taking such loving care of Mr. Lovelace.

Memorials may be made to the National Parkinson Foundation, Office of Development, 1501 NW 9th Avenue, Bob Hope Road, Miami, FL 33136-1494.

On-line condolences may be sent to www.sumterfunerals.com.

Elmore Hill McCreight Funeral Home & Crematory, 221 Broad Street, Sumter is in charge of the arrangements (803) 775-9386.