Reverend Thomas LaFar Burgess Jr.

Reverend Thomas LaFar Burgess Jr., 80, husband of the late Arlene Schroeder Burgess, died Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2012, at Clarendon Memorial Hospital.

Born April 18, 1932, in Baxley, Ga., he was the son of the late Thomas LaFar Burgess Sr. and the late Annie Mae McGrady Burgess. He was a U.S. Air Force veteran, former owner and operator of Manning Milling Company, past camp manager for Camp Harmony Presbyterian Church Camp, retired minister of Summerton Southern Methodist Church, he was a Clarendon County volunteer fireman, and served as chaplain for the Clarendon County Fire Department.

He is survived by a son, Thomas LaFar Burgess III and wife Donna of Greeleyville; four daughters, Marie Evans and husband Larry of Florence, Mary Horne and husband James, and Lily Bryant and husband Thomas, all of Greeleyville, and Tommasine Watkins and husband Michael of Bishopville; a sister, Mary Lily Gamble of Sumter; 14 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.

A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 18, 2012, in the chapel of Stephens Funeral Home in Manning with Rev. Pat Goodwin officiating. Burial will follow in Brewington Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Carter Jones, Dale Hodge, Glenn Costello, Robert Pegram, Michael Ard and James Lee Mahoney. Honorary pallbearers will be members of Clarendon County Fire Department.

Visitation will be 6-8 p.m. Friday at Stephens Funeral Home and other times at the residence, 2240 Coleman Road, Greeleyville.

Memorials may be made to Ministerial Retirement Program, c/o Andy Weeks, P.O. Box 746, Barnwell, S.C. 29812.

Stephens Funeral Home & Crematory, 304 N. Church St., Manning, is in charge of arrangements.