Memorials
Walter Oscar "Pete" Mobley
Son of the late Bennie Hamp and Douschika Christie Mobley, was born on March 8, 1943, in Saluda County, SC. He departed this life on Friday morning, July 20, 2012.
He received his education in the public schools of Saluda County where he graduated from Riverside High School in 1960. He furthered his education by attending Benedict College in Columbia, SC.
At an early age, he joined the Pleasant Hill Baptist Church where he was the president of the Brotherhood. He served his country during the Vietnam Conflict by serving in the U.S. Army. He was the first black Deputy Sheriff for Saluda County and he retired from Aiken County Sheriff Office as Chief of Narcotics. His civic involvement includes the County Transportation Board, VFW Post 6561 and Pearl Chapel Masonic Lodge.
Pete was married to the former Ruby Jean Turner and the father of three children - O'Keefe Mobley, Juan Mobley, and Kenneth Chapman. Pete's hobbies were fishing and hunting. He will be dearly missed by all who knew and loved him.
Johnie Franklin Barnes
Of Pleasantville, passed away on December 23, 2012. He was born February 13, 1923, in Saluda, South Carolina. The first of five children born to Johnie and Emma Barnes. He graduated from Saluda Rosenwald High School. He joined the Rock Hill Baptist Church at the age of 12. He spent a lot of his life singing and playing God's Praises.
After his graduation, he moved north, to Pleasantville, NJ, in 1983, where he joined Mt. Pleasant Church. He was a member and served as president of Mt. Pleasant Male Chorus. He was also a member and President of Shiloh Baptist Church, in Egg Harbor City.
Johnie was married to the late Alma(Cady) Barnes. He leaves to cherish his memories five children, 14 grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren, and one great-great granddaughter.
Shirley Delores (Holston) Jackson
On Monday, August 16, 2004, Shirley Delores (Holston) Jackson peacefully went home to Glory. Shirley was born in Washington, DC on August 9, 1946 to Rosa Lee Holston Mims and the late Johnie Otis Holston. Shirley, the oldest of 4 children, along with her brother Otis and sisters Jean and Carolyn were raised by Rosa Lee and her husband Otis Mims. During her childhood, Shirley spent her summer vacations visiting family in Neward and Garfield, NJ.
After attending grade school in DC, Shirley went to NY to graduate from high school and attend college. While in NY, she became very interested in the entertainment industry. Shirley returned to DC to marry childhood friend Winston "Bill" Jackson. From this union, they raised 4 beautiful children, Denise, Winston, Tina and Billy Dee. As a devoted Catholic, Shirley volunteered with her church family at Mt. Calvary Catholic Church. She was involved in many community programs and civic organizations, as well as volunteered her time to work on various local polital campaigns. She was also a member of the Ladies Auxillary of the American Legion Post 275 and the Veteran of Foreign War Post 482. Shirley was always a welcoming person and lived each moment to the fullest. Shirley is survived by a host of family and friends she reached out to along her life's journey.
"God grant me the Serenity to accept the things I cannot change, Courage to change the things I can and Wisdom to know the difference.”
Winston Sterling Jackson
Was called to the Lord's side on Saturday, January 8, 2011, after a courageous battle with a long-term illness. Sterling was born in Washington, DC on July 21, 1970 to the late Shirley (Holston) Jackson and Winston "Bill" Jackson.
He was the oldest boy of Shirley's four children. During his elementary and middle school years, Sterling spent his childhood living with his grandmother, Jessie T. Jackson in Temple Hills, MD. He attended Duke Ellington School of the Arts and later joined the United States Air Force.
Sterling was the biggest technology buff and believed in perfection in anything he worked on, especially his picture taking! To many of his friends, he was known as "The Picture Man." Sterling always said that a picture was worth more than a lifetime of words and one only had to see the amount of pictures that Sterling had to know that he captured a lifetime of memories for us all.
Sterling worked at Patton Boggs LLP law firm until illness caused him to take short-term and eventually long-term leave. Sterling started as the Graphic Web Designer and soared to Creative Manager! Sterling loved his job and his co-workers many of whom he had developed long-term friendships with. Working long hours on projects until they were perfect was his passion and everyone knew he'd turn out quality work, always going the extra mile. When Sterling wasn't working on Patton Boggs' assignments, he was printing flyers, maintaining websites, and creating wedding programs, obituaries, birthday poster boards, photo shoots, etc. He enjoyed traveling, playing cards, listening to music, dancing and being silly, and ALWAYS smiling.
Sterling was an advocate of the Annual Aids Walk, the Annual Breast Cancer Walk and the Annual Homeless Walk. He and his family sponsored and fully participated in an Annual Clothe The Homeless Drive. Anyone who knew that he had one true love and that was his trusted sidekick Jack, his Jack Russell Terrier, who Sterling found and adopted as his own child.
Jean Johnson - Arrington
Royal Jean Johnson-Arrington was an AMAZING Mother, Grandmother, Great-grandmother, Sister, Daughter, Wife and Friend. She wanted her life to speak for her and for us to keep it short. So in short, our mother was passionate and devoted to her family, career and community. Friends also describe her as ambitious, inspirational, dedicated, tenacious, courageous and feisty.
Caring for others was our mom’s way of life, an ethos that fueled a nursing career spanning over 50 years. Her passion for nursing was so profound that it took her three attempts to “retire” from it. Even then she would not idle, but instead devoted her time to learning, teaching and serving others. Not only was our mom gifted with a servant’s heart, she was gifted with a young heart, frozen in time at 29. Our mom was the epitome of “Work Hard, Play Hard”, and we are grateful for her example of what it means to live well.
Jean, a.k.a. “Ma”, was preceded in death by her parents, Johnnie Holston and Rosa Lee Mims, and older sister, Shirley Jackson. She is survived by her brother Otis (Sarah) Holston and one sister.
Jean’s greatest joy was being a wife, mother and grandmother, and her love will live in the hearts of her husband, Kenneth Arrington, son Calvin (Shawn) Johnson, daughters Loleta Dixon and Jeanette (Gregory) Watkins, and bonus sons Daryl (Juvonna) Arrington, Eugene (Fay) Arrington, Matthew (Shelia) Arrington, 13 Grandchildren, 5 Great-grandchildren, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, extended family and friends.
“She watches over the affairs of her household…Her children arise and call her blessed…” Proverbs 31:27-28
Winston “Bill” Jackson
On Monday, May 5, 2008, Winston “Bill” Jackson gently passed away at Howard University Hospital in Washington, DC and was called to the Lord’s side after a courageous battle with a long-term illness.
Bill was born on January 4, 1944, in Auburn, AL as the only son of Willie and Jessie Tinsley Jackson. Early in Bill’s life, his family, which included his two sisters, Johnnie and Tina, relocated to Washington, DC.
Bill was educated through the Washington, DC Public School System and successfully completed high school with a technical trade as an automotive mechanic. In 1963, Bill’s youngest sister, Dena, was born.
Bill’s journeys in life lead him down many paths. Bill’s love of cars guided him to run several businesses to include auto mechanic shops in Texas and Washington, DC. Considered a “jack of all trades,” Bill did everything in life he wanted to do – from being a disc jockey, owning a Limousine service, traveling all over the United States, to always offering a helping hand and redefining himself. In 1967, Bill married his first wife Shirley Delores Holston and from that union they raised four children, Denise, Winston “Sterling”, Tina and Billy Dee. Bill also had five sons from a previous relationship: Winston “Michael”, Anthony, Morton, Tim and Kevin.
Bill was also very creative as he was a self-taught artist and inspired his children to pursue their dreams and utilize their talents to the fullest. Bill loved his family and strived to be an instrumental part of his children’s lives. He was always there when you needed him. Bill gave of himself to everyone he touched. His exciting spirit and infectious personality shined brightly. He loved to have fun and enjoyed music, dancing, and social events with family and friends. Bill, a strong and determined man, lived his life by the moto, “What will be, will be.”
Lee “Butch” Otus Johnson
Lee “Butch” Otus Johnson was born on August 2, 1943. Butch was the oldest of five children born to the late William Louis Johnson and Willie Mae Jackson. While in the Army, he received multiple award and was a proud Vietnam Veteran. He received an Honorable Discharge from the Army. Butch always brought his charismatic personality to a function where he was indeed the life of the party. He was a hard worker, stubborn and head strong.
Butch leaves to mourn his passing on September 9, 2023; His daughters Leundi “Lee” Malone (Bernard) and Jeanette Watkins (Gregory). Bonus son Calvin Johnson (Shawn) and bonus daughter Loleta Dixon. He is preceded in death by his brothers Fred Jackson and Robert Johnson, his daughter Sandra Owens and his son son and one of his best friends Keith Johnson (Pamela).