Gussie Thames Sr.

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ALCOLU — Deacon Gussie Thames Sr., 78, husband of Evangelist Dorothy Gray Stukes Thames, died Wednesday, April 9, 2014, at his home, 6636 Sumter Highway in Alcolu.

Born May 1, 1935, in Manning, he was a son of the late Daniel K. "DK" Ruth Pearson Thames. He attended Clarendon County public schools, and was a member of Elizabeth Missionary Baptist Church in Manning. He was an ordained deacon there, and a member of the Six Gospellets of Summerton. He retired from the state Department of Transportation after more than 30 years of employment.

Survivors are his wife, Dorothy Gray Thames of the home; five sons, Richard Thames of Jacksonville, Fla., Gussie (Tomeka) Thames Jr., William (Shirley) Thames, James Edward “Tony” Thames and McArthur (Rochelle) Thames, all of Manning; two brothers, Willis (Naomi) Thames and Daniel (Gloria) Thames, both of Manning; three sisters, Annie Mae Graham of Greenville, Francina (John) Wright of Irmo and Mamie Ruth (Richard) Dinkins of Rochester, N.Y.; sister-in-law, Helen Thames of Boston, Mass.; four additional sisters-in-law; mother-in-law, Martha Stukes of Brooklyn, N.Y.; a granddaughter reared as his own, Shrock Thames; eight additional grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

Celebratory services for Deacon Gussie Thames will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday at Elizabeth Missionary Baptist Church, 4829 Alex Harvin Highway in Manning, with the Rev. Terry Johnson, pastor, officiating, and the Rev. William T. Johnson, the Rev. Ashley Vaughn and the Rev. Eugene Thomas assisting. Burial will follow in the churchyard cemetery.

Deacon Thames will lie in repose one hour prior to funeral time.

The family is receiving friends at the residence.

These services have been entrusted to Samuels Funeral Home LLC of Manning.