RIMINI - Dargan Pinckney Elliott Jr., 88, husband of Dorothy "Dot" Evans Elliott, died Wednesday, May 7, 2014.
Born in Irvington, Va., he was a son of the late Dargan P. Elliott Sr. and Margaret Mason Elliott. He lived in Irvington as a young child until the family moved permanently to Rimini. He remained in Rimini the rest of his life.
He graduated from Pinewood High School, where he was valedictorian of his senior class. He joined the Army Air Corp during World War II shortly after graduation.
After the war ended, Dargan Pinckney Elliott Jr. returned home to his father on the family farm and continued to farm until he retired.
He was a member of Pinewood Baptist Church, where he served as Sunday school superintendent for 46 years. He also taught Sunday school and training union classes through the years. He served as deacon of the church for more than 50 years and was named deacon emeritus in 2012.
He labored untiringly in helping to construct the church gymnasium. He trained and was a member of the South Carolina Baptist Disaster Team. As long as his health permitted, he traveled to many locations after disasters struck and helped in any way he could. The most notable locations were New York City after Sept. 11 and El Salvador after an earthquake.
He, his wife and daughter traveled to St. Thomas in the U. S. Virgin Islands on a mission trip as well. He was a Trustee of Clarendon Hall School for 25 years. He was known for the barbecue he helped cook for many Clarendon Hall fundraisers. He was a member of the Pinewood Lions Club as long as his health permitted. He was also a past member of Pinewood American Legion Post No. 117 and currently a member of Summerton American Legion Post No. 35. He was a loving and devoted husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather.
He and his wife were “Honey” to each other and always looked forward to the many trips they made. One of the highlights of their travels was Dargan reading to their tour group from the book of Revelation while in the cave on Patmos where John was in exile. Dargan always looked forward to family gatherings and was proud of all of his family and their accomplishments. He enjoyed fishing and spent many happy hours on the lake. Wherever he went, if there was water nearby and it could be arranged, he fished.
Survivors besides his loving wife of 56 years include a daughter, Kathy E. (L.A.) Powell; two sons, Dargan P. (Wende) Elliott III and Ray (Melanie) Elliott; five grandchildren, Starr. R. (Michael) Jordan, Brian Elliott, Mason (Mallory) Elliott and Kade and Kole Elliott; two stepgranddaughters, April (Chris) Glover and Andrea (Paul) Fulk; four great-grandchildren; five step-great-grandchildren; a sister, Margaret E. King; a brother, William "Billy" L. (Lillian) Elliott; a brother-in-law, Carlton (Pat) Evans; a niece; and several nephews.
The family would like to thank special caregivers Bertha Briggs, Yvonne Dow and Della Lee for their faithful and compassionate care. They would also like to thank the staff of Embrace Hospice for the care and support they have given. Special thanks, also, to Dr. Robert S. Eagerton, Dr. John Wells III, Dr. Raymond Dominici and Dr. Vijay Pinto.
A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, May 9, 2014, at Pinewood Baptist Church with Rev. Bennie Barwick and Rev. Sim Smith officiating. Burial will follow in Elliott Family Cemetery in Pinewood.
Grandsons will serve as pallbearers: Brian, Mason, Kade and Kole Elliott, Michael Jordan, Chris Glover and Paul Fulk.
Honorary pallbearers will be all ordained Deacons of Pinewood Baptist Church and the Summerton Diner Breakfast Club.
Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Stephens Funeral Home and other times at the residence, 8505 Camp MacBoykin Road in Pinewood.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Pinewood Baptist Church Library Fund, P. O. Box 176, Pinewood, S. C. 29125; Clarendon Hall School, P. O. Box 609, Summerton, S. C. 29148, or to the Elliott Cemetery Fund, c/o Miriam Johnson, 2430 Tearcoat Rd., Alcolu, S. C. 29001.
Stephens Funeral Home & Crematory, 304 N. Church St., Manning, is in charge of arrangements, (803) 435-2179.
