Elder Warren E. Hatcher died Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2014, at the Medical University of South Carolina hospital in Charleston.
Born Jan. 26, 1942, in Clarendon County, he was a son of the late Rev. Frank and Mary Green Hatcher. He graduated from Manchester High School and received a bachelor of science degree from Morris College.
He accepted Jesus Christ as his personal Savior early in life, becoming a member of Antion RMUE Church. He was employed with Yuasa Exide, the federal building and retired from Wateree Correctional Institution.
Elder Hatcher was the pastor of numerous churches, including St. Luke RMUE of Pinewood; Mt. Olive RMUE of Hardeeville; Greater St. Phillip RMUE of Pinewood; and Jerusalem RMUE of Charleston. He was also later presiding elder of the Sumter District.
He was the general secretary of missions of the RMUE Church, a Masonic brother of Silver Lodge No. 35 and sang with several local quartet groups from the Pinewood and Sumter communities.
During his time as a faithful member of the Palmetto Gospel Singers, he wrote and recorded “When I Get to Heaven.”
Survivors include five daughters, Miranda (Ronnie) Davis-Choice and Torwana Washington, both of Sumter, Wanda Davis-Bender of Morrow, Ga., Lorena Hatcher of Columbia and Michelle Hatcher of Atlanta, Ga.; three sons, James Nelson of Rimini, Dallas (Sandra) Webber of Baltimore, Md., and Maury Hatcher of San Diego, Calif.; four brothers, Marion (Gloria) Hatcher of Columbia, Marvin (Monica) Hatcher of York, Va., Presiding Elder Amos (Bert) Hatcher of Summerton and Michael Hatcher of Rimini; three sisters, Ethel (Sam) Bennett of Tobyhanna, Pa., and Marie (Earl) Milton and Elder Sarah (Isaiah) Bennett, both of Rimini; 14 grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; a special niece, Sanaah Reed; and a number of other nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by two brothers, Dan and Charlie Hatcher; and a sister, Frances Hatcher.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 6, 2014, in the Scott's Branch High School gymnasium, 9253 Alex Harvin Highway in Summerton, with the Rev. William Green presiding, and Bishop William Polite Jr. as eulogist.
The family will receive friends and relatives at the home, 1118 M. Hatcher Road in Pinewood.
The casket will be placed in the church at noon.
The procession will leave at 1:20 p.m. from the home.
Minister's wives, the RMUE District ladies and Antioch RMUE Church will serve as floral attendants.
Elder Amos Hatcher, Brother Michael Hatcher, the Rev. Ronald Wine, Brother Marion Hatcher, Brother Steven Alston and the Rev. Bobby Keeton will serve as active pallbearers.
General officers of the Reformed Methodist Union Episcopal Church will serve as honorary pallbearers.
Burial will be in the Antioch UME Church Memorial Gardens, Governor Richardson Road in Pinewood.
Online memorial messages may be sent to the family at williamsfuneralhome@sc.rr.com. Visit us on the web at www.williamsfuneralhomeinc.com.
Services are being directed by the management and staff of Williams Funeral Home Inc., 821 N. Main St. in Sumter.
