Lee Gifford

Leland E. “Lee” Gifford, 79, of Newberry died Saturday, May 21, 2011 at his residence.

Born on August 27, 1931, in Oxford, Arkansas, he was a son of the late Joel Thomas and Leona Dawn Campbell Gifford. He was a United States Navy Veteran of the Korean Conflict, serving on the U.S.S. Thompson. He retired from CF Industries after 40 years of service, and served on the National Safety Council for the fertilizer industry. Mr. Gifford was a member of the First Baptist Church of Newberry where he was a member and teacher of the Adelphian /Fellowship Sunday School class for 14 years and was a former Deacon. He was a Gideon for 43 years. He was a master gardener and loved sharing his roses, tomatoes, and okra with his friends and neighbors.

He is survived by his wife, Velma Davidson Gifford; a son, Carl Lynn Gifford of Sparland, IL; a daughter Darlene G. McLeod and her husband, Eddie of Kinards; a sister, Reba Sorrells of Tyler, TX; brothers, Glenn Gifford of Memphis, TN, and Dorwin Gifford of Brookland, AR; and the joy of his life his two grandchildren, Elizabeth McLeod and Bobby McLeod.

A memorial service will be conducted at 2:00 PM Thursday, May 26, 2011 at The First Baptist Church of Newberry by the Rev. Dr. Kenneth W. Harmon. The interment with military honors will be held at 11:00 A.M. Thursday in Rosemont Cemetery. The family will receive friends Wednesday evening from 6:00 until 8:00 PM at the McSwain-Evans Funeral Home. Memorials may be made to Gideons International, P.O. Box 795, Newberry, SC 29108 or to First Baptist Church of Newberry, 1020 Boundary Street, Newberry, SC 29108.

Active pallbearers: Bryan Bedenbaugh, Ben Blanton, Yancy Garrison, Michael Huggins, Max Pickelsimer, Bob Shuler, Billye West II and Sam Woods

Honorary pallbearers: Members of the Newberry Gideons Camp and the Adelphian/Fellowship Sunday School Class

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