JAMES RIVERS III
James Rivers III, husband of Lula Coston Rivers, was born on Nov. 25, 1948, in Sumter County, a son of the late James Rivers Jr. and Wilhelminia Jacobs Rivers.
He entered eternal life on Friday, Jan. 19, 2024, at MUSC Fairfield, Winnsboro.
He attended Wayman Chapel AME Church in his youth. Mr. James was educated in the public schools of Sumter County and graduated from Ebenezer High School in 1967. Shortly after graduation, he moved to New York, where he worked at West-End Plaza for many years before returning to South Carolina, where he resided for one year. He married Lula Coston Rivers in 1977 and they returned to New York, where they resided for nine years. They eventually moved to Decatur, Georgia, where he resided until July of 2021. To this union, he was blessed with two stepdaughters, Dana Coston and Hilda Y. Coston.
In addition to his parents and stepdaughter, Hilda Y. Coston, he was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, James Rivers Sr. and Charlotte Haile Rivers; maternal grandparents, Jerry Ricks and Susanna Wright Bowen; two sisters; and a host of uncles and aunts.
James leaves to cherish his precious memories: his wife, Lula Coston Rivers of Decatur; a stepdaughter, Dana Coston of Decatur; two brothers, David Rivers of Dalzell and Jerry (Sarah) Rivers of Bronx, New York; a sister, Cynthia (Joseph) Whiting of Dalzell; eight grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; six uncles; five aunts; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
In accordance with the COVID-19 guidelines, the family is requesting that face masks and social distancing be observed by relatives and friends during visitation at the home, 5670 Fish Road, Dalzell.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. today at Wayman Chapel AME Church, 160 N. Kings Highway (S.C. 261 North), Sumter, with the Rev. Robert L. China Jr., pastor and eulogist.
The remains will be placed in the church at 1 p.m. for viewing until time of services.
The procession will leave the home at 1:20 p.m.
Burial will be in Willow Grove AME Churchyard Cemetery, 8105 Sumter Landing Road, Horatio.
Services directed by the management and staff of Williams Funeral Home Inc., 821 N. Main St., Sumter.
Online messages may be sent to the family at williamsfuneralhome@sc.rr.com. Visit us on the web at www.WilliamsFuneralHomeInc.com.