BRUCE DAWSON Jr.

Bruce Dawson Jr., affectionately known as "Noon," son of the late Deacon Bruce Dawson Sr. and Matilda Weston Dawson, was born May 4, 1948, in Sumter County. He died Sunday, Sept. 23, 2007, at Tuomey Regional Medical Center.

At an early age, he accepted Jesus as his personal Savior, joining Hopewell Baptist Church. He served in many capacities, including the usher board and gospel choir. He was a 1967 graduate of Ebenezer High School. He served four years' active duty in the U.S. Army. He was later employed by Sumter School District 2 at Rafting Creek Elementary School for 31 years.

He was preceded in death by three sisters, Lottie Williams, Susie Mae Dawson and Mary Alice D. Robinson; three brothers, Isiah, James and Peter Dawson; and two nephews, Calvin Curtis and Henry Robinson.

He leaves to cherish his precious memories a wife, Minnie Pollard Dawson; two daughters, Matilda Brown of the home and Shelia (Laurentis) Crowson of Burlington, N.C.; three sons, Herbert (Lourie) Brown of Charleston, George (Cynthia) Curtis of Aiken and Heinkiser (Shyra) Brown of Sumter; one brother, Willie Dawson of Irvington, N.J.; one sister, Bertha (Abe) Jenkins of Beaufort; two nephews raised as brothers, Harold and Melvin Dawson; two aunts, Helen Dawson of Marion and Judy Dawson of Philadelphia, Pa.; three foster brothers, Williams and Daniel Morant of Dalzell and Octavis Morant of Columbia; two foster sisters, Geneva Singleton and Dorothy Mae Morant of Dalzell; Cumeico Debrick, whom he called his adopted daughter; 18 grandchildren; and a host of other relatives and friends.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday at Hopewell Baptist Church with the Rev. Richard Addison, pastor, officiating, assisted by the Rev. Dr. L.W. Walker Sr. and the Revs. Willie Dennis, Anthony Taylor and Bennie Bradley. Interment will be in the church cemetery.

The family is receiving friends at the home, 5645 Catchall Road.

The staff of James Funeral Home Inc. of Sumter is in charge of arrangements.