CHARLES COARD

SUMMERTON - Charles Coard, 59, husband of Mattie Miller Coard, died Saturday, Feb. 19, 2011, at McLeod Hospice House, Florence.

He was born June 4, 1951, in Summerton, Clarendon County, a son of the late Willie Dow and Anna Coard Pearson. He was also a son of the late Felix Pearson. He received his formal education in the public schools of Clarendon County. In his youth, he attended Sunday school at Laurel Hill AME Church. He was a longtime employee of Rickenbaker Farms and Trepol Corp. He was a member of the Jeremiah Singers, where he was one of the lead singers.

He was preceded in death by five brothers, two sisters and three aunts.

Survivors are his wife, Mattie Miller Coard of the home; three daughters, Latosha (Henry) Frazier of Summerton, Janet Belser of Charlotte, N.C., and Charlene (Allen) Parker of Chicago, Ill.; five sons, Johnny L. Miller, Charles (Alencia) Coard and Deric Eugene Coard, all of Manning, Robert (Rashemah) Coard of Charlotte and Michael (Mary Ann) Coard of Sumter; four sisters, Maxine House and Barbara Ann (Calvin) Mellerson, both of Davis Station, Betty Ann (Sonny) Richburg of Manning and Willene (Cecil) Gant of Homestead, Fla.; two brothers, James and Bobby Dow, both of Davis Station; stepmother, Mary Jane Dow; one aunt, Leona Dow; eight brothers-in-law; six sisters-in-law; 22 grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

Funeral services were held Friday, Feb. 25, 2011, at Laurel Hill AME Church, 2032 MW Rickenbaker Road, Manning, with the Rev. Silas Spann, pastor, officiating, assisting the Rev. Johnnie Lawson and Prophet K.T. Capers. Burial followed in Ivory Cemetery.

The family received friends at the home of his son-in-law and daughter, Henry and Latosha Coard Frazier, 1289 Roadside Drive, Summerton.

Online memorials may be left for the family at samuelsfuneralhome.com.

These services have been entrusted to Samuels Funeral Home LLC of Manning.