SK Gilbert Smith

It is with great sadness that I inform you of the passing of a very sweet and dedicated man, Mason and Amaranth member of Myrtle Beach Court No. 19.  SK Gil Smith was called home last evening to be with our Lord.  We all know he was greeted by SK Charlie Bullock when he arrived in Heaven.  His widow, HL Lois Smith tells us he will be buried in Arlington, VA at the National Cemetery.  There will be visitation from 1pm - 2pm Sunday, 1 June 2008, at Goldfinch Chapel in Conway SC.  Memorial Services will be at 2pm. Those of you who knew SK Gil, know what a hard working Mason he was.  He truly loved his Masonic family and will be so very missed.  Cards may be mailed to HL Lois at 4506 Pine Lake Drive, Myrtle Beach, SC 29577. Please keep this family in your thoughts and prayers.

MYRTLE BEACH | Gilbert M. Smith Sr., retired Chief Master Sgt. U.S. Air Force, 84, of Pine Lake Drive, died Thursday, May 29, 2008 surrounded by his family at Grand Strand Regional Medical Center.

Mr. Smith was born in Conway, a son of the late Hugh Buck and Lottie M. Graham Smith.

He was a member of First United Methodist Church in Myrtle Beach where he ushered for several years. Mr. Smith was a U.S. Air Force veteran with 26 years of service during World War II, Korean Conflict and Vietnam War most notably serving with the Joint Chiefs of Staff in the Pentagon.

Mr. Smith was a Past Grand Royal Patron with Order of the Amaranth of South Carolina. He was a member of the Myrtle Beach Masonic Lodge #353 AFM, 32nd Degree York Rite and was a member of the Omar Temple of the Shrine.

Mr. Smith was predeceased by a daughter, Pamela Jo Wood; four brothers, Clarence Smith, Eldredge Smith, Wyatt Graham and Murphy Graham; four sisters, Laura Stanley, Angeline Stanley, Marjoree Herring and Myrtle Brown.

Surviving are his wife, Lois C. Smith of Myrtle Beach; two sons, Gilbert Smith Jr. and wife, Natalie, of Morrisville, N.C. and Wayne Smith and wife, Gayle, of Conway; two daughters, Caryn Smith Vanderbosch and husband, Dave of Richmond, Va., Nancy S. Johnson and husband, Elton, of Galivants Ferry; one brother, Wade Hampton Smith of Charleston; one sister, Leila Hucks of Conway; ten grandchildren, Warren Smith and wife, Jennifer, Christine Gowan and husband, Chad, Andy Wood, Gilbert Madison Smith III, Lindsey Smith, Tim Tyler and wife, Jennifer, Becky Fowler and husband, Quin, Lisa Mears and husband, Randy, Hannah Smith and Grace Smith and six great-grandchildren.

Services will be held 2 p.m. Sunday, June 1, 2008 at Goldfinch Funeral Home, Conway Chapel with the Rev. Scarlett Hester officiating. Burial will follow at a later date in Arlington National Cemetery, Va.

The family will receive friends from 1 to 2 p.m. Sunday, June 1, 2008 at the funeral home.

Memorials may be sent to Amaranth Diabetes Research Foundation, c/o Louise Hawkins, 822 Rogers Lane, Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464.

Please sign a guest book at www.goldfinchfuneralhome.com and at www.MyrtleBeachOnline.com .

SK Willard Bond

It is with great sorrow that I inform you SK Willard Bond has gone on to be with our Heavenly Father.  SK Willard was a Past Grand Royal Patron of The South Carolina Order of the Amaranth.  Lets keep this family in our prayers.

Funeral services for Mr. Willard Faroe Bond, Jr. will be held on Saturday, May 31, 2008 at 2pm at Aiken's First Baptist Church. Interment will follow in Aiken Memorial Gardens with Masonic Rites. The family will receive friends Friday, May 30, 2008 from 6-8pm at George Funeral Home & Cremation Center, 211 Park Ave, SW, Aiken and Saturday from 1pm until the hour of service in the church parlor. Memorials contributions may be directed to Masonic Charities or The Dickerson Center for Children, 1615 Augusta Road, West Columbia, SC 29169.

Mr. Bond was born at Wiggins, Mississippi on June 7, 1911, the third of four children of Dr. Willard Faroe Bond, and Susanna Matilda Graham. He was educated in the city schools of Jackson, MS and at Mississippi College, Tulane University, Delta State Teachers College, and George Peabody College for Teachers. He taught school for seven years and worked for three years in a non-relief supervisory capacity with the WPA before going to Oak Ridge, TN in 1943. At Oak Ridge, he was a part of the Manhattan Project. He moved with his family to Aiken, SC in 1952 as a Property Management Specialist with AEC at the Savannah River Plant. He retired in 1976 after receiving a commendation and awards for meritorious service.

He was a member of the Aiken's First Baptist Church and until 1975 was the teacher of an Adult Men's Bible Class. He was formerly on the Board of Deacons, the Pulpit Committee, and the Church Council. He also served as Brotherhood president, Training Union Director, and Sunday School Superintendent.

After achieving the status of Master Mason in the Oak Ridge, TN Lodge, Mr. Bond continued his Masonic career with the Aiken Lodge No. 156 in 1953, serving as Worshipful Master in 1973. He is the author of the Lodge's centennial history, "The First Hundred Years". He has been the Lodge Historian, Junior Grand Deacon, and Grand Marshal of the Grand Lodge of SC, A.F.M. With Jim Mathis, Wally Knopp, and Billy Jumper, he started the Aiken Lodge of Perfection of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite. In 1970, Mr. Bond received the rank and dignity of Knight Commander of the Council (Red Cap) and the 33rd in 1985. Mr. Bond served as Custodian of the Work of the General Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons International for 9 years, and was elected Grand High Priest of the South Carolina Chapter in 1975. While Grand High Priest, he traveled 31,000 miles, visited every chapter at least once and visited 10 other Grand Chapters, a record not equaled or surpassed since.

He was formerly quite active in civic activities in Aiken, having served as a Boy Scout Merit Badge Counselor, North Aiken Elementary PTA President, Halloween Carnival Director, United Fund worker, Aiken County Historical Society President.

In addition to his parents, Mr. Bond was predeceased by his wives Vera Louise Wall of Osyka, MS; Mary Wall Hill of Chattanooga, TN; and Leila Holmes Bodie of Graniteville, SC; daughter Aletha Wilson Bond, sisters, Helen Weems, Gladys Blaine, brother, Bernard Bond, and great grandson, Jonathan Thrash. He is survived by son, Willard F. Bond, III of Hendersonville, TN and his wife Donna, daughter Dr. Susan B. Shaw of Camden, SC; granddaughters Margot Shaw of Columbia, SC; Katherine Shaw of Camden, SC; Barbara Farley of Pearl, MS; Becky Thrash of Jackson, MS, and Amanda Wade of Clarksville, TN, 8 great grandchildren and 3 great-great grandchildren.