Notes from Jeanette Susan Slice Hall Anderson (1912-2005)

The year was 1924. A Tornado blew away lots of homes in Gaston, SC. John and Susanna's (my grandparents) home was hit by this Tornado. Nothing was left but parts of the floors. They were trying to find cover when large hail hit them and made knots on their bodies. A piece of tin from the roof cut John on the face. Grandma's daughter, Mattie Grace Reese Gardner, took them in and cared for them. Meanwhile, another home was built in the same location. Their Sons, Hugh Carroll (Huley) Reese, and daughter in law, Magdaleno (Maggie) Sightler Reese, lived with them. After their death Huley inherited the home. Hugley died in 1974.

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In Memory of John Williams Reese

Funeral services will be at 3:30 p.m. from the residence for John Williams Reese interment in Old Shiloh Methodist Church Cemetery.

John Williams Reese, 86, died at 3:00 Saturday, May 15, 1937 at his home in Dixiana after a prolonged illness.

Mr. Reese was a life long resident of Lexington County and had been a member of Old Shiloh Methodist Church for the past 50 years. He was a retired farmer and a highly respected member of the community.

He is survived by five daughters, Mrs. Mary Jane "Janie" Slice and Mrs. Willie Lee (Dovia Elvria) Spigner of Cayce, Mrs. Henry Robert (Sue) Derrick of Irmo, Mrs. Edward Jethro (Mattie Grace) Gardner and Miss Jessie Estelle Reese of New Brookland; four sons, William Arthur Reese, Sr., John Franklin Byrum Reese, Charlton Ephraim "Charlie" Reese and Huley Carroll "Huley" Reese all of New Brookland; a brother A. H. Reese of Cayce; 34 grandchildren and 43 great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be conducted at 3:30 Sunday, May 16, 1937 from the residence at Dixiana by the Rev. C. O. Bell, pastor of Cayce Methodist Church, assisted by the Rev. Mr. Reed, pastor of Cayce Baptist Church.

Interment will be in Old Shiloh Methodist Church Cemetery. Six grandsons, Jethro Roy Slice, Herman V. Spigner, James Carrol Busbee, Archie Angus Lorick, Melvin Sylvester Reese, Sr. and William Marshall (Willie) Derrick will serve as active pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be Brooks Everette Koon, Henry Robert Derrick, Willie Lee Spigner, Arthur Caughman Slice, Clyde Griffin Hall, Sr. and Edward Jethro Gardner.

Published in The State on May 16, 1937