RONALD CHARLES COWARD SR.

PINEWOOD - The Rev. Ronald Charles Coward Sr., husband of 56 years of Susan Fields Coward, died on Monday, May 17, 2021, at his home surrounded by his loving family.

Born on June 28, 1943, in Columbia, he was a son of Frank and Effie Walker. On Dec. 9, 1944, he was adopted by Roland Charles Coward and Christine Brown Coward. Ron retired after serving 52 years as a Baptist pastor and 41 years as a respiratory therapist. He also worked as a paramedic, minister of music and assisted other pastors and churches. In recent years, Ron volunteered with The Ark Singers, a Slavic Missionary Outreach Group from Donetsk, Ukraine. He was a member of Emmanuel Baptist Church in Manning, where he served as an elder, pianist and Sunday school teacher.

Ron is survived by his wife of the home; six children, Ronald Charles Coward Jr. (Anita) of Summerville, Sharon Coward Lockett (Tom) of Aiken, Debra Coward McKenzie (David Beans) of Lillington, North Carolina, Christine Coward Cahill (Chris) of Brandenton, Florida, Heather Coward Andrews (James) of Timmonsville and Cynthia Coward McIntosh (Travis) of Pinewood; 22 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; and a sister, Rose Grantham of Raleigh, North Carolina.

In addition to his birth and adoptive parents, he was preceded in death by his brother, Buster Walker; and two sisters, LaVonne Coward Sherman and Frances Cash.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday at Emmanuel Baptist Church with his son, the Rev. Dr. Ronald Charles Coward Jr. and his pastor, the Rev. Drew Taylor, officiating. The service will be livestreamed via https://livestream.com/accounts/3683605/events/9674522.

Interment will follow at Hebron Baptist Church Cemetery, 8655 Francis Marion Road, Scranton, SC 29591.

Grandsons will serve as pallbearers.

The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service from 10 to 11 a.m. in the church fellowship hall and other times at the residence, 333 Reynolds Road, Pinewood.

Memorials may be made to Emmanuel Baptist Church, 1794 Old Georgetown Road, Manning, SC 29102 or to the Slavic Missionary Outreach, www.thearksingers.com.

The family expresses its appreciation to Amedisys Hospice for its care and compassion throughout Ron's illness and passing.

Stephens Funeral Home & Crematory, 304 N. Church St., Manning, is in charge of the arrangements, (803) 435-2179. www.stephensfuneralhome.org