WILHELMENIA RIVERS

Graveside services for Wilhelmenia Rivers will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday at Wayman Chapel AME Church Cemetery, 160 N. Kings Highway, Sumter, with the Rev. Robert L. China officiating.

Public viewing will be held from 1 to 5 p.m. today at Palmer Memorial Chapel, 304 S. Main St., Sumter.

Mrs. Wilhelmenia Rivers transitioned on Saturday, July 10, 2021, at Prisma Health Tuomey Hospital in Sumter.

She was born in Sumter County to the late Jerry Ricks and Susannah Wright Bowen. She was the wife of the late James Rivers Jr. Wilhelmenia was educated in the public schools of Sumter County. She was employed by Sumter School District Two and retired after more than 25 years of service. Mrs. Wilhelmenia was a lifelong member of Wayman Chapel AME Church. She served as a member of the stewardess board and the Wilhelmina "Sweetheart" Burgess Missionary Society.

In addition to her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by four brothers, Charlie Jacobs, Johnny Jacobs, Eugene Jacobs and Joseph Ricks; and a sister, Marie Ricks Gary.

Survivors are three sons, James (Lula) Rivers of Decatur, Georgia, David Rivers of Dalzell and Jerry (Sarah) Rivers of Bronx, New York; one daughter, Cynthia (Joseph) Whiting of Dalzell; brothers, Louis Jacobs of Wedgefield, Benjamin F. Bowen, Sammie L. Ricks Sr. and James Ricks, all of Sumter; sisters, Elizabeth Sumter of Sumter, Susanna Swanson of Burlington, North Carolina, Ruth Jackson, Mary Geter of Sumter and Annie Mae DeBreaux of Hampton, Virginia; eight grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; 14 great-great-grandchildren; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Condolences may be made on her tribute page found at www.PalmerMemorialChapel.com.

Professional services rendered by the Palmer Memorial Chapel.