WILLIAM B. STEELE SR.

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William B. "Billy" Steele Sr., 84, husband of Ceceilia Johnson Leach Steele and widower of Jackie McLendon Steele of Hartsville, died Monday, July 8, 2019, at Covenant Place.

Born Aug. 1, 1934, in Sumter, he was a son of the late George William Steele and Louise Preast Steele Haley. He was a U.S. Army veteran of the Korean War. Billy was a member of First Baptist Church and the Friends and Followers Sunday School Class. He was a member and past president of the Lions Club, where he also served as lion tamer for many years. He was a Shriner and retired from CP&L as a distribution line technician after more than 40 years of service.

Survivors include his wife of Sumter; a son, William Bryan Steele Jr. (Vicky) of Sumter; three daughters, Sheila Steele Thacker (Mike) of Irmo, Sharon Steele Young (Jeffrey) and Suzann Steele Sears (Pat), all of Sumter; 11 grandchildren, Stephanie Steele, Jenna Steele, Trey Steele, Becca Thacker Curtis (Adam), Ryan Thacker, Betsy Young Hudson (Ceb), Will Young, Robert Young, Greyson Young, John Patrick Sears and McLendon Sears; five great-grandchildren, Remington Steele, Maeleigh Curtis, McLendon Curtis, Ella James Hudson and Britton Hudson; a sister, Alvenia Ottosson (Andy) of Sumter; and a number of nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by four brothers, George W. Steele, Bobby Steele, Sammy Steele and A.J. Haley.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday at First Baptist Church with the Rev. Dr. Dan Barber officiating. Burial with military honors will be at Evergreen Memorial Park cemetery.

Grandsons will serve as pallbearers.

Honorary pallbearers will be members of the Friends and Followers Sunday School Class of First Baptist Church and members of the Sumter Lions Club.

The family will receive friends from 10 to 11 a.m. Friday at First Baptist Church and other times at the home.

The family extends their gratitude to Amedysis Hospice and the staff of Covenant Place.

Memorials may be sent to First Baptist Church, 107 E. Liberty St., Sumter, SC 29150 or to the Sumter Lions Club, P.O. Box 2513, Sumter, SC 29151.

Elmore-Cannon-Stephens Funeral Home and Crematorium of Sumter is in charge of the arrangements.