Author: Ruth Olson

George Burnett Brockenbrough, 95, of Greenwood, SC, passed away on Sept. 4th at Wesley Commons. Born in Tryon, NC, he was the only child of George Hawkins Brockenbrough and Helen Burnett Brockenbrough.

After moving to Kinards, SC at the age of 6, George made lifelong friends, including Thornwell and his sister, “Sissy,” who became the love of his life and bride in 1953. He attended Clinton public schools, the McCallie School in Chattanooga, TN, and Davidson College before enrolling and graduating with honors from Clemson University, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Engineering.

Following graduation, George served two years in the Army Ordinance Corps at Aberdeen, Maryland, rising to the rank of First Lieutenant. Following his military service, George was at the forefront of technological history, beginning his career with IBM in Endicott, New York, in 1956, then later in Atlanta, Georgia. As an early computer pioneer, he helped develop and refine the first generation of commercial computers, helping to build the first mass-produced computer in the world. This exciting era of innovation shaped his entire professional life and instilled in him a lifelong passion for technology and problem-solving.

Because of his desire to return to his hometown to be near family and childhood friends, George accepted a position at Clinton Mills in 1961, installing the company’s first computers. He then moved his family to Greenwood, SC in 1969, where he led the Greenwood Mills Data Processing Department, directing an increasingly large and challenging operation until retiring in 1996.

George loved music, first joining church choirs in high school, playing clarinet and saxophone with the Clemson Jungaleers, and later singing with community choruses, including as an original member of the Greenwood Festival Chorale. He was also a proud member of the choir in each of the seven churches he attended throughout his life. His love for the Arts brought him to Greenwood Little Theater, now known as Greenwood Community Theater, where he shared his love of theater with his family for many years. It also served as an entrance into and a love for the Greenwood Community.

George’s love of the Greenwood and Clinton Communities moved him to volunteer and hold leadership roles in myriad local organizations, including the Greenwood Chamber of Commerce, Greenwood County Library, Greater Greenwood United Ministry, Greenwood Kiwanis Club, Greenwood Performing Arts, and the Lander University Docent Program. His devotion to his faith and church led him to First Presbyterian Church of Greenwood, where he was a Ruling Elder and served on the Trinity Presbytery’s Committee on Ministry.

George was preceded in death by his beloved wife of nearly 70 years, Mildred ‘Sissy” Dunlap Brockenbrough, and his son-in-law, Mark Patterson.

He is survived by three daughters; Mary Lee Kirkpatrick (Pat) of Woodstock, GA, Mildred Patterson of Charlotte, NC and Helen Brockenbrough of Greenwood, SC; four grandchildren, Anna Patterson Patel (Chirag) of Charlotte, NC, Rachel Patterson of Charlotte, NC, Austin Kirkpatrick Spradlin (Bryan) of Covington, GA and Alex Kirkpatrick (Sara) of Asheville, NC as well as eight great-grandchildren; Grayson, Landon and Carter Patel; Jacob, Joel, Eva, Atticus and Eliza Jane Spradlin.

A Celebration of George’s life will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, September 11, 2026 at First Presbyterian Church in Greenwood, with Dr. Brad Christie officiating. 

The service will be live streamed on the First Presbyterian Church of Greenwood’s YouTube Channel.

The family will receive friends following the service in Alexander Hall. A private internment will take place in Clinton at a later date.

The family requests memorials be made in lieu of flowers to Hospice & Palliative Care of the Piedmont, 408 Alexander Ave, Greenwood, SC 29646.

John Lewis Douglas, 75, finished a deliriously happy life on September 3, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. He was born in 1950 to the late Charles Lewis Douglas, Jr. and Bettye Lee Phelps Douglas. John grew up in New Orleans, La., and Jackson, Miss., before moving to Atlanta in 1963. A gifted student and athlete, John took every opportunity to play baseball and golf with his friends and with his dad. After graduating from Lakeside High School John attended Davidson College, and ran into a force of nature by the name of Rebecca Ann Peterson.

John was baptised into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at age 20. After graduating from Davidson in 1972, he served a two-year mission for the church in Ecuador. John and Becky married in Salt Lake City in 1974, and were devoted to each other for the next 52 years, as seven children and three more adopted children joined them. He was always dazzled by her, always happier around her, and said, like the poem, that she was the Sunday in every week.

He was widely regarded as one of the world’s leading financial services lawyers. He began with a J.D. from the University of Georgia and at the Atlanta-based law firm Alston & Bird. Ronald Reagan appointed him General Counsel of the FDIC in 1987, where he helped steer the FDIC through the savings and loan crisis and shape the Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery and Enforcement Act of 1989. Later, through his work with the Financial Services Volunteer Corps, he led efforts to reform banking across the developing world with the goal of creating more open, trust-based economies. John was senior partner at the law firms of Alston & Bird, Paul Hastings, and Davis, Polk & Wardwell, and finished his career as Chief Legal, Risk and Compliance Officer at TIAA, a financial services firm in New York.

He took a break from his career to serve his church for three years as a mission president in the Dominican Republic Santiago Mission. He was awed by the faith and goodness of the hundreds of missionaries in his care. He was devoted to strengthening them, their families and communities, and the church. He loved using Spanish to express tender feelings or speak beautiful truths.

Both at home and abroad, John cared deeply for the less fortunate. His commitment to the Dominican Republic continued after his mission, when he and Becky created the Dominican American Education Fund, an after-school training program in English and computer skills. They also generously funded and worked tirelessly for Rising Star Outreach, an organization Becky created to provide education, medical care, and community development to leprosy-affected people in India. John loved teaching young people at the University of Georgia Law School and continued to hold his classes during his battles with leukemia and lymphoma, sometimes via Zoom while receiving chemotherapy.

More than anything, John was happy everywhere. His biking and hiking trips with family and friends were his favorite way to travel the world. He was always up for another adventure that would let him marvel at the beauty of God’s creation. Everywhere he went, he was followed by an uncanny streak of good luck, finding fresh powder, sunny skies, and rooms full of welcoming, interesting people. It was impossible not to love this kind-hearted and sharp-witted gentleman, whether in a dark suit or his favorite hiking pants and Tevas. Sundays were always reserved for boisterous meals with family and friends. He was profoundly grateful, whether he got a glorious Georgia morning when he could ride his bike, play racquetball, and walk through the woods, or he got a quiet twilight on the back porch with Becky.

John is preceded in death by his daughter Amber and granddaughter Madison, and celebrated here by his wife Becky, his siblings Lee Douglas, Leslie Hurst, Lynne Miller, and Margaret Hamilton; his children Dianna, Jay, Scott, Chip, Alex, Michael, Jolanta, Esther Racioppo, and Thomas; their spouses David Burk, Angie, Caroline, Renita, Celeste, Hannah Dalia, and Arrius Racioppo; and 24 grandchildren.

Open House from 6-8:30 p.m. on Thursday, Sept 10 at Crowell Brothers Funeral Home, 5051 Peachtree Blvd, Peachtree Corners, GA 30092. Funeral services Friday, September 11 at 10 a.m. at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 5995 Spalding Dr, Peachtree Corners, GA 30092.

In lieu of flowers, please direct any giving in John’s memory to Rising Star Outreach, in honor of his commitment to humankind and his abiding love for his wife. 

Samuel Robert Childress, known to family and friends as Sam, passed away on August 30, 2026, in West Chicago, Illinois, at the age of 84.

He was born on June 1, 1942, in Hillsville, Virginia, and carried the values of his upbringing throughout his life. Sam was a man of remarkable intellect, quiet strength, and steady kindness. Those who knew him best will remember him as analytical in thought, intelligent in spirit, and gentle in manner. He lived with a calm presence that brought reassurance to others, and he approached life with both curiosity and humility.

Sam pursued his education with dedication and excellence. He attended Davidson College in North Carolina for his undergraduate studies before continuing on to Columbia University in New York, where he completed both his master’s degree and doctorate. His academic path reflected his deep commitment to learning and to the pursuit of knowledge. He valued education not only for what it provided him professionally, but also for the way it shaped his understanding of the world and the people in it.

His professional life was distinguished by his work as a scientist in high energy physics at Fermi Lab in Batavia, Illinois. In that role, Sam contributed to a field that sought to answer some of the most complex questions in science. He was respected for his thoughtful approach, his disciplined mind, and his ability to work with precision and care. His career stood as a testament to years of study, perseverance, and a genuine devotion to discovery. He took pride in his work, and those around him valued the insight and integrity he brought to it.

Outside of his professional accomplishments, Sam found joy in traveling. He appreciated the experience of seeing new places, meeting new people, and broadening his perspective through the world around him. Travel gave him opportunities for reflection and discovery, and it remained one of the interests that enriched his life most meaningfully. Whether near or far from home, he carried with him a thoughtful appreciation for the beauty and diversity of life.

Sam is survived by his wife, Billie Childress, who shared in his life and stood beside him through the years. He is also survived by his brother, Conduff Childress Jr., and Conduff’s wife, Joyce. He was preceded in death by his parents, Conduff and Alice Childress, as well as by his brother, William. His family was an important part of his life, and the bonds he shared with them reflected the loyalty and love that defined him.

A life marked by intelligence, grace, and steady devotion leaves behind a lasting legacy. Sam’s family, friends, colleagues, and all who had the privilege of knowing him will remember his thoughtful presence and the dignity with which he lived. His memory will remain a source of comfort and inspiration to those who loved him.

He will be deeply missed and fondly remembered.