John Newsome

Funeral services for John Henry Newsome, Sr., 79, will be held at 4:00 p.m. Thursday, April 20, 2006 at Wesley Chapel United Methodist Church in Lydia. The Rev. Richard Hopper will officiate with burial in Westview Memorial Park Cemetery directed by Brown-Pennington-Atkins Funeral Home. The family will receive friends Wednesday from 5-7 p.m. at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to Wesley Chapel United Methodist Church, Box 56, Lydia, SC 29079. Mr. Newsome died Monday, April 17, 2006. He was a son of the late C.W. Newsome Sr. and Mattie King Newsome and was a native and lifelong resident of Hartsville. He was married to his high school sweetheart, Gedelle Melton Newsome, for almost 60 years. He started a car business in 1947 with a single automobile. A self-made entrepreneur, he watched his one-car venture grow into a full-sized dealership. He founded Newsome Dodge in the 1960’s which eventually evolved into multiple dealerships. He shared his love of cars with an entire community. His easy-going personality and his jovial spirit earned him the loving name of “Mr. John.” He was awarded “A Man of the 40’s” Award from Clanton Auto Auction in 2003. He was a Past Master of the Hartsville Masonic Lodge # 173, a Past District Deputy Grand Master, a Shriner, and a Jolly Jeepster. He was also a member of the Hartsville Lion’s Club. He was a member of Wesley Chapel United Methodist Church, the Wesley Chapel Men’s Club, the Board of Trustees and also served as Chairman of the Pastor Parish. His role as a loving patriarch earned him the “Father of the Year” Award in 1989. In 2001 he received the “Man of the Year” Award from Wesley Chapel. He was proud to be a member of the “Greatest Generation” and also proud of his service in the U.S. Army during World War II. He was a member of the American Legion. He is survived by his wife of Hartsville, SC and his four children and their spouses, Brenda Newsome and Ronald Wayne Radcliffe of Hartsville, SC, John Henry Newsome, Jr. and Patricia “Pat” Miller Newsome of Palm Beach , FL,Violet Newsome Bragdon and Robert “Bobby” Bragdon of Hartsville, SC, Ricky Newsome and Deborah “Deb” Cannarella Newsome of Hartsville, SC; grandchildren, John Henry Newsome III, John Richard “Ric” Newsome, Raymond “Ray” Vincent Newsome, William “Wil” Wellington Newsome and Noelle Newsome Radcliffe; sister, Christine Newsome Tolson of Hartsville, SC; special caregiver, Willistine Gregg of Hartsville, SC. He was preceded in death by his brothers, Carl Newsome, William Newsome, George Newsome, Elbert Newsome, David Newsome, and Harley Newsome.

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John Newsome

March 4, 1927 - April 17, 2006