Richard Heyward Dukes, Sr

Mr. Richard Heyward Dukes, Sr., 88, died Sunday, April 19, 2015 at his residence in the Four Holes Community.

Funeral will be held Wednesday, April 22, 2015 at 1:00 PM at the First Baptist Church in Orangeburg, SC with burial at the Four Holes Baptist Church Cemetery. Rev. Ryan Tucker and Rev. Tom McElhaney will be officiating.

Pallbearers are Fred Axson, Bobby Dantzler, Joe Gramling, Jerry Dukes, Phillip Reams, Willis Smith and Dennis Thompson. Honorary Pallbearers will be the Past and Present Trustees of First Baptist Church.

Mr. Dukes was born September 5, 1926 in Orangeburg, SC. He was the son on the late Jerome Lee Dukes and the late Zelma Rickenbaker Dukes. He was Maintenance Superintendent at the First Baptist Church. Mr. Dukes served in the U.S. Marines during WWII in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. He was a member of the Sea Attachment aboard the USS Columbus. Mr. Dukes was predeceased in death by a brother, Jerome Edmond Dukes.

Survivors include his wife Ruby Strange Dukes of Orangeburg, a daughter, Pamela Whetsell (Joe) of Kingstree; sons Edmond Dukes (Beckie), Ricky Dukes, both of Orangeburg and Gene Dukes (Patsy) of Elloree; four grandchildren; four great grandchildren; a sister, Helen Berrie of Cary, North Carolina.

Friends may call at the residence or at Thompson Funeral Home, Inc.

Visitation will be Tuesday, April 21, 2015 from 6:00 -- 8:00 PM at Thompson Funeral Home, Inc., Orangeburg, SC.

Memorials may be made to Parkinson's Disease Foundation, 1359 Broadway, Suite 1509, New York, New York 10018

The family would like to give a special thinks to the Amedysis Hospice, Belmont Luxury Care and St. Matthews Ambulance Serice.