Jay Franklin Chapman

Jay Franklin Chapman, 96, long-time Florence resident, died April 30.He was born in Chamblee, Georgia, the son of the late John and Ethel Jones Chapman.He was employed by the US Postal Service for 40 years with a career as a railway mail clerk and retired as supervisor of mail service of the Florence post office.After his retirement he enjoyed a second career for almost 30 years as a realtor with Griggs, Floyd and Grantham. He served in the US Army during World War II.He was a member of Pisgah United Methodist Church in Florence and also served for many years as a Hospice volunteer and board member.He was a long-time member of the Ethics Board of McLeod Hospital.To the delight of one daughter and the dismay of the other, he was an active volunteer with the Republican party, working for various candidates on the local, state and national level. Until the decline in his health, he enjoyed traveling, dancing, fishing, his family and his many friends.At age 86, he particularly enjoyed a European vacation with his daughters and one of his granddaughters.He continued to be youthful in outlook, declaring that he was the only person he knew who had grandchildren older than he was! Jay is survived by his wife, Agnes Hoffmeyer Rhodes Chapman of Florence; his daughters, Carol Chapman Smith of Wake Forest, NC; and Sue Chapman Blythe Craven of Lawrenceville, GA; his devoted stepdaughter, Rachel Rhodes Greer of Florence; his stepson, Morris Rhodes of Florence; his grandchildren, Barrie Blythe Kirk of Columbia; Lauren Smith of Greensboro, NC; Steven Blythe of Lawrenceville, GA; Stuart Smith of Arden, NC; and David Blythe of Hoover, AL. He is also survived by seven great-grandchildren and one great-great grandson.He was preceded in death by his parents; his first wife, Betsy Potts Chapman; his brothers, Jewel, Boykin and Marion Chapman; and his sons-in-law, Frank Smith and Lawrence Craven. The funeral service will be at 11:00 a.m., Friday, May 4, at Pisgah United Methodist Church.Burial will follow at Mount Hope Cemetery.The family will receive friends from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 3, at Stoudenmire-Dowling Funeral Home in Florence. Jay’s family would like to thank the staff at Southland Health Center for the loving care they gave him.We would also like to thank McLeod Hospice for their caring service. Memorials may be made to the building fund of Pisgah Methodist Church, 621 North Ebenezer Road, Florence, SC 29501; or McLeod Hospice House, P.O. Box 100551, Florence, SC 29502-0551. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.stoudenmiredowling.com.