Dr. SC Cureton Obituary
greenvillenews.com
Jan 02, 2009
The Rev. Dr. Stewart Cleveland Cureton
Source: The Greenville News
Web Address: http://www.greenvilleonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?Category=OBITUARIES&pagename=obittext&id=111607
Click here for Homegoing Service Arrangements
The Rev. Dr. Stewart Cleveland Cureton departed this earthly life and went to his heavenly home on Tuesday, December 30, 2008.
A loving husband, father, grandfather, son, uncle, cousin, friend, teacher, and most of all servant of God -- Dr. Cureton was known as a "builder of churches and builder of lives." He touched thousands of lives in his roles as a civic, educational, and religious leader. In all aspects of his life, Dr. Cureton, was dedicated to serving others and saving souls.
Dr. Cureton was born on March 24, 1930, in Greenville County to the late Santee A. and Martha Henderson Cureton. He was educated in the Greenville County school system, graduating from Sterling High School in 1949. Having already accepted God's call to preach at the age of 17, he continued his education at Benedict College in Columbia, earning a B.A. degree, and the J.J. Starks School of Theology where he was awarded the bachelor of divinity degree. He was also awarded the doctor of divinity degrees from Morris College in Sumter and Benedict College in Columbia.
Dr. Cureton has been a dedicated preacher of the gospel for more than 60 years and a pastor for more than 50 years. He served as the pastor of Reedy River Missionary Baptist Church in Mauldin for the past 43 years.
Dr. Cureton was a public schoolteacher for 26 years from 1956 to 1982. He taught in Warren County, N.C., in Laurens and in Greenville. The last 17 years of his career were spent at Beck High School and later Beck Middle School as a math teacher. He is still fondly remembered and revered by his Beck students.
Dr. Cureton rose from humble beginnings to become a local, state and national leader. His affiliations, recognitions, appointments, and honors are too numerous to list. Among his many accomplishments: president of the Reedy River Baptist Association; president of the Baptist Educational & Missionary Convention of South Carolina (1986-1991); Second Vice President, vice president-at-large and president of the National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc.; commission member of the United States Presidential Scholars Program under President Bill Clinton's administration (1993-2000); Outstanding South Carolina Citizen Award; member of the Benedict College Board of Trustees; member of the Morris College Board of Trustees.
Dr. Cureton was married to the former Claudette Hazel Chapman for 54 years. Dr. Cureton is survived by his loving wife, Claudette Hazel; one daughter, Ruthye (Ben) Cooley of Charlotte, N.C.; three sons, Stewart Cleveland (Carmen) Cureton II, of Lithonia, Ga., S. Charles (Sarah) Cureton of Simpsonville, and the Rev. Samuel (Lolita) Cureton, of Greenville; two sisters, Ellen Windham of Warren Heights, Ohio, and Emma Cureton of Greenville; one brother, John Mark (Ann) Cureton of Greenville; two brothers-in-law, John Reginald (Bettye) Chapman of Winter Park, Fla. and Frederick F. Chapman of Mauldin; 10 grandchildren and one-great grandchild. He was preceded in death by his parents, his sister, Ruby Cureton Peters, and his brothers, William Cureton and Charles Cureton.
In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that donations be made to the Reedy River Missionary Baptist Church Building Fund in memory of Dr. Cureton, P.O. Box 676, Mauldin, SC 29662.
Funeral Services: Saturday, 1 p.m., Reedy River Missionary Baptist Church with burial in Greenville Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends Friday from 7 to 8 p.m. at Reedy River Missionary Baptist Church.
The family is at the home.
Watkins, Garrett and Woods Mortuary
Published in The Greenville News: 01-01-2009
Homegoing Services for Reverend Dr. S.C. Cureton
Sunrise: 1931 - Sunset: 2008
The funeral for Dr. S. C. Cureton will be held on Saturday, January 2, 2009, 1:00 pm at the Reedy River Baptist Church, Mauldin, South Carolina.
The Watkins-Garrett Funeral Home, 1011 Augusta Street, Greenville, South Carolina 29607 is in charge of the arrangements. The phone number there is 864-242-1144.
