James Oliver (J.O.) Ridgeway of Williston, SC passed away at home surrounded by his family on October 7, 2015. He was born in Altoona, Alabama to Russell and Georgia Ridgeway. After graduating from Susan Moore High School, he served in the US Navy during World War II. He attended community college in Gadsden, AL. Mr. Ridgeway was married to Abbie Faye French for almost 50 years. He retired from E.I. Du Pont Nemours after over 34 years of employment as a patrolman. He enjoyed farming, playing church softball, spending time with his family, and volunteering for both political and humanitarian causes.

Mr. Ridgeway was a founding member of the Williston Church of God where he served as treasurer, Sunday school teacher and deacon for over 40 years. In recent years, he attended Grace Covenant Church of God in New Ellenton, SC.

He was a part of the grassroots movement which established the modern Republican Party in Barnwell County. Mr. Ridgeway was recognized by Governor James Edwards, the first Republican governor elected in South Carolina since Civil War Reconstruction, for his work during Edwards’ gubernatorial campaign and his efforts to grow the presence of the party in Barnwell County. He worked as a poll worker for Barnwell County elections. He served as both a donor and volunteer for the American Red Cross Blood Drives, earning numerous gallon pins for his blood donations.
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Mr. Ridgeway was preceded in death by his first wife, Abbie Faye French; his parents, Russell and Georgia Ridgeway; brothers, Virgil Ridgeway, Bedford Ridgeway, Eldridge Ridgeway, Ethridge Ridgeway, Elijay Ridgeway and Gerald Ridgeway; sisters, Velma Langston and Mary Painter, step son, Larry Sanders, and son-in-law, Larry McLean.

The family extends heartfelt gratitude and sincere appreciation to Mr. Ridgeway’s long term caregivers, Virginia Royal and Katie Gaffney and is grateful for the kindness and compassion of the staff at Advantage Hospice.

Friends will be received from 6 to 8 p.m. on Friday evening at Folk Funeral Home, 170 Elko Street, Williston, SC. Funeral service will be held on Saturday, October 10, 2015 at 2 p.m. at Grace Covenant Church of God in New Ellenton, SC. Interment immediately following at Williston Cemetery, Williston, SC.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made in his memory to Grace Covenant Church of God, Vision 5 Building Fund, PO Box 28, New Ellenton, SC, 29809 or Williston Church of God, Building Fund, in care of Folk Funeral Home, PO Box 367, Williston, SC 29853.

{Suggested Edit: Children:
Brenda Ridgeway Aldrich, born 1-3-1948
Diane Ridgeway McLean, born 1-4-1950
James Michael Ridgeway, born 12-11-1953
David Russell Ridgeway, born 8-6-1959
Contributor: Sandra Ridgeway }