Joseph Colclough Sr., also affectionately known as “Buster”, was born on December 1, 1933 in Sumter to the late Charlie and Julia Champion Colclough. On Thursday, January 12, 2023, while surrounded with his family, he made a peaceful transition to his eternal home. He attended the public schools of Sumter County and was a graduate of St. Michael High School and earned a two-year degree at Central Carolina Technical College in Auto Mechanics. He also attended schools in Bishopville and Sumter for Brick Masonry and Welding. Joseph “Buster” entered the U.S. Army in July 1954 and received an Honorable Discharge in May 1956. He took his Basic Training at Fort Gordon, Georgia, and earned his advanced individual training as Medical Corpsman in San Antonio, Texas. His tour of duty sent him to Germany where he served 17 months. His military awards consist of the National Defense Service Medal and the Army Good Conduct Award Medal. After his discharge from the U.S. Army he went to work for George Washington University Hospital in Washington DC. He returned to Sumter in 1958 and worked at Williams Furniture Company until June 1961. In June 1961 he began his employment at Shaw Air Force Base Medical Center, working as a Supply Technician until 1967. He received a merit promotion in January 1967 as a Transportation Vehicle Operator. He held this position until retirement. While employed with the federal government he received numerous awards and certificates. He retired from Civil Service at Shaw Air Force Base with 40 years 11 months and over 1,000 hours of sick leave. Because of his work ethic and not wanting to be idle, he decided to take on a second career as a driver for NAPA Auto Parts, until his health began to fail. Joseph was a lifelong member of St. Paul AME Church. He gave tirelessly of his time and energies toward the spiritual and physical growth of St. Paul. He served faithfully in many capacities; as a Trustee, Steward Pro-Tempore for 43 years, Steward Pro-Tempore Emeritus, 3rd Vice-President of the Lay Organization, Lancaster District for three (3) years and Class Leader for Class #4 for forty-seven (47) years. For several years, he served as a delegate to the Columbia Annual AME Conference. Also, he was a member of the Senior Choir and St. Paul Male Chorus. Joseph was the Patriarch of the Colclough family and loved his family deeply. Deliberately kind, he could always be counted on to assist anyone in need in the community whenever called upon. Some of his hobbies included gardening, working on cars, spending time with his many friends and family. His favorite past time was socializing, playing and mingling with his friends at American Bingo. Joseph’s greatest love was manifested in marriage to the former Betty Chandler on June 8, 1957. Together they shared 65 years of enchanted years of marriage that was only broken in death. He was a devoted husband, loving father, and grandfather. He leaves to cherish his memories: his wife Betty; four children, two sons, Joseph Jr. of Sumter and Payton (Cheryl) of Charlotte NC; two daughters, Cheryl (late Theodore) Harrison of Columbia and Lanna (Arnold) Wright of Goose Creek; one sister -in-law Gardenia Colclough of Sumter; seven grandchildren, Cherelle, Alina, Desmond, Austin, Chandler, Arnise and Lauren; three great grandchildren; special niece, Viola Myers; special nephew, George Myers; four god-daughters, Janice Singleton Goins, Valarie Pitts Sanders, Jeannine Pitts Gregg and Marie Hinton, and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. He was proceeded in death by his three brothers, David, Henry and William Colclough, and three sisters, Viola Hadley, Elizabeth Coplin and Ida Mae Myers. In accord with the COVID 19 guidelines, the family is requesting that face masks and social distancing be observed by relatives and friend during visitation from 4:00 – 7:00 p. m at the home, 4665 Patriot Parkway, Sumter. Viewing with visitation will be Tuesday, January 17, 2023, 5:00 – 6:00 p. m. in the John Wesley William Sr. Memorial Chapel of Williams Funeral Home, Inc., 821 North Main Street, Sumter. The Remains will be placed in the church at 10:00 a. m. for viewing until time of Services. Funeral services will be 11:00 a. m., Wednesday, January 18, 2023 at St. Paul A. M. E. Church – Shaw, 1495 St. Paul Church Road, Sumter. with Presiding Elder Rev. Sam McPherson, presiding, the Rev. Eric R. Dent, pastor, Eulogist.. Burial will follow in the St. Paul A. M. E. Church Shaw Yard Cemetery.
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