Our Staff In Memoriam

James A. Cannon 1929 – 2015

James Cannon died at home surrounded by his family on Sunday, March 22, 2015. He will be dearly missed by the Cannon family, by the Heritage family and by the Golden Strip communities that he genuinely loved and served for decades.

He was a life-long resident of Fountain Inn, and a third generation Funeral Director. He attended Wofford College in Spartanburg and graduated from the Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science in 1949. After graduating and returning to Fountain Inn, he joined the family funeral business and served the community for more than 50 years.

Mr. Cannon was nationally recognized for his expertise in the industry and served as a member of the National Selected Morticians. He also served in numerous leadership capacities with the National Funeral Directors’ Association, the South Carolina Funeral Directors’ Association, the South Carolina Cemetery Association and the Southern Cemetery Association.

Mr. Cannon served numerous community organizations including the Fountain Inn Chamber of Commerce, City Council, the Lion’s Club and as a volunteer firefighter. He was an avid golfer, one of the original organizers of the Fox Run Country Club, a long-time member of the Greenville Country Club, the Senior Golfers of South Carolina and the Foothills Senior Golf Association.

He was a life-long member of Trinity United Methodist Church in Fountain Inn and was married to the late Sara Frances Askins. They had three children, Cathy Cannon Hubka, Carol Cannon Hopkins and James “Al” Cannon Jr.

It is the 135+ year history of family funeral service that led to the name of “Heritage” for the current organization.

Mr. Cannon was a Co-Owner and Director Emeritus of Heritage Funeral Home at the time of his death.

Dozier Brooks 1934-2014

We at Heritage lost a great friend on Saturday, August 9, 2014 when the Lord called Dozier home. He had taken a great interest in our organization and thoroughly enjoyed serving families as a Funeral Assistant. He will be dearly missed by Judy and their family, by the Heritage family and by the community, as a whole, that he so tirelessly served for decades.

We have replaced his biography with the obituary that was published at the time of his passing. It read as follows:

Dozier Brooks, 80, of Fountain Inn, husband of Judy Cook Brooks, went to be with the Lord on Saturday, August 9, 2014.

Born in Union Springs, Alabama, he was a son of the late Alf Roland Brooks and Alma Jane Brooks.

Mr. Brooks was a graduate of Greenville Technical College and worked as a design and construction manager in a Civil Engineering Firm for many years from which he retired. He served our country in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War.

Mr. Brooks served on the Greenville County Delegation Transportation Committee, the Hillcrest Hospital Advisory Council, and the Greenville Technical College, Brashier Campus, Advisory Board. He was a member of Harmony Baptist Church in Fountain Inn where he was a Deacon and former Treasurer. Mr. Brooks served eight years as a Greenville County Councilman and four years as Chairman. He served as Chairman of the Board of the Appalachian Council of Governments, Greenville County Planning Commission, and Fountain Inn City Council where he also served as Commissioner of both the Police and Fire Departments. He was a member of the Fountain Inn Chamber of Commerce.

In addition to his wife, Judy, he is survived by one son, John, and his wife Ashley, of Fountain Inn; two grandchildren, Paige and Parker Brooks; one brother, Alf Brooks Jr. and his wife, Lee, of Fountain Inn; one sister, Thelma Dodson, of Missouri; and eighteen nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by one daughter, Ashley; three brothers, and one sister.

The family received friends on Wednesday evening, August 13, 2014 from 5:30 until 7:30 PM at Heritage Funeral Home, Simpsonville.

The Funeral Service was on Thursday, August 14, 2014 at 3:00 PM at Harmony Baptist Church in Fountain Inn. Interment followed in the Church cemetery.

Alton Weathers 1925-2019

We all lost a great friend on Friday, February 8, 2019 when the Lord called Alton home. Alton served families for over 50 years at Cannon Funeral Home and Memorial Park. We will all deeply miss Mr. Alton.

We have replaced his biography with the obituary that was published at the time of his passing. It read as follows:

Alton Weathers, 94, of Fountain Inn, husband of Helen P. Weathers for 70+ years, passed away on Friday, February 8, 2019 with his family by his side.

Mr. Weathers was the son of the late John H. and Annie Mae Thomason Weathers. He was a lifelong resident of the Fountain Inn area and longtime member of Beulah Baptist Church, where he served in many capacities of church work during the years. He was called into the Army in 1943 and entered combat wartime at Omaha Beach on the Normandy Coast of France in 1944. During the war, he was involved in three of the main battles in France and Germany, receiving medals for action seen there. After returning home from the war, he owned and operated Weathers Bus Line until 1950. He then entered the postal service and was appointed Postmaster in 1960 by President Eisenhower. He served in that capacity until 1986 when he retired. He was a member of the National Association of Postmasters, beginning in 1960. He joined the Fountain Inn Masonic Lodge in 1948 and served as the Master of Lodge in 1963.

Mr. Weathers is survived by his wife of 70+ years, Helen Pressley Weathers; a daughter, Susan Weathers Power, and her husband, Rick, of Simpsonville; a grandson, Barrett H. Power, and his wife, Cassie, of Fountain Inn; a granddaughter, Kathryn Susanne Power, of Simpsonville; three great-grandchildren, Mary Ellis, Hunter and Tanner Power all of Fountain Inn.

Funeral services were held at Beulah Baptist Church, Fountain Inn, SC on Monday, February 11, 2019 at 1:00 PM, with Pastor Chris Bryan officiating. The family received friends at the church prior to the service.

Entombment with military honors followed in the Cannon Memorial Park Chapel Mausoleum.

In lieu of flowers, the family requested that memorials be made to: Beulah Baptist Church Cemetery Fund.

Barbara Pridmore 1945-2019

Barbara Pridmore was a familiar face for people in the Upstate. She lived in the Mauldin and Simpsonville area for over 60 years and retired from the transportation industry after 30 years. Barbara felt a true calling from God to work and serve families through our funeral homes. We lost a great friend on Thursday, July 4, 2019 when the Lord called Barbara home. Barbara’s obituary follows:

Barbara Pridmore, 74, of Simpsonville, went to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Thursday, July 4, 2019. Born in Simpsonville, she was a daughter of the late Robert William and Elizabeth Pridmore.

Barbara is survived by her brother, Robert Pridmore, and his wife, Carol, of Greenville; her niece, Michelle Pridmore also of Greenville; her nephew, Kevin Cooper of FL.; her dear friend, Marsha Hawkins of Simpsonville; and her God-Son, Jack Hawkins and his wife, Heather, of GA.

A Funeral Service was held on Sunday, July 7, 2019 at 4:00 pm in the First Baptist Church of Simpsonville Chapel with Pastor Wayne Bray officiating. Interment followed in Cannon Memorial Park. The family received friends in the Church Chapel starting at 2:00 pm prior to the service.

In lieu of flowers, the family requested that memorials be made to: First Baptist Church Simpsonville, 3 Hedge St., Simpsonville, SC 29681.

Robert “Bob” Keely 1951-2023

We lost another great friend on Monday, October 2, 2023, when the Lord called Bob home. He thoroughly enjoyed supporting the families we are honored to serve. He will be dearly missed by Celeste and their family and by the community that we all call home.

We have replaced Bob’s biography with the obituary that was published at the time of his passing. It read as follows:

Rev. Bob Keely, 71, of Fountain Inn, husband of Celeste Cooke Keely, fought the good fight and finished his race on Monday, October 2, 2023, while at home surrounded by his family.

Bob graduated from Western Illinois University with post-graduate work at Indiana University. He spent 30+ years with Dixie Drivers Service, as Corporate Director of Marketing.  After a short retirement, he attended Duke University and Emory University while serving as a Local Pastor of the United Methodist Church for many years.

Bob served on various boards and committees: Piedmont Mental Health Board of Directors for over 30 years, several school PTA and SIC boards, Simpsonville Recreation planning committee, local food bank boards (James Monroe Mission House/Laurens County Food Ministry, Inc.) and other community organizations.

Born in Washington, IL, he was a son of the late Bill & Jean Keely. He is survived by his wife of 36 years, Celeste, as well as his children, Tony (Amy) Keely, Jennie (Rusty) Taylor, Nick (Alicia) Keely, and Bryce (Jodi) Keely; five grandchildren, Landon Taylor, Noah Taylor, Reaves Keely, Fields Keely, and Kinsley Mewborne; two brothers, Jim (Chris) Keely, and David (Linda) Keely, as well as many nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents, Bob was preceded in death by his in-laws, Rev. Bill & Mrs. Marian Cooke.

The family received friends on Friday, October 6, 2023, from 5:00 – 7:00 pm at Cannon Byrd Funeral Home – Simpsonville, 313 N. Main St., Simpsonville, SC 29681.

A Funeral Service was held on Sunday, October 8, 2023, at 4:00 pm at Simpsonville United Methodist Church, 215 SE Main St., Simpsonville, SC 29681 with Rev. Dr. Mike Smith officiating. Interment followed in Cannon Byrd Memorial Park in Fountain Inn.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to:  Simpsonville Methodist Church (Discretionary Fund) or James Monroe Mission House.

The family extended a special thanks to the downtown St. Francis Hospital Staff and Hospice of the Upstate for the extraordinary love and care they showed to Bob and his family.