The Rev. Billy Wade "B.W." Downing, 87, husband of Grace Leota Cook Downing, died Sunday, June 20, 2010, at his home.
Funeral services will be at 3 p.m. Thursday at Sumter (S.C.) First Church of the Nazarene with the Rev. Greg Pressley, Dr. Eddie Estep and Dr. James Thrower officiating. Burial will be in the Evergreen Memorial Park Cemetery. Honorary pallbearers will be ministers of the Church of the Nazarene.
The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Elmore-Cannon-Stephens Funeral Home and other times at the home, 209 Lesesne Dr., Sumter, S.C.
Memorials may be made to Sumter First Church of the Nazarene, 3700 Patriot Parkway, Sumter, SC 29154.
Elmore-Cannon-Stephens Funeral Home and Crematorium of Sumter is in charge of arrangements.
Born in Hattiesburg, Miss., he was a son of the late Dewey Downing and the late Nannie Tucker Downing.
Rev. Downing was ordained into the ministry at age 20 by Dr. J.B. Chapman. He pastored churches in Fort Mill, S.C., Mississippi, Indiana and retired as the pastor of Sumter First Church of the Nazarene. He also served as an interim pastor for 15 years after retirement.
Survivors include his wife; four children, Ruth Heaberlin (Heab) of Columbia, Michael W. Downing of Columbia, Deborah Hofferbert (Steve) of Campinas, Brazil, and Dr. Paul R. Downing of Columbia; six grandchildren, Scott, Daniel, Sheri, Maren, Campbell and Hollyn; two great-grandchildren, Cayleigh and Lauren; and a brother, Joseph Downing (Linda) of Ovett, Miss.
He was preceded in death by a grandson, Billy Wade Downing II.
