RUFFIN: Mrs. Emily Gay Ulmer Nettles, widow of J.J. Nettles Jr. (“Junior”), passed away peacefully October 21, 2024 at her home under hospice care, with her children by her side. She was born October 8, 1942 in Ruffin, SC to Benjamin Gary Ulmer Sr. And Bridie Marie Breland Ulmer, the seventh of eight children. She was a 1960 graduate of Bells High School. After high school, Gay worked with Perryman Insurance until after she got married and had to leave for medical reasons while carrying her first child. Several years after having her second child, she returned to the business world as secretary at Bells Elementary School for a year, after which she left to become a full-time mother and farm hand on her and her husband’s farm. In 1960, Gay met the love of her life, Junior Nettles, and after a five year courtship, they were wed on March 20, 1965. Together they raised three children on that farm showering them with love and teaching them the value of hard work in school and on the farm and above all else, instilling Christian values and love for the Lord through their example. She is survived by her children LaDean Drawdy and her husband Chris of Ruffin, Jack Nettles and his wife Vicky of Columbia, and Bonnie Newton and her husband Keith Sr. of Ruffin. She has two grandchildren, Keith “Scooter” Newton Jr. (Natalie) and Megan Newton Tirpak (Nick), three step-grandchildren, Savannah, Suzanne and Christina Drawdy, and two great-grandchildren, Kaden and Kohen. Gay leaves behind three brothers, George Ulmer of Brunson, Terry Ulmer (Mary) of Hampton, and Keith Ulmer of Ruffin, and well as two sisters-in-law Maxine and Frances Ulmer. In addition to her parents, and her husband, she was preceded in death by her sister Claire Weeks, and by her brothers Gary, Olin, and Paul Ulmer. Funeral services will be held Thursday morning, October 24, 2024 at 11:00 at Bethel Methodist Church in Ruffin, with burial following in the Shiloh Baptist Church Cemetery. The family will receive friends Wednesday evening, October 23, 2024 from 5:00 until 7:00 at Parker-Rhoden Funeral Home, 117 Paul Street in Walterboro. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to either Bethel Methodist Church or to Shiloh Baptist Church Cemetery.
