Rock Hill, SC – Cornelius May “Red” Ross, 82, passed away peacefully at home.
Red’s funeral service will be held at 3:00 pm on Sunday, May 5, 2024 at Lighthouse Pentecostal Church, 333 Highway 21, Fort Mill, SC with Pastor Carl Williams officiating. The family will receive friends prior to the service beginning at 2:00 pm. Burial will be immediately following the service in Unity Cemetery, 303 Tom Hall St., Fort Mill, SC 29715.
Born in Carrabelle, FL, Red was the son of the late Leroy Miley and the late Annie Watson Miley. He was also preceded in death by his wife, Dorothy Lee Ross, his daughter, Linda Faye Peek, his son, Billy June Blackwelder, his grandson, Ian Stroud, and his great grandson, Junior Sexton. Red worked in insulation for Daniels Construction, Covil Construction, and Duke Power Construction. He later retired from Duke Power.
Red proudly served his country as a United States Marine. At the time of his honorable discharge, he was a Lance Corporal.
Red loved his family well and deeply loved his wife of 48 years, Dorothy. He always enjoyed any opportunity to spend time with his family. One of his favorite outings was to join others for a meal. He enjoyed dinners with the seniors from his church, and loved going out for seafood, especially eating oysters with his son. He was a member of Lighthouse Pentecostal Holiness Church in Fort Mill, SC.
Red had an incredible gift in building and perfecting guitars. He shared his love for guitars with his children and grandchildren, building guitars for them and teaching them to play. He played several different string instruments, including the violin, guitar, and the bass guitar, which he enjoyed playing at his church.
Surviving are his children, Ann Estes of Rock Hill, SC, Carl Wesley Blackwelder (Theresa) of Chester, SC, Donald Ray Blackwelder (Charlene) of Georgia, Jane Curlee (Mickey) of Salisbury, NC, and Sue Stroud of Roanoke, VA; his sister, Aleta Baker (Kenny); 19 grandchildren; 28 great grandchildren; and 11 great-great grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Red’s name to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105-9959.
Condolences may be made at www.greenefuneralhome.net.