Singleton and Related Genealogy Pages
A history of many families.
1947 - 2024 (76 years)| Name | Lawrence Thomas “Larry” NETTLES [4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9] | |
| Suffix | Sr. | |
| Birth | 7 Jul 1947 | Sumter, Sumter County, South Carolina  [6] |
| Gender | Male | |
| HIST | of Sumter, South Carolina Date Published: November 23, 2008 Larry Nettles: Dedicated volunteer Keith Gedamke / The Item Larry Nettles, a volunteer with the American Red Cross, and Nancy Cataldo discuss the Heros campaign at the Sumter Office. The Red Cross By RANDY BURNS Item Staff Writer rburns@theitem.com There’s no doubt that Red Cross Volunteer Larry Nettles, 60, is a dedicated and committed Red Cross volunteer. Some might even say he’s a bit obsessed. “I’m not a saint,” Nettles said. “And I’m not the best person in the world. I do it for my own personal satisfaction. “If you think you have a problem, ride with me one time to a fire and you’ll realize you have no problem. Eight out of 10 people have no insurance. If it weren’t for Red Cross, these people would be on the streets.” Like all volunteers, Nettles receives no compensation. And while the Sumter native has participated in various disaster relief initiatives, he spends most of his time helping fire victims in Sumter and Kershaw counties. As a volunteer for the past four years, Nettles responds to more than 100 fires each year. His motivation? The appreciation shown by victims. “I’ll go to a grocery store and someone will come up and tell me that I saved their life,” Nettles said. “And a few months ago there was a family that lost everything. We took them to a motel and when we got there, a little girl — I guess she was 4 or 5 years old — came up to me with this great big smile and gave me a picture of herself and a $20 bill. Well, I gave the 20 dollars to her parents, but I still have that picture.” Nettles, a former Sumter businessman, is on call every month — two weeks in Sumter County and two weeks in Kershaw County. He is ready to respond 24 hours a day. “I really couldn’t do this without my wife’s support,” Nettles said. “The other night the phone rang at 11 p.m. There was a fire in Kershaw County. I didn’t hesitate. And my wife understands and supports me.” Helping fire victims, he said, “is the best feeling you can get.” Nettles said there are scores of volunteers in the tri-county area who, just like himself, do the work and receive nothing in return but the satisfaction of helping others. “We’ve got the best back-up staff and volunteers in South Carolina,” he said. “And Nancy Cataldo (the local director) is the best. She cares about the people we’re helping and she’ll stand by the volunteers. Nancy is 100 percent dedicated. I just think Red Cross is the best organization you’re going to find anywhere.” While Red Cross responds to national disasters, local Red Cross organizations stand ready to respond to local needs, primarily those of fire or storms or other emergencies. The Red Cross Service Center, headquartered in Sumter, is part of the Central South Carolina Chapter of Red Cross that serves 10 counties: Calhoun, Clarendon, Lee, Kershaw, Newberry, Fairfield, Richland, Lexington, Saluda and Sumter. While the budget provides for one full-time and a part-time employee and a few operational dollars, Red Cross is a volunteer organization, Cataldo said. “Red Cross would not exist without the leadership and help of valuable volunteers,” Cataldo said. At the Sumter Red Cross center, 30 volunteers provide regular weekly service, while more than 100 people are on call to respond to a major, extended disaster such as a hurricane. Volunteers are involved in all aspects of the organization. They serve as board members, health and safety instructors, caseworkers, nurses, counselors, disaster instructors, damage assessors, administrative workers, mass care workers, shelter managers, emergency response vehicle drivers, computer specialists, fundraisers, financial specialists, and fork lift operators. Red Cross is also on the scene providing food and drinks to emergency workers and victims when a long-term recovery event occurs, Cataldo said. The agency also has a special emergency communication program for armed forces personnel serving overseas, she said. Contact Staff Writer Randy Burns at rburns@theitem.com or (803) 491-4533. Sumter resident wins top Red Cross award Item File Photo Sumter resident wins top Red Cross award Larry Nettles, a volunteer with the American Red Cross, and Nancy Cataldo discuss the Heroes campaign at the Sumter Office. BY RANDY BURNS Special to The Item An early morning fire on Father's Day left a dozen residents of the Ashley Park Apartments in Bishopville with no place to go. Shortly after 5:30 a.m. Sunday, Red Cross Volunteer Larry Nettles of Sumter received a phone call to come to Bishopville to provide help for fire victims. Nettles, called Bop by his grandchildren, is also known by family, friends and the general public as the consummate Red Cross volunteer. Father's Day would have to wait. Nettles typically makes more than a dozen disaster response calls every month in Sumter, Lee, Clarendon and Kershaw counties. For his service, Nettles receives nothing. He is not on salary and does not receive a stipend. He is a true volunteer, according to Nancy Cataldo, director of operations at The Sumter Tri-County Red Cross Service Center. "Father's Day was the perfect example," Cataldo said. "He spent most of the day in Bishopville helping people. He always goes above and beyond the call of duty." Cataldo said Nettles' service to Red Cross is well known throughout the state. Last week, the Red Cross division in South Carolina awarded Nettles the Clara Barton Award for leadership and volunteer service. "This is the highest award given to a volunteer in the American Red Cross," Cataldo said. "Larry has helped raise over $300,000 for the American Red Cross since becoming a volunteer and has responded to more than 500 victims." Nettles said he is rewarded by the victims themselves. "Ninety percent of victims have no insurance," Nettles said. "They have nobody to turn to but Red Cross. I get my reward from the people we help. I'll go to a grocery store and someone will come up and tell me that Red Cross saved their life. Just a few weeks ago, a youngster came up to me in Hartsville and called me Mr. Red Cross." Lee County Fire Chief Mike Bedenbaugh said Nettles always "gives 110 percent." "Larry is going to make sure everybody is taken care of," Bedenbaugh said. "Larry gives that one-on-one personal attention to everybody. You can tell he really cares, and he does everything he can do to help." Bedenbaugh said Sunday's apartment fires resulted in about $100,000 in damages. One apartment was completely destroyed and three others received significant smoke and water damage, Bedenbaugh said. Nettles' assignment on Sunday was a familiar one for the veteran volunteer. "We make sure that everyone has a place to stay for three days and enough spending money for clothes, personal items and food," Nettles said. As part of the process, Nettles also makes sure the families are connected with other agencies in the tri-county area that will be able to provide additional support to the victims. Diane Mickel, a victim's advocate for the city of Bishopville, said Nettles and Red Cross came through for Lee County. I was impressed," Mickel said. "Red Cross got here in a timely manner, and they assessed the needs. Larry was very compassionate and sincere. He did what he needed to do for the people of Lee County. You could tell it was coming from his heart." Nettles said his family understood why Father's Day had to be put on hold Sunday. "They understand," Nettles said. "I've been doing this for seven years. They know people need the help. My son and grandson were spending the night with me Saturday night, but they knew I had to go out with Red Cross. All my grandkids can tell you all about Red Cross. " Still, Nettles said he appreciates the awards and believes they serve an important purpose. "I don't do this for the awards," he said. "But if this recognition helps get the message out about what Red Cross is all about, then I am going to take advantage of it." Red Cross receives nothing from federal and state government and is dependent solely upon community donations, Nettles said. And all money donated in the tri-county area is used for local disaster response. "The money is used right here at home," Nettles said. "The only money that leaves the Sumter area is when the donation specifically designates it should be used somewhere else like a Katrina or an earthquake." Still, more often than not Red Cross spends more money in the Sumter area than it collects. The need for donations motivates Nettles, who is also well known for his "gift of gab." Cataldo, the only paid Red Cross employee in the Sumter area, said she takes advantage of Nettles' ability and passion on fundraising projects. "I just sit back and let Larry talk," Cataldo said. "He has so much passion for Red Cross. He is excited about Red Cross and he gets other people excited." WANT TO HELP American Red Cross Tri-County Service Center 1155 N. Guignard Drive (803) 775-2363 centralscredcross.org More about Redcross ▪ ARTICLE: Local Red Cross in need of money ▪ ARTICLE: Red Cross sees spike in house fires ▪ ARTICLE: Red Cross seeks blood donations after winter weather Posted in Local news, News on Tuesday, June 21, 2011 LAWRENCE THOMAS NETTLES SR. Posted Thursday, February 1, 2024 6:00 am LEXINGTON - Lawrence "Larry" Thomas Nettles Sr., 76, widower of Garland Gulledge Nettles, died on Monday, Jan. 29, 2024, at Lexington Medical Center. Born on July 7, 1947, in Sumter, he was one of five children born to the late James Pinckney Nettles Sr. and Marjorie Mae Blackburn Nettles. He was the former owner and operator of Netco Turf & Tractor, and he was a member of Aldersgate United Methodist Church in Sumter. After retiring, he dedicated his time to community service and various charities and received the Clara Barton Award with the American Red Cross. He is survived by three children, Lawrence Thomas "Lance" Nettles Jr. (Suzanne) of Chapin, Edmund Nettles (Christy) of Darlington and Jackson Nettles (Noelle) of Lexington; seven grandchildren, Chasker, Derrick, Wyatt, Zachary, Dakotah, Dylan and Sabrina (Josh); a brother-in-law, Pebble Gulledge (Sue) of Wedgefield; and several nieces and nephews. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday in the chapel of Elmore-Cannon-Stephens Funeral Home, 515 Miller Road, Sumter, with the Rev. Jim Ridenhour officiating. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service from 10 to 11 a.m. at Elmore-Cannon-Stephens Funeral Home. Stephens Funeral Home & Crematory, 304 N. Church St., Manning, is in charge of arrangements, (803) 435-2179. www.stephensfuneralhome.org [3, 4, 6, 9] | |
| Occupation | a former Sumter businessman [6] | |
| _UID | 3EDD3E041FB646DE8C9FF6FB46FE3C2D1F56 | |
| Death | 29 Jan 2024 | Lexington Medical Center, Lexington County, South Carolina |
| Burial | 3 Feb 2024 | a memorial service was held in the chapel of Elmore-Cannon-Stephens Funeral Home, Sumter, South Carolina [3] |
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| Person ID | I5580 | Singleton and Related Families |
| Last Modified | 2 Feb 2024 | |
| Father | James Pinckney NETTLES, Sr., b. 25 Aug 1913, Sumter, Sumter County, South Carolina d. 4 Jun 1994, at his home (Age 80 years) | |
| Mother | Marjorie Mae “Margie” BLACKBURN | |
| _UID | CD9F8265BE634125A79F2B24866C1DFD7B38 | |
| _UID | CD9F8265BE634125A79F2B24866C1DFD7B38 | |
| Family ID | F50220 | Group Sheet | Family Chart |
| Family | Garland GULLEDGE, b. 25 Mar 1952, Sumter, Sumter County, South Carolina d. 31 Dec 2023, Lexington Medical Center, West Columbia, Lexington County, South Carolina (Age 71 years) | |||||||
| Marriage | 1970 [2] | |||||||
| _UID | 0D7FC20F3FDA42D1953EB9DF9F40491834D0 | |||||||
| _UID | 0D7FC20F3FDA42D1953EB9DF9F40491834D0 | |||||||
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| Family ID | F51227 | Group Sheet | Family Chart | ||||||
| Last Modified | 3 Jan 2024 | |||||||
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