Johnnie Earl "Tony" Chapman

Mr. Johnnie Earl Chapman, affectionately known as “Papa Joe” to some and “Tony” to others, departed this earthly life on Monday, May 27, 2013 at Lexington Medical Center in West Columbia, South Carolina. He was born January 18, 1938 in Cayce, South Carolina and was the son of the late John E. and Lizzie McClellan Chapman. Tony was a warm, loving man with a great sense of humor and a kind heart. As we all knew, he had a sense of style and fashion that was like no other. He never met a stranger and was known and loved by all. Tony was educated in the West Columbia community at Lakeview High. He was a self-trained plumber by trade and received his technical training with Hooker Plumbing in West Columbia, SC. He also served in the United States Army from 1956 to 1959 as a dental technician. He was a lifetime member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 4262 and member of the Post 215 of the American Legion. He was also a member of the Sons of Aid Lodge #6 and AP & B Society #40. He was a member of Fellowship Baptist Church in Pomaria, SC. Papa Joe retired in 1996 from Allied Signal in Columbia, SC where he was a machine operator. Later in life, he worked and retired from School District 5 of Lexington and Richland Counties. He also put his plumbing skills to use with Adams Plumbing and John Harmon Plumbing in Columbia, SC. In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by one brother, Robert Elonzo Chapman, one sister, Dorothy Chapman Corley, and one grandson, Kelvin Wilson. Tony leaves to cherish precious memories; his loving wife of 43 years, Mary Rutherford Chapman of the home; a devoted son Justin Earl Chapman of Columbia, SC; one daughter Joyce (Larry) Wilson, of Columbia, SC; two brothers, Wallace Daniel (Ethel) Chapman of Grady, AL and William Jerome (Christine) Chapman of Hopkins, SC; three sisters-in-law Bessie (Richard) Bookman of Newberry, SC, Eva Mae Rutherford of Pomaria, SC, Glenise Rutherford of Newberry, SC; seven brothers-in-law Samuel Corley and Reverend Derry (Elizabeth) Rutherford of Columbia, SC, Jeffie (Bennie) Rutherford and Joe Louis (Shirley) Rutherford of Pomaria, SC, George (Annie) Rutherford and David (Saundra) Rutherford of Newberry, SC, and Donald (Elizabeth) Rutherford, Prosperity, SC; two grandchildren, Tamara (Cory) Kohn of Fort Stewart, GA and Brian (Kayla) Wilson of Jacksonville, NC; nine great-grandchildren, one cousin, Bernice Luck of Philadelphia, PA; a devoted friend, Alphonzo Dawkins of California and a host of nieces, nephews, other cousins, and friends who will miss him dearly.

Johnnie Earl "Tony" Chapman

January 18, 1938 - May 27, 2013