Elizabeth Mae (Guin) Nivens, 103, of Spartanburg, passed away Tuesday, January 1, 2008, at Hillcrest Memorial Hospital in Simpsonville.

Born May 25, 1904, in Gastonia, NC, she was the daughter of the late Nathaniel and Etta (Smith) Guin and the wife of the late Joseph M. Nivens.

A full-time homemaker, she was most recently a member of Canaan Baptist Church in Spartanburg. As a former member of Southside Baptist Church in Spartanburg, she taught many children in Sunday School. On the 90th Anniversary of the Southern Baptist Convention GA's in 2004, Mrs. Nivens was recognized by the WMU at their annual meeting, which was held at Taylors First Baptist Church, as South Carolina's oldest living member of the GA's.

Mrs. Nivens is survived by six children; three daughters, Frances Culbertson and her husband Bill of Lake Badin, NC, Juanita Perry and her husband Ed of Simpsonville, and Joan McNeill of Clinton; and three sons, Donald M. Nivens and his wife Katherine of Moore, Curtis Nivens and his wife Jane of Greenville, and David Nivens and his wife Barbara of Inman. She is also survived by 19 grandchildren; 38 great-grandchildren; and 8 great-great-grandchildren.

She was predeceased by two brothers.

Visitation was 1:00-1:45 p.m. Friday, January 4, 2008, at Floyd's Greenlawn Chapel.

Funeral services followed at 2:00 p.m. at the Chapel conducted by her grandsons, the Rev. Steven Genoble and Dr. Joseph H. McNeill. Burial was in Greenlawn Memorial Gardens.

Pallbearers were Bill Flynn, Eddie Perry, Neal McNeill, Jimmy McNeill, Donald M. Nivens, and David Davenport. David Nivens, Jr. served as Honorary Escort.

Memorials could be made to Canaan Baptist Church Building Fund, 701 Canaan Road, Spartanburg, SC 29306.

Floyd's Greenlawn Chapel

Spartanburg Herald Journal
Published: Thursday, January 3, 2008