“For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight. I have finished my course. I have kept the faith”.II Timothy 4:6-7

Cleora Virginia Pauls as born November 1, 1936 in Cottageville, South Carolina. She was daughter of the late Howell Gantt, Sr. and the a late Margaret Farmer. God called her home on Monday March 12, 2018 at her residence in Walterboro, South Carolina.

 Cleora was educated in the Schools of Colleton County and graduated from Colleton High School in 1956. She was an excellent basketball player, playing her position as “Guard” under the guidance of the late Coach Wooten. Cleora was known to many as “Cleo,” a lady of Distinction, who enjoyed watching soap operas, taking care of her plants and dressing up.

She was a faithful member of Saint John A.M.E. Church, until her health began to fail.

She was married to the love of her life the late James Pauls. They moved to Miami, Florida. Later, they relocated to Brooklyn, New York. To this union, tow daughters were born, Doris Schenell  and Sandra.

Cleo was employed with the Board of Education for the city of New York as a secretary for over 30 years. Upon retirement, she returns back to Walterboro, South Carolina.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Howell Gantt, Sr. and Margaret Farmer, her husband, James Pauls and two brothers, Howell Gantt, Jr. and Henry Lee Gantt and two sisters-in-law, Maryann and Margaret Gantt.

Cleora touched many lives and will be remembered by her two daughters, Doris Schenell (Richard) of Charleston, South Carolina and Sandra Teague-Carroll (Tom) of Brooklyn, New York; three grandchildren, Vaughn (Natalie) Pauls, LeShawn Janer of Charleston, South Carolina and Kisha Teague of Delaware; three great-grand, Yasmine, Johan and Jaden all of Charlotte, North Carolina; three sisters, Mary Ruth Perry of Cottageville, South Carolina, Ella Gantt of Long Island, New York and Catherine Smith of Walterboro, South Carolina; two brothers, Richard (Rose) Gantt of Brooklyn, New York and Joseph (Gloria) Gantt of McClellanville, South Carolina and Virginia Smith (friend and sister-in-law) of Walterboro, South Carolina; one brother-in-law, Sherman Stephens of Bay Shore Long Island, New York; God children, Christina Gantt of Brooklyn, New York, and Imani Smith of Walterboro, South Carolina. A special friend Betty Shider and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. A special thank you to her family; her nurses, Debbie Cohen and Tasca Crawford