Sgt. Major (Retired) Franklin Clyde “Clyde” COKER

1922 - 2011  (89 years)

• Name	Franklin Clyde “Clyde” COKER  [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
  Prefix	Sgt. Major (Retired)
  Birth	13 Mar 1922	Shiloh community in Sumter County, South Carolina   [6]
  Gender	Male
  HIST	Barbara (Ardis) & Clyde Coker 1 Richardson Street Sumter, SC 773-1961 of Turbeville and Columbia, South Carolina Sgt. Maj. Franklin C. Coker Retired Sgt. Maj. Franklin Clyde Coker, beloved husband of Barbara Ardis Coker, was released from the effects of pancreatic cancer on Aug. 5, 2011. Born in Sumter County March 13, 1922, he was a son of the late Samuel Whiteford and Mary Alice Floyd Coker of Turbeville and Columbia and the last of 10 children born to the couple. He was a veteran of World War II, having served with General Patton's Third Army, Sixth Armored Division. He continued his military service from 1948 to 1982 with the South Carolina Army National Guard and retired from military service in 1982. He retired as a state employee in the office of the Adjutant General in 1994. He moved his family back home to Sumter in 1995. Coker received the Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal, Reserve Component Achievement Medal with seven Oak Leaf Clusters, American Campaign Medal, European/African/Middle Eastern Theater Medal with three Bronze Stars, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, Noncommissioned Officers Professional Development Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, Combat Infantryman's Badge, State Service Medal for 30 years, Governor's Unit Citation and The State Guardsman Retirement Medal. At his retirement ceremony conducted by Maj. Gen. T. Eston Marchant Jr., he was presented with the original recruiter badge issued by the state of South Carolina - an honor bestowed upon him by his fellow soldiers. He served as a Ruling Elder in the Presbyterian Church and as a former Sunday school teacher and deacon. He was past president of Local 1639 National Federation of Federal Employees; vice president of the National Guard General Council, NFFE; past president of the E8/E9 Association; a life member of the S.C. National Guard Association; and a member and volunteer of the Sumter County Genealogical Society. He was a member of Aldersgate Methodist Church of Sumter. Surviving in addition to his wife, Barbara, are daughters, Alissa Post Best (Lary) and grandchildren Kayla and Connor of Chesapeake, Va.; and Connie C. Woodard and grandchildren James and Hollie, of Columbia. Surviving sons are John P. Post and grandson Jonathan of Gaston; and Robert L. Coker and grandsons Randy and Todd of Lexington County. Also surviving is his beloved sister-in-law, Laura Ardis Rollinson (John) of Camden, as well as great grandchildren, nieces and nephews. Burial at Sumter Cemetery will be private. Those who wish to make memorials may do so through the Tuomey Hospice House Project, 115 N. Sumter St., Suite 120, Sumter, SC 29150. Elmore-Cannon-Stephens Funeral Home is assisting the family during this time of loss. Posted in Obituaries on Sunday, August 7, 2011  [4]
  MILI	He was a veteran of World War II, having served with General Patton’s Third Army, Sixth Armored Division. He continued his military service from 1948 to 1982 with the South Carolina Army National Guard and retired from military service in 1982. Coker received the Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal, Reserve Component Achievement Medal with seven Oak Leaf Clusters, American Campaign Medal, European/African/Middle Eastern Theater Medal with three Bronze Stars, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, Noncommissioned Officers Professional Development Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, Combat Infantryman's Badge, State Service Medal for 30 years, Governor's Unit Citation and The State Guardsman Retirement Medal. At his retirement ceremony conducted by Maj. Gen. T. Eston Marchant Jr., he was presented with the original recruiter badge issued by the state of South Carolina - an honor bestowed upon him by his fellow soldiers. He was a veteran of World War II and retired from the S. C. Office of the Adjutant General  [4, 5]
  _UID	8712024D5B3A49D69548519E4A271F11092D
  Death	5 Aug 2011
  Burial	Sumter Cemetery, 700 W. Oakland Avenue, Sumter, Sumter County, South Carolina   [4]
  Person ID	I68326	Singleton and Related Families
  Last Modified	11 Sep 2022

  
  

  Father	Samuel Whiteford COKER,   b. 23 Jan 1881, Turbeville, Sumter County/Clarendon County, South Carolina d. 12 Oct 1959, Richland County, South Carolina (Age 78 years)
  Mother	Mary Alice FLOYD,   b. 3 Jul 1880, Sumter County/Clarendon County, South Carolina d. 14 Mar 1934, Richland County, South Carolina (Age 53 years)
  Marriage	1903	Turbeville, Clarendon County, South Carolina   [7]
  _UID	758E10549DB542EFA34BA4F3FAEE73440E7C
  _UID	758E10549DB542EFA34BA4F3FAEE73440E7C
  Family ID	F48436	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family 1	Janie DENNIS
  _UID	D01F52C6A8774F6EBEAFC90ABFCFCB179303
  _UID	D01F52C6A8774F6EBEAFC90ABFCFCB179303
  Children	1. Living   2. Connie COKER
  Family ID	F148884	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	23 Mar 2026

  
  

  Family 2	Barbara Virginia ARDIS,   b. 20 Jul 1940, Sumter, Sumter County, South Carolina d. 7 Sep 2022, at her home, (Sumter, Sumter County, South Carolina) (Age 82 years)
  Marriage	19 Dec 1981	Cayce, South Carolina   [6, 8]
  _UID	988B32A8EF18470DBF7B8CC5E8F8954EA6D6
  _UID	988B32A8EF18470DBF7B8CC5E8F8954EA6D6
  Family ID	F47710	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	22 Jan 2002

  
  

• Sources

  [S12039] Ms Jacqueline K. Hughes, page 61. [S14131] Bertie A. Doverspike. [S15016] . [S16486] Sgt. Maj. Franklin C. Coker. [S30213] Barbara Virginia Ardis Post Coker. [S930] . [S12039] Ms Jacqueline K. Hughes, page 62. [S961] .