Albert Murray Sparrow Sr.

Albert Murray Sparrow, Sr., 87, of Abbeville, husband of Beatrice 'Bea' Campbell Sparrow, died peacefully on Monday, January 03, 2011 at the Hospice House in Greenwood. He was born in Winston-Salem, NC to the late Albert Louis & Genevie McMahan Sparrow. Mr. Sparrow served in the United States Army during WWII in the 253rd Field Armored Artillery Battalion and was a recipient of the Purple Heart and Bronze Star Medals. Following WWII, Mr. Sparrow worked at the Abbeville-Milliken Plant and was an agent with the Life of Georgia and Textile General Insurance Companies. Mr. Sparrow retired from the Abbeville Shirt Plant with 29 years of service. He was a member, Lay Leader and Sunday School teacher at Bells United Methodist Church for many years. Mr. Sparrow was a member of the American Legion Post #2, a Life member of the VFW Post 6087 and former member of the Abbeville Lions Club. He is survived by his wife of 63 years of the home; a son, Ray Sparrow, Jr., and his wife Shadonne of Greenwood; three grandchildren, Joshua Garth Sparrow and his wife Nickie of Greenwood, Erica Sisiam and her husband Joseph of Greenwood and Matthew Scott Sparrow and his wife Stephanie of Goose Creek, SC; two great-grandchildren, Alysa and Connor Sparrow. The family will receive friends from 11:00AM to 12:30PM on Wednesday, January 5, 2011 at Harris Funeral Home. Funeral services will begin at 1:00PM on Wednesday in the funeral home chapel with the Rev. Joseph Johnson officiating. Burial will follow in Bells United Methodist Church Cemetery with military honors. Memorial contributions, in memory of Mr. Sparrow, may be sent to the Abbeville Veterans Memorial Foundation, PO Box 853, Abbeville, SC 29620-4319. The family is at the residence. A message of condolence may be sent to the family by visiting www.harrisfuneral.com. HARRIS FUNERAL HOME & CREMATION SERVICES of Abbeville is assisting the Sparrow family.