Rhett ("Cotton Picker") Sandifer

Funeral services for Joseph Rhett “Cotton Picker” Sandifer, 87, of Blackville, SC will be held eleven o’clock a.m. Saturday, December 14, 2019 in the Folk Funeral Home Chapel, Williston, SC with Reverend Andy Sandifer and Chaplin Ben Langdale officiating; burial will be in the Sandifer Family Cemetery. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the funeral home on Saturday. Memorial contributions may be sent to Regency Hospice, 105 Rodriguez Ct., Orangeburg, SC 29118. The family would like to give a special thank you to Regency Hospice including Dale Phillips, RN, Deloris Glover, CNA, Ben Langdale, Chaplin, Franklin Coulter, MD and Lynn Shuler, Social Worker for all of the care and concern they have shown Rhett during these past few years. Also want to thank Rhett’s granddaughter Courtney Hutto for being her grandfather’s personal doctor and caregiver and treating him with such love. Rhett passed away at home on Thursday, December 12, 2019.

Born in Bamberg County, SC he was a son of the late Otis LeRoy Sandifer, Sr. and Ineeda Grubbs Sandifer. He was a member at the First Baptist Church of Denmark and a retired farmer who owned and operated Sandifer Farms and the Farmer’s Produce Market.  When he was in the sixth grade he had to quit school to provide for his siblings after his dad passed away unexpectedly. He married the love of his life, Betty Lee Collins Sandifer, and in 1956, he was drafted in the U.S. Army. After returning home, he started farming with his brothers, Jack and Phil, he eventually branched out on his own and came to be one of the biggest cotton farmers in Barnwell and Bamberg Counties; he was known as the “Cotton Picker”. He was in several Treflan television commercials, was featured in several farming magazines, and received Farmer of the Year recognition. Rhett always told his friends he likes a man with a firm handshake, a sharp pocket knife, and a friendly smile.

Survivors include his loving wife of 65  years, Betty Sandifer of the home; daughters Beverly Sandifer Martin, Donna Sandifer (Mike) Lott all of Barnwell; sons Steven Rhett “Steve” (Cynthia) Sandifer of Barnwell, Terry (Paula) Sandifer of Blackville; sisters Patty (Kendall) McCormack of Lexington, Linda Collins of Barnwell, Kitty McCormick of Blackville and June Atterholt of Tipp City, OH; brothers Jack (Jeanette) Sandifer and Phil (Jackie) Sandifer; grandchildren Stephanie Sandifer Yeary and fiancé Kevin Rhoad, Steven Jeffery “Jeff” (Mindy) Sandifer, Courtney Virginia (Jack) Hutto, MP, Rebecca “Becky” (Chris) Zissett, Jessica Sandifer Hutto, Jason Gregory (Stephanie) Davis, David Joseph (Tara) Berry, Brandon Mark Berry, Matthew Foy Fields, Seth Logan (Tina) Fields; great grandchildren Leslee, Harlee, Weston Rhett, Rilee, Jackson, Bhrettlee, John Luke, Chandler, Chanston, Channing, Colin, Kaylin, Austin, Caylee, Harper, Hartlee, Natalee, Rowan; numerous nieces, nephews and cousins and his loyal companion Smokey.

He was preceded in death by a granddaughter Amy Melissa Sandifer; a sister Betty Wetzel and brothers Hammond Sandifer, Reverend Billy Sandifer, Otis Sandifer, Jr. and Frank Sandifer.

“Come on Mama, let’s go to bed, so these people can go home.”

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