Otis “Allen” Givens, Jr., 85, passed away June 5, 2022 at his residence surrounded by his loving family. He was born April 18, 1937 to the late Otis Allen and Coree Boylston Givens, Sr. He was a 1955 graduate of Williston Elko High School. On March 30, 1967, Allen married the love of his life, Betty Alice Page. “A.G.” was a welding instructor at Aiken Technical College and retired from the South Carolina Department of Corrections at Trenton Correctional Institute where he was instrumental in teaching welding to inmates to prepare them for a better life. He also operated Givens Gym for several years in Williston. After retirement, Allen followed his true passion of farming as owner and operator of Givens Farms, a century long farm business. His son Len and grandsons worked along-side him and will continue his farming legacy.
Allen was a life-long member of Edisto Baptist Church. He began singing at the age of 6 and took great pride in leading the singing at Edisto Baptist Church. His voice was a blessing to all. Family events always included gathering around the piano for Allen to lead everyone in singing his favorite hymns. He was the Givens Boylston family genealogist and enjoyed researching and documenting his family’s lineage and sharing family facts with others.
He is survived by a daughter Renee Givens McHenry of Barnwell and three sons; Otis Allen “Len” (LeeAnn) Givens, Thomas “Buddy” Brady, William “Bill” Brady and daughter in law Elisabeth Priest Davis of Williston. He was “Poppie” to four grandchildren, Connor Allen and Morgan O’Neal Givens of Williston; Olivia Alice and Shelby Ann McHenry of Barnwell. Allen also leaves a sister and brother in law; Mary Katherine Givens (Thomas) Burton of Williston; special cousin, Mary Francis Boylston; four nephews. 3 nieces and host of great nephews and nieces.
Mr. Givens was preceded in death by his parents, wife, sister and brother in law; Beatrice Givens (Robert) Wells; son in law; John McHenry, III, daughter in law, Marion Brady; and niece Martha Bonds.
Funeral services will be held eleven o’clock a.m., Wednesday, June 8, 2022 in the Folk Funeral Home Chapel, Williston, with the Reverends Dr. Thomas Terry and Carl Kleinholz officiating; burial will be in the Williston Cemetery. The family will receive friends from six to eight p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.
The family would like to thank Justin Folk and the nurses from Kindred Hospice, Alisha Jackson, Brittany Givens, and Wendy Smits for all of the love, care and kindness shown to Allen and his family during these last few weeks.
Memorials can be made in Allen’s memory to the Williston Cemetery Fund c/o Folk Funeral Home, P.O. Box 367, Williston, SC.
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