Abraham Benjamin Riley III

Funeral services for Abraham B. “Benny” Riley III (US Army Ret.), 63, of Columbia, will be 1:00 p.m. Friday, March 19, 2010 at Greenlawn Funeral Home Chapel. Burial with Full Military Honors will follow in Greenlawn Memorial Park. The family will receive friends for viewing and visitation from 6 – 8pm Thursday evening at Greenlawn Funeral Home.

Mr. Riley passed away on Thursday, March 11, 2010 after an extended illness. He was born June 27, 1946 in Philadelphia, PA to the late Abraham B. Riley, Jr. and Eulalia V. Swinney Riley. Mr. Riley served 21 years in the US Army, including 2 tours of duty in Vietnam, before his retirement from active duty. Following his military service he worked for 20 years with the SC Department of Mental Health prior to his retirement. Mr. Riley graduated from Baylor University with a business degree, and was a member of the Jehovah’s Witness. He was also very active in the Boy Scouts as Master of Troop 158, where he produced two Eagle Scouts. Mr. Riley also served as Community Liaison for the Bluff Road Community.

He is survived by his loving wife, Catherine Robertson Riley; three daughters, Carolyn Jackson, Jacqueline Santiago and Michele Riley; three sons, Jerome Jackson, Roosevelt Jackson and Anthony Riley; seven grandchildren; one great-grand; three brothers, Carson Riley and Talmadge Riley both of Philadelphia, PA and Kem Riley of Columbia; and three sisters, Diane Gatewood of King of Prussia, PA and Stephanie Bennett and Jane Riley Williams both of Philadelphia, PA.

He was predeceased by his parents; and a sister, Reauchean Riley.