Evans "Buck" Porcher 77, husband of Willie Mae McLeod Porcher peacefully transitioned into eternal rest on Friday, April 20, 2018 at National Health Care.  He was the oldest son born to the late Deacon Henry and Estelle Gallashaw Porcher on December 16, 1940 in Sumter County, South Carolina.

He accepted Christ at this personal Savior at an early age, was baptized and became a member of the Barnettsville Baptist Church under the pastorate of the Rev. Dupree.

Buck attended Hope Elementary School, which was a one-room school and later attended Ebenezer High School in Dalzell, South Carolina, graduating with the class of 1959.  He also enrolled and took accounting courses.  He met and married his high school sweetheart and they later moved to Washington, DC.  Through this union God blessed him and his wife with three lovely daughters:  Gwendolyn Denise, and Shelia Juanita of Alexandria, Virginia and Sylvia Marie of the home. While living in Washington, he worked at the Army and Navy Club and later went to work for the District of Columbia.  He and his family re-located to Sumter and he worked at Exide Battery where he later retired.  He was also an insurance agent.

At an early age of four, he became interested in guitars.  Upon receiving a guitar, he began making beautiful music and his parents bought him a bigger guitar.  He played the guitar so well until his uncle, the late Matthew Gallashaw, along with his father, organized the Singing Cousins.  There were two separate groups – teenaged males and females.  As the group matured, they began leaving the area; however, the male group continued to sing.  Even today, there are still members of this group that has begun singing as a group.  The male group of the Singing Cousins was the first gospel group to broadcast live on a radio station in Sumter on Sunday Mornings.  The groups were very active traveling and spreading the Gospel by singing traditional spiritual and gospel songs in areas as far as the state of Virginia.

When Buck lived in Washington, DC, he played guitar with the Evening Stars.  Upon relocating to South Carolina, he immediately started playing with a gospel group.  God has truly blessed him to be able to play the guitar continuously since he was a child up until the time his health failed, which was earlier this year.  While hospitalized, he would smile when you mention the guitar.  The last group that he played for was called "Buck and the Heavenly Lights".  They were instrumental in recording a variety of songs.  Up until his health declined, he was actively playing for the Mount Moriah UME Church in Alcolu, SC.  On June 28, 2008, he was recognized, along with other musicians with gospel groups in Barnettsville Baptist Church with an appreciation program in which gospel groups from Rocky Mount, North Carolina and Canton, Ohio provided a concert.

Buck's family and friends will always cherish precious memories.  They include: his wife and children; two sisters:  Addie Dyson of Washington, DC and Rev. Gloria Boyd of Fort Washington, MD, a brother, Matthew (Jeannette) Porcher of Washington, DC; five sisters-in-law:  Vernice Porcher of Sumter, SC; Betty Porcher of Dalzell, SC; Annie Porcher of Upper Marlboro; Catherine McLeod from Baltimore, MD; and Ruby Davis of New York, NY; two brothers in law:  Melvin (Maybell) McLeod, Jr. and  Robert McLeod of Sumter, SC; an aunt, Victoria Gallashaw and host of nephews, nieces, cousins and friends.

A half-sister, Thelma McBride, an infant sister Anna; four brothers:  infant John, Waddell, Charles and Henry Jr. and two brothers in law: Isaac Dyson, Sr. and Willie McBride preceded him to death.

"One thing I have desired of the LORD; That will I seek: That I may dwell in the house of the LORD All the days of my life; To behold the beauty of the LORD, And to inquire in His Temple."  Psalm 28:4 NKJV

Visitation will be held on Friday, April 27, 2018 from 5-7pm at Job's Mortuary, Inc.

Mr. Porcher will be placed in the church on Saturday, April 28, 2018 at 1pm for viewing until the hour of service.

Funeral Service will be held at 2pm on Saturday, April 28, 2018 at Barnettsville Baptist Church, 106 Manville St. Charles Road Bishopville, SC 29010, with Pastor Wayne Montgomery Officiating.

Interment will follow in Barnettsville Baptist Church Cemetery.