Vivian H. Guyton

Vivian Holmes Guyton entered this world on June 13, 1931, in Darlington, SC, to Willis and Thelma (Bacot) Holmes in Darlington, SC. She was the eldest of four children-three girls and one boy. Vivian (Bill), Walker (Buddy), Juanita (who died at age 5), and Thelma (Barbara) were also born. Vivian was also known as Bill to family members. 

Grandpop wanted a boy, so she was nicknamed Bill. Vivian's education began in a little country school at Pleasant Grove Baptist Church in Darlington, SC. "I walked through the woods alone and frightened, I ran more than I walked, limbs beating me in the face, sometimes in the cold and rain. But I loved school and learning. While living on Frank Williamson's place during segregation, we lived very close to Grandma and Grandpa John & Nora Holmes." Her spiritual journey started when Grandma took her to Palmetto Baptist Church. "I enjoyed my childhood days in Darlington more than any other place, so much so that I would daydream in school. I frequently relived playtimes through dreams." With her father being drafted into the Army during WWII and her mother migrating to the north, Vivian stayed with various relatives, which led to her moving a lot. 

Vivian moved to Philadelphia. She wrote, "How well do I remember that August of 1944? Philadelphia was like a war zone. The Philadelphia Transportation System was on strike due to denying Black people employment." Vivian's family and Horace's Aunt Sally Bradley lived next door to each other - steps joined together. She said, "Suddenly, Aunt Sally and this sailor appeared through the open door onto the steps. He said, "Good night." A few days later, I received a phone call from this gentleman who had just returned from duty, the Coast Guard, saying his name was Horace, and he was the nephew of Aunt Sally. I begged my mother to let me go out with him." Horace and Vivian Guyton married on February 19, 1949, and resided in Philadelphia. From their union, they had seven sons and three daughters. 

Vivian deeply loved her family. She worked hard to give her children a loving and stable home. As a mother with ten children, she attempted not to show favoritism to one of her children. She deeply loved her grandchildren, great-grands, and great-great-grands. Mom Vivian had the gift of making every person she encounters feel special. She made sure weforgave each other and got along. People often say she was like a sister or mother to them. She loved to go out to eat with family, friends, and co-workers. Even when the food was not tasty, she would give a good tip and not complain to the waitress. Mom Vivian saw the good in all situations and people. She cared deeply about how people felt. She had effortless and unconditional love that genuinely resembled her Savior's words, "that you love one another, as I have loved you" (John 13:34). In her final days, Mom would not use terms like dying, death or passing. She would say she was going Home. That was her heart's posture towards her life on earth. Her favorite Scripture was John 14:1-3 "Don't let your hearts be troubled." 

Six children are left to continue Mom Vivian's legacy: Derek Guyton, Deborah Bogan, Denise Lee, Dean Guyton, Zachary Guyton, and Desiree Guyton. She is now in heaven with her four children who predeceased her: Dennis Guyton, Horace Guyton Jr. Eugene

She also leaves behind over 60 grand, great-grand, and great-great-grandchildren. Moreover, she had an immense love for her nephews, nieces, cousins, the host of young people that she bonded with as their second mother, and her Godchildren Rev. Carol Bishop, Darlene Hannah-Collin, and Kirk Maven.

EMPLOYMENT: Vivian attended Edward W. Bok Technical School and started working as a 15-year-old at Faith Baptist Church, Philadelphia, PA, as a church clerk typist, Naval Shipyard as a Teletype operator, and Wilder Industries, Philadelphia, PA, as a Philadelphia Secretary. After 22 years, she retired from the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, New Jersey Memorial Home, Business office, Vineland, NJ, as a bookkeeper. Vivian treasured the ongoing luncheons with her co-workers after her retirement. She served as a Developmental Disabilities Provider, giving the mentally challenged a loving home and developmental support.

ENJOYMENT/HOBBY: After retirement, Vivian received a computer from her children and immediately started working on her family history. After visiting Roseville Plantation, where her ancestors were enslaved, she developed a passion for saving the slave cemetery, which did not have any markers or protection. In 2018, she and others got the slave cemetery in the National Historical Society, which protects it. Until her passing, Vivian was a part of the Roseville Plantation Historical Society, which was committed to preserving the slave cemetery. On October 1, 2021, Life Focus filmed Vivian's family history in Florence, SC, at Roseville Plantation and the surrounding area where her 2nd great grandmother Minerva Brockington Bacot was enslaved, Daniel McBrayer, a descendant of enslavers, was a dear friend of Vivian and a part of the film. Daniel's family-owned Vivian's 3rd great- grandmother, Harriett, Adam Brockington, and her 4th great-grandmother, Cloe, were friends demonstrating the power of racial reconciliation and healing. Last Survivor of South Carolina Oldest Slave & Freeman Cemetery in Florence, SC The Roseville ( Clarke ) Cemetery.

MINISTRY For decades, Vivian was a pastor's wife who often served the church through women's ministry and secretarial work. Her love for serving moved her to help establish the Newhield Terrace Community Center and participate in many of its activities. Vivian often volunteered at church for events and anniversaries. I have been blessed and privileged to be the wife of pastor Rev. Horace Guyton as first lady of the following churches, and grateful to God for the privilege of loving and being loved by so many of God's people: New Mt. Calvary Baptist, Mays Landing, Truth Baptist, Newfield, Mt. Pleasant Baptist, Pleasantville, Faith Baptist, Pleasantville, Cedar Grove, Malaga, NJ., Tabernacle Baptist, Wilmington, Del., Mt. Olive Baptist, Mizpah, New Jerusalem Baptist Rosenhayn.

Services are entrusted to Edwards & Sons Funeral Home, 208 East Commerce Street, Bridgeton, NJ 08302

https://www.edwardsandsonfuneralhome.com

Please keep the family of Vivian Holmes Guyton in your thoughts and prayers.

Local announcement has been entrusted to Smith Funeral Home of Florence, LLC.

https://vimeo.com/798580034/73786b72b6 - Documentary of Vivian H. Guyton

https://florencenewsjournal.com/roseville-plantation-preservationist-and-slave-descendant-dies/