Margaret K. Bennett; 91; formerly of Speers Hill; died Monday; January 28; 2008 in Linthicum; MD. A daughter of the late John and Mary Kornosky; she was born in Elco on April 13; 1916. Margaret had been a member of the former St. Jerome’s Roman Catholic Church in Charleroi; was a founding member of the Speers Civic Club and was a lifelong member of the Joker’s Card Club. She served for many years as the secretary for both Speers Boro and the former Speers Water Company. Margaret was elected to multiple terms as the Washington County Tax Collector. A resident of Phillips Street for most of her adult life; she was proud of her work in the yard and garden. Survivors include one son and daughter-in-law; Pete and Joanne Bennett; three grandchildren; Amanda; Katie and Ryan Bennett; all of Crownsville; MD and one sister; Catherine Johnston of Speers Hill. In addition to her parents; she was preceded in death by her husband of 38 years; James C. Bennett on October 15; 1986. Friends will be received Friday from 6 to 8 P.M. in the Ferguson Funeral Home and Crematory; Inc.; www.fergusonfuneralhomeandcrematory.com; (724-929-5300); 700 Broad Avenue; Belle Vernon. Family and friends will gather in the funeral home Saturday at 9:15 A.M. and proceed to Mary; Mother of the Church for a 10 A.M. Funeral Mass. Interment will follow in Belle Vernon Cemetery.

John Wayne Bradford; 49; of Aiken; S.C.; formerly of Belle Vernon; died Saturday; July 26; 2008 in Aiken Regional Medical Center. Born October 18; 1958 in Charleroi; he was a son of Bertha Louise Bradford and the late James Raisbeck Bradford. John lived most of his life in Belle Vernon; where he was a faithful member of Marion Presbyterian Church in Belle Vernon (Fairhope). He was a 1978 graduate of Belle Vernon Area High School; where his joy was being a drummer for the high school marching band. John worked at a sheltered workshop in Monessen and became a member of the Pennsylvania Special Olympics; where he successfully competed in many swimming events in the area; as well as the State Games played at Penn State University. In 1995; John and his mother moved to Aiken; where he had been a member of Grace Presbyterian Church; and currently; Providence Orthodox Presbyterian Church. He volunteered for a time at Hitchcock Healthcare; where he won a special award for Volunteer of the Year. John was a regular member of the Hitchcock Fitness for Life Program; now the current Aiken YMCA. He became a faithful and dearly loved employee of the Kroger Company on Whiskey Road in Aiken; where he has worked for the last 10 years. John started the Aiken Special Olympics Swim Program in 1995 and was a member of the local Special Olympics Bowling Team. He had just completed his second three-year term on the South Carolina Special Olympics Board of Directors and was serving as a Global Messenger for the program; telling about the advantages of Special Olympics. John’s favorite motto was the Special Olympics motto; Let me win; but if I can not win; let me be brave in the attempt. John has won; and was very brave. Survivors include his mother; Bertha L. Bradford; of Aiken; S.C.; two brothers and sisters-in-law; Arthur Dale and Donna Bradford; of Orlando; Fla.; and James Robert and Patty Bradford; of Middletown; Pa.; one sister and brother-in-law; Sally (Bradford) and Kenneth Bryan; of Aiken; S.C.; three nephews; Christopher Bradford; Jonathon Bradford and Kyle Bradford; niece; Heather Bradford; and many aunts; uncles and cousins. In addition to his father; John was preceded in death by his maternal grandparents; John and Julia Drotar; and his paternal grandparents; Floyd and Viola Bradford. A Memorial Service for John Wayne Bradford will be held Tuesday; July 29; at 11 a.m. in Providence Orthodox Presbyterian Church; 573 Town Creek Rd.; Aiken; S.C.; with Pastor Kevin L. Medcalf officiating. Interment will be held at a later date in Belle Vernon Cemetery. In lieu of flowers; the family suggests donations be made to Providence Orthodox Presbyterian Church in memory of Mr. Bradford. The GEORGE FUNERAL HOME & CREMATION CENTER; 211 Park Ave. SW; Aiken; S.C. 29801 (803-649-6234); is assisting the Bradford family. Please visit www.georgefuneralhomes.com to leave a note for the Bradford family.