James O. Freeman

Mr. James O. Freeman, 82, of Wagon Wheel Road near Hampton, died early Friday morning in the Hampton Regional Medical Center.

Mr. Freeman was born February 12, 1937 in Hampton County, a son of the late James Eddie Freeman and Elsie Bowers Freeman.  He started his Law Enforcement career when he was elected Sheriff of Hampton County in 1975.  He served as Sheriff until 1982 and was hired as an agent with the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) in 1982 and served until his retirement in 2008.  After retirement he went back to the Hampton County Sheriff's Department and served as a Detective until 2017, and retired.  He worked for SLED for 26 years and the Hampton County Sheriff's Department for 16 years for a total of 42 years in Law Enforcement.  Mr. Freeman served on the Board of Palmetto Electric and was a member of Sandy Run Baptist Church where he was a choir member.

Surviving are his wife:  Gaynell Thomas Freeman of Hampton;  daughter:  Angela Altman "Gene Cook Sr." of Hampton; brothers:  Wade and Bobby Freeman of Hampton;  sister:  Jane Wooten of Nixville:  grandchildren:  Heather Lawson "Jimmy", Gene Cook "April Walker", Fallon Crapse "Derrick Smith", all of Hampton and Brittany Allison "Wesley" of Grays;  and 14 great-grandchildren.  Mr. Freeman was predeceased by a son:  James Troy Freeman;  and a brother:  Henry Edward Freeman.

Funeral services will be 4 PM Tuesday at Open Arms Fellowship Church, conducted by Rev. Paul Reid with burial in the Sandy Run Cemetery.

Visitation will be Monday from 5 to 8 PM at Peeples-Rhoden Funeral Home located at 300 Mulberry Street West in Hampton.

The family suggests that those who wish may send memorials to Sandy Run Baptist Church, 2100 Sandy Run Road, Hampton, SC 29924.