SFC US Army (Ret.) Curtis Freeman, 43, of Elgin, died Wednesday, March 29, 2017. Born at Eliza Coffee Memorial Hospital in Florence, AL on December 17, 1973, he was a son of the late Mr. Walter Monroe Freeman, Jr. and Mrs. Acenter Graham-Ricks of Tuscumbia, AL. He was a graduate of Colbert Heights High School in Tuscumbia, AL; attended Alabama A&M University and earned a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Forbes College of Business in Clarksville, TN before joining the US Army. SFC Freeman was a member of Shandon Baptist Church in Columbia, SC and was a member of Masonic Lodge #046 of Sheffield, AL. He was also a member of the Finance Corps Association as well as a Distinguished Member of the Finance Regiment (DMR).

Along with his mother, Curtis is survived by his wife, Maki Shimabuku Freeman; their children, Kenji and Miya of Elgin, SC ; grandfather, Walter Freeman, Sr. (Margaret) of Florence, AL; grandmother, Doris Pride of Tuscumbia, AL; father-in-law, Robbin Long of Elgin, SC; mother-in-law, Etsuko of Elgin, SC; a brother, Carlos Graham (Shalonda) of Jefferson City, MO; a sister, Carla Goerlich (Jacob) of Elgin, SC; a brother-in-law, Koji Long of Port Saint Lucie, FL; a sister-in-law, Quana King (Dexter) of Elgin, SC; along with nieces and nephews, Tiara Woessner and her son, Kip Anthony Edwards, III of Jefferson City, MO, Emmarie Graham of Jefferson City, MO, Austin of Port Saint Lucie, FL, as well as Zoie and Cory of Elgin, SC. He was also survived by adopted member of his family, Deairion Oliver. In addition to his father, Curtis was predeceased by his maternal grandparents, Vancy and Emma Graham, Sr.

A service with full military honors for SFC Freeman will be held at 3 o'clock on Sunday, April 2, 2017 at Shives Funeral Home, Trenholm Road Chapel, 7600 Trenholm Road Ext Columbia with Rev. Dennis Banks officiating. The family will receive friends prior to the service beginning at 1:30 pm. Memorials made be made to The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, 3 International Drive, Suite 200, Rye Brook, NY 10573.