Class of 1896

Birth: 23 Jul 1874, Saint Matthews, Calhoun County, South Carolina
Death: 29 Oct 1964, Columbia, Richland County, South Carolina

Parents:
Ralph D. Layton (1851-1928)
Selena Eliza Rush Layton (1855-1927)

Siblings:
Lettie Layton Rawl Scroggle (1872-1950)
Jessie Miriam Layton Ridenhour (1878-1937)
Minna Layton Holman (1881-1952)

Spouse: Rev. Wilbur Houck Riser (1868-1924)

Children:
Thelma Aileen Riser Hallman (1900-1995)
Virginia Riser Benton (1903-1970)
Zenith Layton Riser Benton (1905-1978)

Burial: Greenlawn Memorial Park, Columbia, Richland County, South Carolina,
Source: www.findagrave.com, # 124826543.

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The State (Columbia, SC), 20 May 1923, p. 16.

The Rev. and Mrs. Wilbur M. Riser celebrated their silver wedding anniversary with a beautiful reception Friday evening at the home of Mrs. Riser’s brother-in-law and sister, Mr. and Mrs. A. W. Holman, 930 Elmwood avenue. The lower floor of the house was a bower of pink and white roses and sweet peas with soft lights falling from the chandeliers and from shaded pink and white candles.

With the guests had arrived Miss May Boozer played the wedding march and the erstwhile bride and bridegroom entered and went through an impressive “silver wedding ceremony” performed by the Rev. P. D. Brown, D. D. Receiving with them afterwards were: Mr. and Mrs. A. W. Holman, Mr. and Mrs. R. D. Layton, parents of the “bride.” Mr. and Mrs. M. L. Hallman, Mr. and Mrs. F. D. Rawls, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Thomas.

A silver wedding register was in charge of Miss Miriam Holman and the punch bowl on the flower decked piazza was presided over by Misses Helen Hawes and Mildred Faulk, assisted by Mrs. Thomas and Mrs. C. M. Bond.

During the evening delightful vocal and piano music was furnished by Mrs. Gunter and Miss May Boozer.

Ices and sweets were served in the dining room, which was all in pink and silver, the table being arranged with a large silver bowl of pink sweet peas in the center and silver candelabra with pink candles.

About 100 guests called to extend congratulations and good wishes to Mr. and Mrs. Riser. The bride of 25 years ago was formerly Miss Zenith J. Layton of St. Matthews. The Rev. Mr. Riser is a well known minister of the Lutheran church.

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The State (Columbia, SC), 30 Oct, 1964, p. 36.

Mrs. Riser, 90, West Columbia Dies at Hospital

Mrs. Wilbur H. Riser, 90, of 814 Rosedale Rd., West Columbia, died early Thursday in the Providence Hospital after a short illness.

The former Zenith Layton, Mrs. Riser was born in St. Matthews, a daughter of the late Ralph D. Layton and Selena Rush Layton, and lived in Columbia for the past 40 years. She was a member of Ebenezer Lutheran Church, the Ladies Bible Class, the LCW and the retired Lutheran Ministers and Wives Association.

Her husband, the Rev. Wilbur H. Riser, died in 1924.

Surviving are three daughters, Mrs. M. L. (Thelma) Hallman, West Columbia, Mrs. M. E. (Virginia) Benton, Wilmington, N. C., and Mrs. O. L. (Zenith) Shealy, Columbia.

Funeral services will be at 4 p.m. today in Ebenezer Lutheran Church, conducted by the Rev. Robert L. Hock and the Rev. George E. Meetze D.D. Interment will be in Greenlawn Memorial Park.

Active pallbearers will be four grandsons, G. W. Thomas, W. L. Shealy, J. D. Shealy and R. L. Shealy, and two great-grandsons, Earl Hewlette Jr., and Richard Hewlette.

Honorary pallbearers will be members of the church council of Ebenezer Lutheran Church, the Ladies Bible Class, members of the Retired Lutheran Ministers and Wives Association, and A. H. Baldwin and C. Ray Clark.

Friends may call at the home of Mr. and Mrs. O. L. Shealy, 133 S. Ott Rd., and Dunbar Funeral Home, Gervais Street Chapel.