ARDIE ARVIDSON
Morning News
FLORENCE, S.C. â Most people will remember 2020 as the year of the COVID-19 virus, which claimed the lives of people all over the state.
Pee Dee families mourned the death of loved ones this year, often unable to say their goodbyes at funerals with family and friends.
Among those in the Pee Dee who died this year are a number of community leaders.
Jackson Ryan Winkeler â On Jan. 5, 2020, Winkeler was killed in the line of duty. The Dillon County native died while conducting a traffic stop on airport property at the Florence Regional Airport. In addition to being a Florence Regional Airport Public Safety officer, Winkeler, 26, also worked as a volunteer firefighter with the Latta Fire Department. He lived in the Dillon County community of Floydale and was a member of Pyerian Baptist Church. He was described as having a âheart of gold.â