In the small town of Hemingway, South Carolina, a man known for his jovial nature and love for his children became a victim of violence. Joshua Junior Cantey, a 39-year-old Black man, was affectionately called 'Big Boy' or 'Sab Sucker' by those who knew him. Born in nearby Kingstree on April 3, 1984, he spent his formative years in Williamsburg County.
Friends and family remember him as a 'big jokester' who, despite a large stature, was a 'big baby at heart.'
On July 14, 2023, the life of this father of six was irrevocably altered by an act of gun violence in Hemingway. The specific details of the incident have not been released to the public. For months, Cantey fought the injuries he sustained, but ultimately succumbed to the complications on December 2, 2023. His passing marked a tragic end to a life that was deeply connected to his community and family.
In the wake of his death, there has been no public information released regarding any arrests or the identification of any suspects involved in the shooting. The circumstances surrounding the event that led to his death remain undisclosed to the public. The community was left to mourn his loss without the closure of knowing if anyone would be held accountable for the violence that took his life. His last known employment was with Carter's Lumber in North Carolina, and he was survived by his six children and five sisters. A funeral service was held for him on December 17, 2023, at Hopewell A.M.E. Church, where he was later buried.
