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Swedesboro mourns homeless man found beaten to death

On warm days, Sylvester "Button" Combs could often be found sitting on a wooden bench on Swedesboro's Kings Highway. During cold weather, he would find shelter in a local Christian thrift store and pantry, where he was greeted regularly by staff and volunteers with a cup of coffee and doughnuts or a pack of his beloved chicken nuggets from Wawa.

Sylvester "Button" Combs
Sylvester "Button" CombsRead more

On warm days, Sylvester "Button" Combs could often be found sitting on a wooden bench on Swedesboro's Kings Highway.

During cold weather, he would find shelter in a local Christian thrift store and pantry, where he was greeted regularly by staff and volunteers with a cup of coffee and doughnuts or a pack of his beloved chicken nuggets from Wawa.

Known by many simply by his nickname, the homeless man was a fixture for years in the tiny rural Gloucester County community that lovingly tended to him.

Residents and business owners regularly gave Combs meals and clothing, cigarettes, and sometimes a warm place to stay. They would take him to doctor's appointments or wherever he needed to go.

"He really was a decent guy," said Joe Denny of Kings Things, the thrift store where volunteers helped Combs survive.

Now the community is struggling to cope with his death - Swedesboro's first murder in 13 years.

Combs, 61, was found beaten to death last Wednesday in an abandoned trailer - just a few blocks from his bench spot - where he sometimes sought shelter. He had blunt-force trauma to the head, and his death was ruled a homicide. Authorities are seeking a suspect and announced a $2,500 reward Tuesday. No possible motive has been disclosed.

"His death has hit a chord in the close-knit community of Swedesboro. We want to do everything we can in order to solve this heinous crime," county Prosecutor Sean F. Dalton said.

The killing, the first in Swedesboro since 2003 and the second in the county this year, stunned the historical, quaint town of about 2,500 residents. Settled by a group of Finns and Swedes in the 1600s, the borough covers less than a mile and is dotted with homes, farmland, and a main street with shops and restaurants.

In a message to residents, Mayor Tom Fromm described Combs as "a peaceful man who would never harm anyone." He, too, helped take care of Combs.

"He did not deserve this horrible fate, and our thoughts and prayers are with him and his family," Fromm wrote on the borough's website. "This just doesn't happen in our town."

The community raised more than $7,000 to pay for Combs' funeral, said Joseph Giacobbe, who was flooded with an outpouring of donations at his Farmers Insurance office.

Giacobbe said business leaders now plan to raise funds for the reward to help find authorities find the killer. Donations were also given to Kings Things, he said.

"We have a strong community. Everyone pulls together," Giacobbe said. "He was a good guy. It was a horrible crime that happened."

About 75 people attended a funeral Tuesday for Combs at May Funeral Home in Sicklerville. His closed gray casket was surrounded by photographs of him at various ages.

The family declined an interview request. During the hour-long informal service, a musician played soulful hymns as relatives privately embraced mourners and asked them to share memories of Combs. The service ended with a prayer.

"You helped make his life a lot better than it would have been if your hearts were not Godlike," the family wrote in a thank-you message. "May God forever enable you to be 'there' for another Button."

Combs grew up on his grandfather's farm in Mullica Hill, according to the funeral program. He graduated in 1974 from Clearview Regional High School, where he was a standout football player. He later graduated from Lyons Technical Institute.

As a youngster, he was fascinated by his grandmother's collection of buttons and was given the moniker "Button," which stuck for the rest of his life, said Carl Rainear, manager of Kings Things.

Combs was baptized at a young age and attended Mount Calvary Baptist Church in Mullica Hill. "As years went by, he did not appreciate anyone questioning his faith and belief," the program said.

Combs moved to Swedesboro in the early 1980s along with his parents, according to the funeral program. It was unclear when he became homeless or the circumstances. Acquaintances said Combs suffered from substance abuse. He previously worked as a janitor and heavy-equipment operator. He was recently known to work odd jobs around town to earn money.

Despite efforts to get him off the streets, Combs refused to go to a shelter, said Gerry Siglow, chairman of Kings Things. Combs had deteriorated in recent years, and volunteers worried that he would not survive another harsh winter, he said.

Combs was last at the thrift store March 31.

"It's remarkable that he survived the winter and then something like this happens," Denny said.

Combs, an Oakland Raiders fan who usually wore baseball caps, enjoyed sitting on a bench for most of the day, talking to passersby, Denny said. He was very friendly with residents, who would let him sleep in their homes. The thrift store put him up at a nearby motel during extreme cold.

"We just took care of him," Rainear said.

Added Joan Calce, a thrift store volunteer: "Everyone watched over him."

Combs was reported missing last week by Denny, a former social worker, after he failed to show up for a doctor's appointment that could have helped him qualify for Social Security disability benefits. He was eventually discovered at an abandoned pallet factory property, inside the trailer, which had once been used as an office.

"He was a gentle soul. He gave us more than we gave him," Siglow said.

Combs is survived by a son; four granddaughters; two sisters; and a brother.

A second tribute, a memorial service for Combs, is set for Saturday from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at Trinity Episcopal Old Swedes' Church, 1208 Kings Highway, Swedesboro.

Anyone with information about Combs is asked to call Detective Greg Malesich of the Gloucester County Prosecutor's Office, 856-384-5626, or Detective Chris Beckett of Woolwich police, 856-467-1667, Ext. 1224.

mburney@phillynews.com

856-779-3814 @mlburney