Charlie Crews

Charlie Isam Crews, 83, of Scotia, South Carolina, passed away October 29, 2020 surrounded by all of his family.

He was born October 30, 1936 in Estill, South Carolina to the late Joe and Eula Crews.  He spent his life dedicated to his family, church and community.  For those of you that knew Charlie, he never met a stranger and was always willing to lend a helping hand without asking for anything in return.  Not only was help provided in various forms, but it came with an abundance of love that was genuinely given from the heart.

Charlie graduated from Estill High School in 1956.  Mr. Crews began work for Harper Livestock Company in Estill, SC, followed by a position as Sales manager for Mikell's Inc., an International Harvester dealer, also in Estill.  From 1964 – 1984 he was a self-employed farmer operating a 1000 acre farm in Scotia.  He also served as President of Crews Farm Supply from 1979 – 1985.  In 1993 he launched the Crews Agency for insurance sales.  He sold life insurance for American General Life for many years receiving the President's Cup from 1989 – 1999.

Charlie spent his life involved in many organizations for the betterment of Hampton County and South Carolina.  He served on Hampton County Council for 16 years with 13 of those as Chairman.  He also served as a board member and chairman of the Lowcountry Council of Governments; Commissioner of the Resource Conservation and Development; Chairman of the Lowcountry Tourism Commission; Chairman of the Hampton County Council on Aging; Bond Director for the SC Family Farm Authority; spokesperson and liaison for the agricultural bond program for farmers; Consumer Specialist with the SC Department of Agriculture; SC Representative on the Agricultural Rural Affairs Committee in Washington D.C.; and Hampton County as the Chairperson of the Transportation Committee for many years.

In 1986 Charlie was honored with the Mattie R. West Rural Development Award presented by former Governor John West.  In 2012 he was selected as the Ambassador of Economic Development of SC from Governor Nikki Haley.  In 2017 Charlie was awarded the Arnold Fields' Endowment Unsung Hero Award for his valor and valuable contribution to the Hampton County community.  In 2018 Charlie was honored as a native son for his selfless devotion to the community and the Palmetto State by having a portion of SC Highway 3 in Hampton County named in his honor as the "Charlie I. Crews Highway".

Charlie was an active member of Nixville Baptist Church where he served as a deacon, Sunday School teacher and a member of the Long-Range Planning Committee.  Charlie's strong vision and leadership on this committee at the church helped to complete a beautiful Family Life Center in 2012.  In 2017 Mr. Crews received the honor from Stafford Lodge 216 as Master Mason for 50 years of service.

Charlie is survived by his wife of 58 years Martha Edwards Crews of the home, daughters Trina Crews Tant (Bobby) of Nixville, SC and Dana Crews Johnson (Gary) of North Augusta, SC; grandchildren Robert Tant, III (Sarah), April Tant Delozier (Timothy) of Nixville and Tyler Johnson, Blaine Johnson and Aubree Johnson of North Augusta; great-grandchildren Hannah Frickling, Isabella Frickling and Cooper Delozier of Nixville; and sister Gloria C. Rivers of Scotia.  There are a host of nephews, nieces, cousins and family members.  He was predeceased in addition to his parents by brothers William Crews and James Crews of Scotia.

Visitation will be held Sunday evening, November 1, 2020, 5:00 – 8:00 P.M. at Peeples-Rhoden Funeral Home, 300 Mulberry Street West, Hampton, South Carolina.

Funeral services will be held Monday, November 2, 2020 at 2:00 P.M. at Nixville Baptist Church Family Life Center, 3915 Two Sister's Ferry Road, Estill, South Carolina.  Committal will be in the church cemetery following the service.  The family prefers that everyone please wear masks.