Douglas DMD Obituary

Dr. Douglas Sullivan Rawls, DMD SUMMERVILLE - The family of Dr. Doug Rawls passed him into the arms of his loving God the evening of November 25, 2024. His past 31 years constituted a incredible medical journey after the traumatic discovery of a venous anomaly. His past three decades were made possible by the incredible medical care of the Roper Hospital systems. The family is indebted to the late Dr. Julian Buxton, Drs. Mary Kaye Favaro, David Ellison, William Snyder, Avery Burns, Lee Royal, Steven Berlinsky, Tracy Tipton and ALL of the Roper health care teams who aided in making his long life with his family possible. All of those health care professionals have created the great Roper system as it exists today. The family's gratitude is also extended to Dr. Daniel V. Schumacher and the staff personnel of Roper Berkeley Hospital who enabled his final hours to be peaceful in what he considered to be his "hospital home". Doug is survived by his wife of 56 years, the former Joyce Ellen (Eppersimons) Rawls; daughters, Ashley Elizabeth of Atlanta and Alisa Catherine of Daufuskie Island; grandchildren, Zoe Elizabeth, Adam Jacob, Matthew Rawls, and Eloise Rose; cousins, Danny Rawls, Bonnie Standard, Nita Rawls, and David Rawls; and brother-in-law, Larry Steven Eppersimons of the Isle of Palms. He was predeceased by his parents; his brother, William Francis; and his parents-in-law, Lloyd Spencer and June Evelyn (Grabbe) Eppersimons. A Celebration of Life Service will be held on Saturday, Feb. 15, at 1 PM in the sanctuary of John Wesley United Methodist Church at 626 Savannah Highway in Charleston. A "Rotary Reprise" reception will follow in the church LMR and adjoining outdoor space. Casual Dress! In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the Wounded Warriors or Tunnel to Towers Funds. Doug was a member of John Wesley Church for over 50 years where he served on the Administrative Board and as its Chairman. He was also a proud member of the North Charleston Breakfast Rotary Club, also serving a term as its President. Dr. Rawls was born February 4, 1942, in rural Lexington County, SC, to the late Nelson and Blondie Gunter Rawls. His childhood was spent with cousins swimming in family ponds, the North Edisto River and roaming the pine forests and fields that had been logged and farmed by the family since before the American Revolution. He was a graduate of Pelion High School and the University of South Carolina in 1963. Following graduation, he joined the United States Navy. He attended the Navy Underwater Swimmers School and then the Explosives Ordnance schools to become a diving officer. His first deployment was to the Naval Air Station in Brunswick, ME. His second duty station was to the EOD detachment at Charleston Naval. Base. His final duty station while on active duty was as commanding officer of the EOD detachment at the Goose Creek Naval Weapons Station. Transferring to the Naval. Reserves, he was the diving officer for the Inshore Undersea Warfare Unit whose duty was to protect Charleston Harbor during the Cold War. In 1973, he earned his Doctorate in Dental Medicine degree from the Medical University of South Caroina. After graduation he opened Trident General Dentistry in North Charleston where he truly cherished his professional staff and patients who entrusted their dental health to them. He retired after 41 years in practice. He was grateful to Dr. Eric Layton and his professional staff who continue to provide trusting care to the patients of the practice, now in various Lowcountry locations. Doug began his public service as a gubernatorial appointee on the state Health Services Agency, a federally mandated group tasked with reviewing all certificates of need for health care facilities. He was a member of the American Dental Association . As a member of the South Carolina Dental Association he served as chairman of the National Children's Dental Health Month. As president of SCDA, he launched the first "Give Kids A Smile Day", led the effort to develop the first mission statement for the Association, conducted a seminar to educate all members of the then-new HIPPA guidelines and regulations, and worked with the State Board of Dentistry to update regulations regarding mobile dental facilities and anesthesia guidelines. He spearheaded the efforts of the Association which resulted in raising $7,000,000 to build a new clinical facilty at the College of Dental Medicine at MUSC. The yearly Annual Session during his presidential year was "Access to Care" and was one of the first large conventions held at the Charleston Convention Center. He represented the Association as an Alternate Delegate to the ADA for four years and then as a Delegate from 2003 until 2012. He was elected by his peers to serve as a member of the South Carolina Board of Dentistry from 1986-1991 and served as its president in 1990. He chaired the ADA's Sixteenth District (SC, NC, and VA) Caucus in 2008. He was a member of the Academy of General Dentistry, the International College of Dentists, and the American College of Dentists. He also chaired the Carolinas Chapter of the American College from 2008-2009. From 2003-2010, Dr Rawls served on the DHEC Advisory Council for the state and as its chairman from 2008-2009. He was a member of the MUSC Advisory Council to the President from 2005-2010. During that period he also served on the advisory board to Trident Technical College. He was honored with many awards throughout his professional career. He was a member of the Charleston Dental Society and awarded his Dentist of the Year award in 1994. He received the Pierre Fauchard Academy's Outstanding Dentist award in 1994. In 2010, the SCDA honored Dr. Rawls with its George P. Hoffman Award, the highest honor it gives to outstanding service to dentistry and community. After graduation from dental school, Dr. Rawls resumed his service in the Navy as part of the US Navy Reserve Dental Corps. He was a dental officer attached to the Charleston Naval Base clinic where he enjoyed the yearly two weeks active duty aboard ships stationed at the base. His prior service as a line office served him well aboard shipboard dental clinics. He later was attached to the dental units that supported the Marine and Navy Corps in various US locations, serving as the commanding officer in many of those units. He was commanding officer of the Charleston Navel Hospital Unit which was one of the largest Reserve units in the medical/dental community. For several years he served on the medical/dental credentialing board for the Reserve Force at Jacksonville Naval Air Station. His last deployment before retirement was as commanding officer of the dental units supporting the Navy Construction Force ( Seabees). He was a member of the American Society of Military Surgeons and enjoyed the yearly sessions which brought together medical and dental members of the nation's Service communities. Dr. and Mrs. Rawls were forever grateful for the professional and military friendships of those with whom they have shared life's great experiences. His passing leaves a legacy of love (particularly of daughters and grandchildren!) and service to Community and Country!