Edwin Poulnot Obituary

Edwin Huger Poulnot III CHARLESTON - Edwin Huger Poulnot III, husband of Joan Hutcheson Poulnot, died at his residence on April 9, 2014. The relatives and friends of Mr. and Mrs. Edwin H. Poulnot III are invited to attend his Memorial Service at 11:00 AM Monday, April14, 2014, at Grace Episcopal Church. Interment will be Private. The family will receive friends Sunday afternoon between 5:00 and 7:00 PM at the James A. McAlister Funeral Home, 1620 Savannah Hwy. His Guestbook may be signed at www.JamesAMcAlister.com. Mr. Poulnot was born in Charleston on November 25, 1925, the son of Edwin Huger Poulnot, Jr. and Elizabeth Wickenberg Poulnot. He attended Craft School, graduated from the High School of Charleston and attended the Citadel. He joined the Navy in 1944, where he served as an aerographers mate on the aircraft carrier Solomons. After the war, he completed his education at Duke University, and then joined the family department store, the Kerrison Dry Goods Company. He expanded the business from one to four stores, becoming President and CEO. Always committed to King Street, he renovated the downtown store in 1988 when other retailers were concentrating on malls. In 1989 Hurricane Hugo caused extensive damage, forcing closure of the downtown store. The retail business closed in the late 1990's, but he continued his commitment to King Street, leasing storefronts to Victoria Secret and Anthropologie, as well as importing and selling Charleston Rice Steamers. Beginning in the 1960's, he was a visionary for downtown development. Along with his father, Edwin H. Poulnot, Jr., he formed the Merchants Housing Corporation that built town houses near Queen Street, in an area now known as Poulnot Lane. He worked tirelessly to reinvigorate the downtown properties, and was able to see his dream fulfilled when his children, the fourth generation in the family business, redeveloped the property into Cornerstone Apartment Homes, which opened in March 2014. He was very active in community affairs, serving as President of the Merchants Housing Corporation and the Charleston Industrial Corporation as well as director of the Chamber of Commerce, YMCA, Charleston Sertoma Club, Historic Charleston Foundation, Charleston Merchants Association, National Retail Merchants Association, and the Charleston Symphony. He was a member of the Carolina Yacht Club, South Carolina Society, New England Society, St. Andrews Society, and the Societe Francaise de Charleston. A lifelong member of Grace Episcopal Church, he served on the vestry. While he was in the Navy, a stop at Casablanca triggered a life long interest in travel. With his wife Joan, he traveled the world, including two round-the-world trips and flights on both the British and French Concordes. An avid interest in photography and art, increased the pleasure of these trips, and their home is filled with photographs and art from around the world. Sailing was also a favorite activity, growing up sailing D scows with many Charleston boys. He especially loved sailing Hobie Cats in front of his Sullivan's Island home, and kept a sailboat on the beach from age 9 until age 75. He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Joan H. Poulnot; his children: Dale Poulnot and husband, Jim Condon, David Poulnot and wife, Susan, Gene Poulnot Carpenter and husband, Kevin. He had special relationships with all his grandchildren, writing them letters and often enclosing a "little something extra" for expenses; they are: Cameron Widman, Lauren Widman, Kathryn Widman, David Poulnot, Jr., James Poulnot, Hannah Poulnot, Elizabeth Carpenter, and Edwin Carpenter. The family gives special thanks to his wonderful caregivers, Cheryl Bowman, Queenie White and Rene White and to Amedisys Hospice. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Grace Episcopal Church, 98 Wentworth Street, Charleston, SC. 29401. Arrangements by JAMES A. MCALISTER, INC. 766-1365 Visit our guestbook at www.legacy.com/obituaries/ charleston