Emerson Read Obituary

Emerson Brackett Read, Sr. Charleston - Emerson Brackett Read, Sr., Realtor Emeritus, Commercial Property Specialist and Real Estate Developer, died November 23, 2016. His Funeral Service will be held Tuesday, November 29, 2016, in St. Michael's Church, 71 Broad Street, at 2:00 p.m. Interment, Saint James Churchyard. The family will receive friends Monday from 4:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. in J. HENRY STUHR, INC., DOWNTOWN CHAPEL, 232 Calhoun Street. The son of Thomas Carpenter Read and Helen Elizabeth Emerson, he was born August 9th, 1925. After graduating from the High School of Charleston, he served in World War II as a B17 pilot. After the war, he graduated from The Citadel in 1950, with a degree in Civil Engineering. While a student at The Citadel, Mr. Read founded Read & Read Realtors in 1947. Often referred to as the "Dean of Charleston Real Estate," Mr. Read was the first in South Carolina to earn the coveted, CCIM (Certified Commercial Investment Member) Designation from The National Association of Realtors. He served as President of the Charleston Board of Realtors and served on many Realtor committees. During his career, he authored articles for the Real Estate Section of the News and Courier and other publications. He was Founder and Chairman of No Home Tax Coalition. Their efforts resulted in obtaining millions in annual tax relief for all primary homeowners in South Carolina. He received the Humanitati award from La Socie;te; Franaise, and the Three Sisters award from the Committee to Save the City for his leadership in property tax relief and public service. He was a member of The Order of the Crown of Charlemagne, The Society of Mayflower Descendants, The Huguenot Society of South Carolina, the Society of Colonial Wars in the State of South Carolina, The Sons of the American Revolution, the Military Order of Stars and Bars, the Baronial Order of Magna Carta Barons, and the Order of the Three Crusades. In 2008, he was awarded the Order of the Palmetto, the State of South Carolina's highest civilian honor, by Governor Mark Sanford. At the time of his death, he was the second longest tenured member of the Carolina Yacht Club. He was a childhood member of St. Michaels Church, serving as head acolyte and later member of the Vestry. He was a Rotarian and double receiver of the Paul Harris Award. He is survived by his wife, Marie Kerrison Watson Read; children: Anne Read Brandt and husband, Julian V. Brandt III, of Charleston, Elizabeth Read Sunde M.D., of Holland, Michigan, Susan Lee Read of Charleston, and Emerson B. Read, Jr. and wife, Tanya Read, of Charleston; and step children: James Watson Doggette of Charleston, Lisa Doggette Brabham of Columbia, Eleanor Doggette Washburn of Charleston, and James Carlisle Doggette III of Charleston; 14 grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Piedmont Hospice, 501-A Deanna Lane, Wando, SC 29492 or MUSC Foundation for Children's Hospital, 18 Bee Street, MSC 450, Charleston, SC 29425. A memorial message may be sent to the family by visiting our website at www.jhenrystuhr.com. Visit our guestbook at www.legacy.com/obituaries/ charleston