Name: Memorial service for James C. Parham Jr.
Start: 2023-03-11T15:30:00.000Z
End: 2023-03-11T16:30:00.000Z
Location: Christ Episcopal Church

James C. Parham, Jr. GREENVILLE, SC - Mr. James Covington Parham, Jr., gracefully departed his earthly body on March 6, 2023, at age 92. Known to most everyone as "Poss," he was born in Sumter, South Carolina on October 1, 1930, to the late Alice Witherspoon Wilson Parham and James C. Parham, Sr. Poss graduated from Edmonds High School (now Sumter High School) in 1948, where he was valedictorian, student body president, and lettered in baseball and football. In 1952, he graduated from Princeton University, where he was elected class president for three consecutive years, played football and baseball, won the Detwiler Prize, the thesis prize, and led a social revolution called the "100-percent-or-none" movement that demanded inclusivity in the university's eating clubs and permanently changed the fabric of students' cultural experience. Selected as a Rhodes Scholar, he received a BCL from Oxford University, Magdalen College in 1956 and graduated with an LLB from Yale Law School in 1957. Poss became a fighter pilot, flying the F-104, F-102 and F-86 with the South Carolina Air National Guard, 157th Fighter Interceptor Squadron, and retained a close kinship with his fellow "Swamp Fox" pilots throughout his life. But his affinity for flying led him to meet the true love of his life, Margaret "Peggy" Kinley, as a young cadet in San Antonio, Texas. They married in 1958 and shared 64 years and five children together. Following his clerkship for the Honorable Ashton Williams, United States District Court in Charleston, he joined Wyche, Burgess, Freeman & Parham in 1960, where he practiced law up until the very last years of his life. In 1964, he represented the Greenville County School District in desegregation litigation and was integral in ensuring the voluntary, expeditious and peaceful integration of over 55,000 students in only two weeks, an event so historic it was reported in the New York Times. He was known as a quintessential lawyer, mentor, and gentleman, leaving a lasting impression of kindness, humility, and generosity on all who knew him and inspiring countless young people to become lawyers, to become better lawyers, or to become better people. His innumerable professional and civic contributions include service as President of the South Carolina Bar, the Greenville County Bar, Greenville Rotary Club, Greenville United Way, Greenville Symphony, and board member of many other community organizations. From 1977-1983, he served on the American Bar Association Standing Committee on the Federal Judiciary, Fourth Circuit Member. For over twenty-five years, Mr. Parham served on the Rhodes Scholarship Selection Committee. In addition to serving on the Executive Committee of the Yale Law School Association, he served on the Princeton Board of Trustees from 1976-1980, the Executive Committee in 1980, and was Chairman of the Princeton Alumni Association from 1989-1991. In 2002, Poss received the Tommy Thomason Award from the Greenville County Bar Association, In 2022, he received the DuRant Public Service Award from the South Carolina Bar Foundation for the culmination of a lifetime in the law marked by integrity, character, and active pursuits to ensure justice. An active member of Christ Episcopal Church, Mr. Parham served on the Vestry as well as various committees. Second only to his devotion to his family, perhaps his most lasting legacy was his unflinching faith in the ultimate goodness of humankind. In addition to his wife, Peggy, Poss is survived by five children: the Reverend James C. Parham, III (Christine), Arthur Bradley Parham, Tally Parham Casey (Matthew), Maggie Parham Murdock (Scott), and John Gregory Kinley Parham. Also surviving him are his 14 grandchildren: Chris Owens (James), Isabelle Davis, Harriotte Davis, Margaret Parham, Mary Tindall Parham, Arthur Bradley Parham, Jr., Jaxon Alexander Casey, Wyatt James Kosciusko, Mia Witherspoon Kosciusko, Breanna Shannon, Jacob Scott Murdock, Henry James Murdock, Abigail Toeko Murdock, and Kaya Logan Parham. He was predeceased by his brother, John Snowden Wilson Parham. Following a Committal Service at 2:45 pm on Saturday, March 11, 2023, in Christ Churchyard, the Memorial Service will be at 3:30 pm at Christ Episcopal Church. The family will receive friends immediately following the service in the McCall Parlor at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to South Carolina Legal Services https://sclegal.org/donate-now/; Upstate Forever https://www.upstateforever.org/; Christ Church Episcopal https://www.ccgsc.org/; or a charity of your choice. Visit RobinsonFuneralHomes.com or Robinson Funeral Home - Downtown Easley. Visit our guestbook at legacy.com/obituaries/charleston

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Published by Charleston Post & Courier from Mar. 8 to Mar. 9, 2023.

Memories and Condolences
for James Parham

Sponsored by Robinson Funeral Home and Crematory - Downtown - Easley.

12 Entries

Al Murrel

March 12, 2023

I must admit to not knowing Mr. Parham very well. What I do know is that my dad considered him his very best friend. They did try to stay in touch from time to time. They were school mates in Sumter. My Dad asked him to be my godfather. However, I was an adult before meeting him and I thoroughly enjoyed the time we got to visit. I met his son Jim through my work. Both Jim and his Father seemed to be from the same cloth - Kind, Smart, and Talented. To all of the Parham Family - I am sorry I did not get to know your Father sooner. May her Rest In Peace. Al Murrell

Alex Sanders

March 11, 2023

Words cannot adequately express how much I respected and admired Jim Parham.

He graduated from Oxford; led a student insurrection against his other alma mater, Princeton; practiced law for 60 years as a learned scholar and a skilled advocate; led the peaceful integration of 55,000 public school students; and flew fighter jets (like his daughter). I seriously doubt anyone else in the history of the world ever accomplished all these things.

We shall not see his likes again.

March 11, 2023

Pastor Jim and family,

Please know that you are in our thoughts and prayers during this difficult time. May your faith and the love and support of family and friends bring you peace and comfort in the days ahead.

Your father left quite a legacy of a life well-lived. Cherish all the memories of his life and legacy and hold them in your hearts forever. He will always be with you. Jim and I have lost our parents since you left and have some idea of the void that leaves in your life.

May God’s mercy and grace give you peace and comfort.

Jim and Bonnie Stevens
St. John’s Lutheran Church
Irmo, SC

William Herlong

March 10, 2023

I was a young lawyer at Wyche when I began working working with Poss on a fascinating patent case for Clemson and then an equally fascinating trademark case for Wild Dunes and then a complex trade secrets case and then a terrifying products liability case. I learned so so so so much from him. Such a good lawyer and, even more meaningfully, such a good man. A gentleman in the truest sense of the word. Authentic. Sincere. Kind. Real. I miss you, my friend.

Martha Ann Weisner

March 10, 2023

I am saddened by the loss of Mr. Parham. It was a privilege and honor to know and work with him for 20 years. His smile was captivating and his southern charm was unsurpassed. It was a pleasure to walk into his office and see it embellished with photos of his lovely family. Mr. Parham will truly be missed by everyone who knew him.
Martha Ann

James Bogle

March 9, 2023

What a true servant of the law. When I was at Furman, during my senior year he taught a short course on constitutional law. It as a wonderful experience.

Kathleen Jennings

March 9, 2023

Such a profound loss but oh, what a well-lived, purposeful life. Sending prayers and care to this family. My father, the late Greenville Police Chief Harold C Jennings, thought highly of Jim and his service to our church, Christ Church Episcopal. They both rest eternally in the historic heart of our city. .

Tom Marchant

March 9, 2023

An outstanding person!

Tom Marchant +
Pawleys Island, SC

Waldo

March 8, 2023

I did not fly with Poss as we served in the same squadron years apart but I got to know him as someone who cared deeply for our country to the extent he encouraged his daughter Tally to become the first female fighter pilot to serve in the squadron. Poss was a patriot of the highest order and I humbly salute him.

Doug Gray

March 8, 2023

I am a retired lawyer living in Anderson and, like Mr. Parham, I was President of the South Carolina Bar. Mr. Parham was considered one of the very best to ever serve as a member of the South Carolina Bar. A big loss for the legal community.

Velta

March 8, 2023

I was privileged to work at Wyche as a legal secretary for 16 years. My office was just down the hall from Mr. Parham´s office, so we shared many happy exchanges. Always cordial and jovial, he often enjoyed steering the conversation to politics, where we solve the problems of the world from slightly different vantage points. Such a kind-hearted and brilliant gentleman- one whose life was one very well-lived. My deepest condolences to his family; I will always be grateful for the opportunity to know him as a true friend, who always greeted me warmly when I would return to visit after retirement. His legacy will live on.

Jeannie Kennedy

March 7, 2023

I had the honor of working for Mr. Parham for 45 years. He hired me as his Secretary with no legal experience, and I learned everything I needed to know as his assistant. I visited him last week, and my last memory of him will be the smile on his face. I prayed he would get well, but his suffering is over. I loved him and I love his family having watched his children grow up and become adults. I will miss him so much.

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