Lewis White Obituary

Lewis Connelly White, Sr. AWENDAW, SC - Lewis Connelly White, 85, of Awendaw, SC, husband of Amy Thames White, entered into eternal rest on January 26, 2013. A funeral service will be held on Thursday, January 31, 2013 at Christ Episcopal Church, 2304 Highway 17 North, Mt. Pleasant, SC, at 10:30am. All friends and visitors are welcome. The family will receive friends at the J. HENRY STUHR, INC., MOUNT PLEASANT CHAPEL on Wednesday, January 30, 2013 from 5:00 until 7:00 pm. Lewis was born October 4, 1927 in Awendaw, SC, son of the late Lancelot Larson White and Lou Etta Sutler White of Awendaw, SC. He attended grammar school in Awendaw and graduated from both McClellanville High School and Porter Military Academy. He completed a year of engineering studies at The Citadel and then served with the Army Engineering Corps stationed in the Philippines at the conclusion of World War II. After his service in the military, he returned to The Citadel as a Veteran student and graduated in June, 1952. Lewis was a real estate developer and broker for over 50 years. He is largely credited with developing several of the first subdivisions in Goose Creek concentrating on providing affordable housing for the growing military presence in Charleston, as well as the less fortunate, by utilizing then-new government housing programs. He built numerous other subdivisions in the tri-county area as well. He was an active member of the Charleston Trident Homebuilders Association and the Charleston Trident Area Realtors Association. Using his engineering skills, he drafted the plans for many of the homes he built in the lowcountry area. Lewis and Amy raised their three sons in Mt. Pleasant before relocating to his childhood home at The Grove Plantation in Awendaw, SC. His faith was very important to him. He served for several years as a Sunday school teacher at Hibben United Methodist Church in Mt. Pleasant. After returning to Awendaw, although both of his homes had been destroyed by Hugo, he donated land and built the church and parsonage for the new Ocean Grove United Methodist Church. He, as contractor, and other volunteers then rebuilt the original Ocean Grove Methodist Church, which became St. Paul's Methodist Church. Over the past decade he organized and led the Adult Bible Study Class at Christ Episcopal Church in Mt. Pleasant. Community service was an integral part of Lewis's life. He served as former President of the Optimist Club of Mt. Pleasant and was an active member of the Hibernian Society. He was influential in the incorporation of the Town of Awendaw and served as Director of the Planning Board for a number of years. He remained active with the town's growth and comprehensive plan until his passing. He is survived by his wife, Amy, of 62 years; three sons: Lewis C. White, Jr. of Awendaw, SC, former daughter-in-law Debbie S. White of Mt. Pleasant, SC, Richard H. White (Melanie) of Mt. Pleasant, SC, former daughter-in-law Nancy M. White of Mt. Pleasant, SC, and Winston R. White and Liza Barnett of Jacksonville, FL; granddaughter Emily W. Fulmer (Steven) of Foothill Ranch, CA; three grandsons, Lewis C. White III (Josie), R. Alexander White, and Matthew D. White of Mt. Pleasant, SC; and sister Vivian W. Rector (Warren) of Awendaw, SC. Lewis was preceded in death by his sister Blanch W. Rhodes (George) and by his brothers Lancelot Larson White, Jr. (Mary Ann), James Larson White (Frances), and Charles Fulton White (Donna). In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Christ Episcopal Church, 2304 Highway 17 North, Mt. Pleasant, SC, 29466. 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