Riley Maxwell Obituary

Riley Leon Maxwell BAMBERG, SC - Riley Leon Maxwell died July 10, 2012, at home surrounded by his loving wife, sons, and daughter. Coach Maxwell lived a life of loving service to his family, friends, and the students he taught and coached. Leon was born on August 29, 1930, in Athens, Georgia, and grew up in North Charleston. He attended Newberry College on an athletic scholarship where he played basketball and baseball. The 1952 Newberry baseball team went undefeated, defeating teams such as Furman, Duke, Georgia, USC, NC State and Wake Forest. Prior to beginning his coaching career, he played in the Pittsburg Pirates Farm System. Leon coached high school football at Latta High School (1952-1960), St. Stephen High School (1960-1970) and Bamberg-Ehrhardt High School (1970-1992). Over his 40-year head coaching career, he won two state championships, eight lower state championships, nine State Quarter Finals and 27 Conference or Region Championships. He was inducted into the SC Athletic Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 1995 with a compiled record of 297-121-4. He was selected to coach as an assistant and head coach for the Pee Dee Tobacco Bowl, the SCHSL North-South All-Star Game and the Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas. His individual honors include National Coach of the Year, Third Place, SC Coach of the Year and numerous region Coach of the Year awards. He has won state championships in football, baseball, and golf. He also coached track and basketball teams to state runner-up finishes. He was a life-time member, deacon, and Sunday School teacher at the Baptist Churches in Latta, St. Stephen and Bamberg. He is survived by his loving wife of 62 years, Betty Lou Weatherly Maxwell of Bamberg; three sons and a daughter, Richard Lee Maxwell (Carol), Randall Leon Maxwell (Mary Jane), Cindy Maxwell Hall (Ray) and Quillian Ronald Maxwell (Kay); a brother, Daniel Joseph Maxwell (Charlotte) of Commerce, GA; eight grandchildren, Riley Johnson Maxwell, Richard Lee Maxwell, Jr., Hank Morrell Maxwell (Sarah), Mary Bray Mehrzad (Alan), Henry Maxwell Hall, Sarah Lou Hall, Matthews Webster Maxwell and Cornelia Weatherly Maxwell; and one great-grandchild, Weatherly Marie Mehrzad. Visitation will be held Thursday, July 12, 2012, at First Baptist Church of Bamberg from 6 to 8 p.m. Funeral services will take place Friday, July 13, 2012, at First Baptist Church, at 11:00 a.m., with Rev. Charlie Lucas officiating. Burial will follow at Bamberg County Memory Gardens. Memorials may be sent to First Baptist Church, P.O. Box 355, Bamberg, S.C. 29003. Visit our guestbook at www.legacy.com/obituaries/ charleston