William Lacey Obituary

William Henry Lacey III MCLELLANVILLE, SC - William Henry Lacey III, 77, died peacefully on October 17 in McClellanville, SC. Born on April 6, 1948, in Pinopolis, SC, Will was the son of Dr. William Henry Lacey, Jr. and Sara Adelaide (Dennis) Lacey. He grew up running wild in the woods of Berkeley County with his close friends and cousins, fishing on Lake Moultrie, and tagging along with his father on house calls. Later, Will attended Christ School in Arden, NC for five years, where he forged lifelong friendships and helped the Greenies earn their first undefeated football season in 1965. Will and his teammates were inducted into the school's hall of fame this September. Following his time at Christ School, Will attended the University of South Carolina, where he joined Kappa Alpha Order, graduating with a BS in Marketing and Finance in 1971. Upon graduation, Will began a winding professional journey that eventually led him to the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, thus beginning his 27 years of service to the state of South Carolina. At SCDNR, he was a pioneer in seafood education, introducing underutilized species and teaching people how to buy, store, and prepare local seafood. Beginning in 1989, Will served the state's international trade and business community at the South Carolina Department of Commerce for over 16 years. There, he was ultimately named Managing Director of the International Trade Development Division and then Managing Director of the Business Solutions Division. He also served as Interim Director of the South Carolina Film Office. He was most proud of the talented and dedicated team he built, all of whom went on to make great impacts on South Carolina during their careers. Along with the love of his life of 46 years, Ruth Aichele Morgan Lacey, Will is survived by his two daughters, Amelia Buchholz (Karl) of Columbia and Eliza Magwood (Rocky) of McClellanville; his son, William Henry Lacey IV (Rebecca) of Charleston; his sister, Brailsford Lacey; five grandchildren: Theodore and Baxter Buchholz, Cam Magwood, and Beatrice and Henrietta Lacey; and his beloved yellow lab, Mercy. Will was predeceased by his sister, Elizabeth Rembert Lacey and both parents. He will be forever remembered for his enduring kindness to all, his love and respect for nature, his ability to connect with anyone through his warmth and generosity, his strength and perseverance, his adoration of history, a voice that could captivate any audience, and his boundless love for his family and friends. A service in his memory will be held at St. James Santee Episcopal Church in McClellanville on Wednesday, October 22 at 2:00 pm. Burial will be private. To honor Will's memory, his family requests that you make time to be in God's great outdoors, always choose kindness, be present with your loved ones, and remember to have a slice of your birthday cake with breakfast every year. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. James Santee Episcopal Church or the Callen-Lacey Center for Children in Berkeley County through Landmarks for Families.