RAYMOND O. ISGETT - Sheriff Isgett
dies
BERKELEY COUNTY: The distinguished officer served as
Berkeley County Sheriff for four years Former Berkeley County
Sheriff Raymond O. Isgett, 57, died Thursday after a long battle
with cancer.
Isgett, an Effingham
native, was a career law enforcement officer who distinguished
himself many times in the line of duty.
Known for his appreciation
for pomp and ceremony, Isgett often wore a dress uniform bedecked
with medals and general's stars. A well-known photograph of Isgett
shows him leaning down from the saddle of a horse in a parade to
speak to Isgett a girl. The picture hung in the main hallway of the
sheriff's office during his tenure, and now holds a prominent place
in his Summerville home.
In keeping with his style,
Isgett wore on a chain around his neck the .38-caliber slug that
grazed his temple during a 1974 attempt on his life while he was a
drug investigator with the Sumter Police Department.
Isgett served there for 10
years and was remembered fondly by his former chief, Les
Griffin.
"Ray was an outstanding
police officer in Sumter and also in Berkeley County, and law
enforcement will certainly miss his expertise," Griffin said. Isgett
took risks more than once during his career.
He once went unarmed into a
trailer where a suspect had barricaded himself during a standoff
with police. At the time, Isgett was recovering from surgery but
persuaded the man to surrender peacefully.
Isgett later said he had
called upon a higher power - the faith in his three black belts in
martial arts.
After the attempt on his
life, Isgett left narcotics work and the Sumter Police Department
for crime prevention at the state level.
In 1979, Governor James B.
Edwards asked Isgett to form the first statewide crime prevention
program. The program was a model for subsequent crime prevention
efforts and became the hallmark of Isgett's career.
In 1982, he went to the
SCANA Corp. as a security consultant and remained there for eight
years. In 1990, Isgett won the sheriff's race in Berkeley County and
served for four years before losing his re- election bid to current
Sheriff Wayne DeWitt.
"Since the election, we've
spoken many times and become good friends. I found him to be a
person who truly had Berkeley County's interests at heart," DeWitt
said.
Isgett earned an
associate's degree in criminal justice from Palmer College and a
bachelor's degree from the University of South Carolina. He received
postgraduate degrees from Florida State and the University of
Louisville.
His awards included being
named 1974 Sumter Police Officer of the Year and the American Legion
Bravery Award.
Isgett was an ordained
minister with the Southern Baptist Church and a martial arts
master.
He was an active member in
a number of crime prevention organizations, civic clubs and
community and law enforcement associations. He served in the Air
Force and S.C. National Guard.
Isgett's son, Buddy Isgett,
said late Thursday that Isgett's family and friends lost a great
man.
"Ray Isgett dedicated his
life to serving the people of South Carolina. He strived to set a
good Christian example as a Baptist minister, law enforcement
officer and most of all, a husband, a father and a friend to all,"
the son said.
Surviving are his wife
Carol Jean Isgett of Summerville; a brother, Harold E. Isgett of
Hanahan; a daughter, Vicky Saia of Germany; two sons, El Rey "Buddy"
Isgett of Summerville and Daniel Isgett of Goose Creek; and five
grandchildren.
Dyal Funeral Home in
Summerville is handling the arrangements. --Post and Courier, The
(Charleston, SC) - November 15, 1996, - contributed by A.
Newell.
Mr. Chambers was a retired Iron Working Supt. for
Armco Steel Co., a Navy Veteran of WWII. He was born Feb. 26, 1918
in Berkeley County, SC. Survivors: two sons, Clarence F.
(Skip) Chambers, Jr. and wife Harriett (Happy) of Murray, Richard W.
Chambers of Murray; one sister, Mrs. Mary Carlton and husband Sam of
Summerville, SC; four grandchildren, Adam, Boone and Spencer
Chambers and Jeremy Chambers- Norris. He was preceded in death by
his parents Hezekiah Chambers and Lenora Brown-Chambers. No
services will be held. Burial site will be in Berkeley County
Cemetery, SC. Visitation 2-4 p.m. Sunday at J.H. Churchill Funeral
Home. J.H. Churchill Funeral Home has charge of arrangements. [News
& Observer, The (Raleigh, NC) - July 14, 1998, -
contributed by A. Newell.]
MONCKS CORNER - (Berkeley Co) -
Mrs. Francis Irene
McSwain 91 of Apt H 13. North Bridge Court. died Monday
April 17, 1989 at North Trident Regional Hospital Charleston. The
funeral will be at 10 a m today at Russell Funeral Chapel with the
Rev. Bill Mishoe officiating, Burial will be at 2 p m in Bellevue
Memorial Gardens Grovetown. Mrs McSwain, a native of Charleston, was
a Baptist and a homemaker. Survivors include a son Tolbert McSwain,
Ridgeville and three grandchildren and five great grandchildren.
[Augusta Chronicle April 4, 1989, contributed by Christine Walters]