Robert Dennis Jennings

BISHOPVILLE - Robert Dennis Jennings, 77, husband of June McLendon Jennings, and a Bishopville attorney for 50 years, died Wednesday, October 19, 2011.

Mr. Jennings was a lifelong resident of Lee County, the youngest son of the late Henry Caldwell and Mary Green Hill Jennings. He graduated from Bishopville High School where he served as president of the student body and participated in all sports. He earned the rank of Eagle Scout. Mr. Jennings graduated from Wofford College in 1956 where he was a member of the Kappa Alpha Order and served as number one. He was a graduate of the University of South Carolina law school in the class of 1960. He was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army and also served time as a reservist.

Mr. Jennings joined his father and brother in the practice of law in 1960 in the firm of Jennings and Jennings. In his professional life Mr. Jennings served as Master-in-Equity for 14 years, was a member of the Lee County and South Carolina Bar from which he received his 50-year pin.

He was a public defender for Lee County. He had served as town attorney for Bishopville and was the attorney for the town of Lynchburg.

He was always interested in his community and served 12 years on the Bishopville town council. He was a Jaycee and received their Young Man of the Year award, a member or the Rotary Club, the Library Board, and served on the Board of Review for the Boy Scouts.

A lifelong member of Bethlehem United Methodist Church, Mr. Jennings served in many capacities. He was chairman of the Administrative Board, Board of Trustees, chairman of the Finance Committee, president of the Joe Fanning Sunday School Class, and a Sunday school teacher.

Mr. Jennings was interested in his family history and in history in general, enjoyed sports all his life and inherited a great love of nature from his mother and father. He loved spending time at the beach with his wife, children and their spouses, and his grandchildren. He particularly enjoyed indoctrinating the grandchildren in the joy of swimming in the ocean and riding the waves.

Mr. Jennings is survived by his wife of 51 years, daughters and sons-in-law, Sarah and Trip Johnstone of Greenville, SC, and Laura and Tom Mincher of Greensboro, NC, and a son, Robert Dennis 'Bob' Jennings Jr. of Florence, SC, six grandchildren Jennings Johnstone, Ellison Johnstone and Rudy Johnstone of Greenville, SC, and Sarah Ann Mincher, Thomas Mincher and Robert Mincher of Greensboro, NC.

He is survived by a brother and sister-in-law, Jacob and Jane Marie Jennings of Bishopville; and brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Charles and Laura Ellen McLendon of Sumter, and six nieces and nephews and seven great-nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by brother, Henry C. Jennings Jr.

Funeral service will be held at Bethlehem United Methodist Church Saturday morning at 11 o'clock with the Rev. Henry Altman and the Rev. Fred McDaniel officiating. Burial will be in the Jennings plot in Bethlehem United Methodist Church Cemetery.

Pallbearers will be Allen Corbett, Bryan Doby, Jake Jennings, Dave McLendon, Jack McLendon and Will Wheeler.

Hancock-Elmore-Hill Funeral Home of Bishopville is in charge of the arrangements.