Judge Richard E. Fields

Judge Richard E. Fields CHARLESTON - Judge Richard E. Fields was born and raised in Charleston, S.C. He was a graduate of Avery Institute, West Virginia State College (now West Virginia State University), and Howard University School of Law. Judge Fields was admitted to practice law in the District of Columbia and the State of S. C. Judge Fields began the practice of law in Charleston, S.C. in 1949. He was the first black person to open a law practice and become a litigator in historic Charleston since the early 1900s. Only one other person of co or was a practitioner of law in the State of South Carolina at that time. From 1969-1975, Judge Fields was appointed and served as a City of Charleston Municipal Judge. At the time of his election, he was reputed to have been the first black elected judicial official in the entire southeast. His ascension to this judicial position was celebrated by the Honorable J. Mendel Rivers on the floor of the United States House of Representatives. He was elected and served as a Family Court Judge from 1975-1980. He was elected and served as Judge of the Circuit Courts of South Carolina, Ninth Judicial Circuit from 1980 until his retirement in 1992. Upon his retirement, the Charleston County Bar Association commissioned his portrait which hangs on the fourth floor of the Charleston County Judicial Center in downtown Charleston. After returning to Charleston as a practicing attorney, Judge Fields resumed his membership in Centenary Methodist Episcopal Church (later named Centenary United Methodist Church. He served as treasurer of that congregation from 1950 until 2021. He served as the church's delegate to the South Carolina Annual Conference for more than fifty years. When the white and black conferences merged in the late 1960s and early 1970s, Judge Fields was a member of the Merger Committee in South Carolina and Chairman of the Merged Council on Ministries. Judge Fields was a delegate to five jurisdictional and general conferences of the United Methodist Church. He was a member of three World Methodist Conferences. Judge Field was on the General Board of Finance and Administration and the executive committee for the national United Methodist Church. Early in his legal career, Judge Fields was politically active. In 1950, along with several other black citizens, formed the Charleston County Political Action Committee (PAC) for the purpose of organizing black voters, educating them in the power of the ballot, and electing blacks to political office.His group, through its screening committee, was able to influence elections in Charleston for a decade. As a result, Judge Fields was elected as a delegate to the 1968 and 1972 Democratic National Conventions. Judge Field also conducted legal work on behalf of the NAACP. Judge Fields served on numerous boards, including the Charleston County Cham b er of Commerce, Bon Secours St. Francis Hospital, the Florence Crittenden Home and the Charleston School of Law. In 1980, Judge Fields and several businessmen established the Liberty National Bank, where he served on i s Board of Directors. Judge Fields was on the Board of Trustees of Claflin University for fifty years. He represented the University as its attorney and served on many of its committees. Later serving as an ex-officio member of the Board and the Board's executive committee. His portrait hangs in the boardroom of the University. He established the Richard E. Fields Scholarship at Claflin, whjch provides financial assistance to students of merit. West Virginia State University was also close to his heart. He remained a consistent contributor throughout his life. On his 60th anniversary, the University honored him as Alumnus of the Year. Judge Fields has received numerous honors, including the local chapter of "100 lack Men" for his public service and contributions to the community and the legal profession, The South Carolina Voter Education Project for twenty-seven years of judicial service to the people of South Carolina; the Cent for Heirs Property with its first Commitment to Justice Award; the Harvey Gantt Triumph Award; Drum Major fo r Justice Award; The African American History Calendar, the James Louis Petigru Award; the ABOTA Ci vility Award later named the Honorable Richard E. Fields Civility Award; The Order of the Palmetto; Compresio nal naming of a central Postal Office in his honor; and the naming of the Municipal courtroom, City of Charleston. The Charleston County Bar founded a scholarship in his name, now endowment , at the College of Charleston awarded to minority students interested in the field of law. In commemoration of his 100th birthday, Spring Street was renamed in his honor. Judge Fields was married to the late Myrtle T. Evans. He is survived by his children: Mary Diane Fields Reed (Michael) and Richard E. Fields, Jr. A Celebration of Life will be held at Centenary United Methodist Church, 60 Wentworth Street, Charleston,SC on Monday, March 13, 2023 at 10:00a.m. The wake service will be held on Sunday, March 12 ,2023 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the Church. THE INTERMENT WILL BE PRIVATE. LIVING STREAMING INFORMATION: Services will be broadcast live on Fielding Home For Funerals Facebook page and can be accessed by clicking this link: https://www.facebook.com/events/208412078537565/?sfnsn=mo&mibextid=6aamW6. Arrangements by Fielding Home for Funerals, 122 Logan Street, Charleston,SC 29401, 843-722-3348 or 1-800-290-5954. Visit our guestbook at legacy.com/obituaries/charleston