Carroll Owens Seawell Sr.

COLUMBIA - Carroll Owens Seawell Sr., 85, passed away January 6, 2011, at his home, surrounded by his wife and family. Mr. Seawell was born January 29, 1925. He started working at an early age in his life to help his family which consisted of his mother, Agnes, father, Coy, two sisters and four brothers. He and his brother, Jack, sold peanuts at Township Auditorium and Capitol City Ballpark in Columbia to provide necessities for their family. Later on in life, Mr. Seawell graduated from Orangeburg High School in 1941, where he earned letters in boxing and cheerleading. After graduating from high school, Carroll joined the United States Army and served with the Fifth Army in Italy during World War II. He was discharged in 1946 and started Seawell's Drive-In Restaurant, which now is Seawell's Food Caterers Inc., located at 1125 Rosewood Drive in Columbia. He married Carolyn Fulmer on March 25, 1948.

During his time after military service and marriage, Carroll Seawell Sr. received many awards for his service, leadership and dedication to nationally-known organizations that help children have better lives. Mr. Seawell was past president of the Columbia Jaycees, a civic organization recognized nationwide for helping underprivileged children. He was past president of the Junior Chamber of Commerce, a business organization that organizes business and community involvement.

In 1986, Mr. Seawell began serving on the Jamil Shrine Temple Divan in Columbia and became the Potentate of his temple in 1990. This non-profit organization raises money for the Crippled and Burned Children's Hospital. Carroll Seawell Sr., as Potentate, was member of the Shrine Bowl Executive Board. This committee consisted of six temples in North and South Carolina alone and donated approximately 1.3 million dollars to the Crippled and Burned Children's Hospital in Greenville in 1990. He was coordinator of the Jamil Shrine Temple Frank McGuire Memorial Golf Classic for 10 years, raising additional funds for the Greenville Shriners Hospital as well. As a board member of Dentsville Youth Baseball/Softball League, Mr. Seawell was instrumental in soliciting funds to build two batting cages for the league residing at Polo Road.

During these years of leading organizations, Carroll Seawell Sr. also received many awards for his service and dedication for different organizations. They included (not in order): Columbia Outstanding Young Man of the Year 1954 by the Columbia Chamber of Commerce, Outstanding Restaurateur by Florida State University in 1959, Richland County Gamecock Club Member of the Year, Palmetto Place Children's Emergency Shelter, Big Thursday Golf Tournament (which provides scholarships for U.S.C. and Clemson University), Special Olympics Program of Columbia, United States Army Chaplain Center and School, South Carolina State Trooper Association, Military Order of the World War, South Carolina Blind Athletes. He and his brother, Jack, were given an award of heroism and bravery as they thwarted a bank robbery attempt at the First National Bank of S.C. on November 9, 1967. Mr. Seawell received South Carolina's highest civilian honor in 2004, when Governor Sanford awarded him with the Order of the Palmetto. He was also inducted into the Columbia Restaurant Association Hall of Fame in 2008.

Mr. Carroll Seawell Sr. was also a member of many organizations including: the VFW Post #641, American Legion Post #6, Richland Voiture #1025, Richland Lodge #39, Scottish Rite and York Rite Bodies, charter member of the Legion of Honor, charter member of the Jamil Shrine Temple, Jamil Temple Sportsters Unit, Jamil Temple ChooChoo's Unit and the University of South Carolina Gamecock Club. Carroll and his wife, Carolyn, are also members of North Trenholm Baptist Church.

Surviving are his loving wife of 62 years, Carolyn; sons and daughters-in-law, Carroll O. 'Cal' Jr. and Pam, Robbie and Kim, Gary and Robin; 10 grandchildren, Carlee (Parker) Sizemore, Corey (Ashlyn), Terry, Kristin, Breanna, John Robert, Carmon, Jett, Noah and Sebastian. He was preceded in death by his mother and father; brothers, Robert, Doyle, Clarence and Jack; sisters, Virginia and Betty Jean.

Funeral service will take place 3 p.m. Sunday, January 9, 2011, at North Trenholm Baptist Church. Pallbearers will be Eddie Rowell, Calvin Payne, Solomon Foulks, Jim Shealy, Joe Hilton and Jack Parker. Honorary pallbearers will be Tom Gault, Gene Brown, Charlie Williamson, Jack Harmon and Paul Gregg. Interment will follow Monday at noon in Fort Jackson National Cemetery with full Masonic rites and military honors. The family will receive friends 4-6 p.m. Saturday at Dunbar Funeral Home, Devine Street Chapel.

The family would like to thank Heartstrings Hospice for their wonderful care and support and Drs. Michael Roberts, Jack Gottlieb and James Carnes.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions in the name of Carroll Seawell Sr. be made to Jamil Shrine Temple, 206 Jamil Road, Columbia, SC, 29210 or Heartstrings Hospice, 115 Blarney Drive, Columbia, SC 29223.

Please sign the online guestbook at www.dunbarfunerals.com.