Robert Stoudemire

Funeral services for Dr. Robert H. Stoudemire, 86, will be held Wednesday at 11 a.m. at Ebenezer Lutheran Church, Columbia, with burial in the church cemetery. Visitation will follow in the church reception room.

Dunbar Funeral Home, Devine Street Chapel, is assisting the family.

Dr. Stoudemire died Sunday, July 22, 2007, at the Lowman Home. Born in Little Mountain, he was a son of the late Asman Stoudemire and Hattie Derrick Stoudemire. He graduated from Newberry College, earned a master's degree in political science at the University of South Carolina and did graduate work at the University of North Carolina. In 1971, Newberry College awarded him a doctor of laws degree, especially recognizing his work in the revising of the South Carolina Constitution of 1895.

An Army veteran of World War II, he served three years in the Signal Company of the 42nd Infantry Rainbow Division in Germany and Austria.

In 1948, Dr. Stoudemire joined the staff of the Bureau of Governmental Research and Department of Political Science of USC. He retired in 1983 being named a professor emeritus of political science and director of the Bureau of Governmental Research. While at the university, he worked closely with the Municipal and County Associations, the S.C. General Assembly and many departments of state government. He directed training programs for governmental employees for many years obtaining some federal Title I funds. He edited the University of S.C. Carolina Governmental Review for 19 years and wrote numerous articles on S.C. State and local governments.

Dr. Stoudemire was the first chairman of the State Employees Grievance Committee and served six years. He was the educational director of Girls State for 21 years. He served as research director of the S.C. Constitution Review Committee and prepared most of the revised articles approved by the voters of South Carolina. At the same time, he served as director of the State Reorganization Commission. He worked on the staff of Gov. John West for two and one-half years, especially carrying out the recommendations of a Management Review Committee.

One of the founders of the Richland-Lexington Council on Aging, Dr. Stoudemire served as chairman for two years and eight years on the Executive Committee. He was also a delegate to the White House Conference on Aging in 1960 and served many years on the Legislative Committee of the State AARP.

Active in the State Employees Association, he served two terms as president and many years on the Executive Committee and Board of Directors. He was named State Male Employee of the Year in 1970.

Active in the Lutheran Church, Dr. Stoudemire served on the Synod's Executive Committee for six years and was a delegate to the National Assembly in 1970. At Ebenezer Lutheran Church, he was elected to five four-year terms on the Church Council; served as Sunday school superintendent, Sunday schoolteacher for 30 years and on numerous boards and committees. He was on call committees to recommend four pastors. He was also an honorary council member.

Dr. Stoudemire was an active member of the United States, South Carolina and Lexington County Democratic Party.

Surviving are nieces and nephews, Marilyn Koon Hendrix, Sylvia Stoudemire Wallace, Luanne Harmon Mayer, Julian Stoudemire, Wayne Koon, Stewart Stoudemire, Edward Stoudemire, Frank Harmon, Phillip Stoudemire and Craig Harmon; and close friends, Keith (Clay) Robinson, Wilbur (Buddy) Robinson, Wanda Wilson and Jack Thompson. Dr. Stoudemire's wife, Mary Livingston Stoudemire, died in 1980.

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