William M. Hagood III

1938 - 2016

William M. Hagood, III

Easley, SC

William Milliken Hagood, III died on December 2, 2016 surrounded by family after a courageous battle with brain cancer. He was born in Easley, South Carolina on December 16, 1938. He was the son of George Cleveland Hagood and Mary Smith Hagood, and the great grandson of William Milliken Hagood, founder of both Pickens Mill and Glenwood Cotton Mill, Easley, S.C. He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Elizabeth Hays Hagood and daughter, Virginia Cleveland Hagood Macdonald and her husband Dr. André J. Macdonald, two grandchildren William Cougar Macdonald and Elizabeth Coco Macdonald of Somerset West, South Africa, brother George Cleveland Hagood and his wife Wanda, sister-in-law Anne Sherman Hagood, brother-in-law C. Frank Hays, III and his wife Elaine, and sister-in-law Faye Hays Hearon and her husband Dr. Thomas Hearon.

He is also survived by the following nieces and nephews: Charles Cleveland Hagood (Shannon), George Timmerman Hagood (Jennifer), Elizabeth Allison Hagood, Dr. Elizabeth Hearon Lindsey (Joshua), Mary Kent Hearon, Dr. Thomas Hearon (Dr. Jane), C. Frank Hays, IV, and Craig Porter Hays (Andrea). He was predeceased by his parents, son William Milliken Hagood, IV (Will), brother Charles Cleveland Hagood, and niece Grace Hagood Downs.

Billy attended Northside Elementary School in Easley and graduated from Easley High School in 1956. During this time he was an honor student, athlete, as well as an Eagle Scout. One of his many achievements was having perfect attendance in Sunday School from his childhood through his second year at Presbyterian College.

In 1960, Billy graduated cum laude from Presbyterian College with a Bachelor of Science degree. While attending Presbyterian College, he was President of Phi Kappa Alpha fraternity, a member of Blue Key, and a member of Sigma Kappa Alpha. As a devoted Presbyterian College graduate, he was a founding contributor to the Class of 1960 scholarship fund. He served as a member of the Board of Trustees and Board of Visitors. As an alumnus, he was awarded the Gold P for outstanding accomplishments in his chosen profession which reflect honor upon the college. He received his Juris Doctor degree from University of South Carolina in 1963 where he was a member of the Wig and Robe Honor Society, Phi Beta Kappa, Law Review, and Phi Delta Phi.

Following law school, Billy clerked for Judge Clement F. Haynsworth, Judge of the 4th Judicial Circuit Court of Appeals. He joined the law firm of Love, Thornton, Arnold & Thomason, P.A. in 1964 where becoming a successful medical malpractice defense attorney whose opinion was highly sought throughout the state. In 2004, he authored Physicians' Guide to Malpractice Law in South Carolina. Billy was a member of the International Association Defense Counsel and also a past member of American College of Trial Lawyers and American Board of Trial Advocates. He was listed in Best Lawyers in America licensed in all state and federal courts and the U.S. Supreme Court. After spending most of his years in medical malpractice defense litigation, Billy went on to practice exclusively in the area of mediation.

He was a faithful, longtime member of Easley Presbyterian Church where he served as Sunday School teacher, deacon, elder, clerk of session, and even completed a 9-volume history of the church. At an early age his life was greatly influenced by his family's long dedication and love for the church. Billy continued to enjoy the study of theology under Dr. Richard Burnett. At the time of his death, he was a member of First Presbyterian Church, Greenville, SC and was currently serving on the Board of Theology Matters, a nonprofit organization of Presbyterians.

Billy was a great lover of the outdoors and engaged frequently in outdoor activities including tennis, golf, hiking in the Swiss Alps, and running marathons including New York, Washington, San Francisco, and Grandfather Mountain. His love of photography led him to publish a booklet on South Carolina waterfalls.

Friends are invited to attend a Service of Witness to the Resurrection for Billy to be held at 3:00 p.m. on Monday, December 5 at First Presbyterian Church to be conducted by the Dr. Richard Burnett and Reverend Claire Ripley. The family will receive friends prior to the service at 1:00 p.m. in the church parlor. The family requests that flowers be omitted and memorials be made to the Will Hagood Memorial Scholarship Fund, College of Health Professions, Attention: Leslie M. Brady, MSW, 151-A Rutledge Avenue, Room A312, MSC 960, Charleston, South Carolina 29425, where Billy served on the Advisory Board, College of Health Professions.

The burial service will take place at the Hagood Cemetery in Pickens on Wednesday, December 7 at 2:00 p.m.

The family would like to thank Billy's many friends for all their attention and dedication given to him during his illness. The family is at the home of Mrs. William M. Hagood, III, 416 North B Street, Easley, South Carolina 29640.

Condolences may be expressed online at www.robinsonfuneralhomes.com or in person at Robinson Funeral Home - Downtown, which is assisting the family.