Charlie Way

1937 - 2022

Charlie Way
December 18, 1937 - September 6, 2022
Mount Pleasant, South Carolina - Charlie Way (Charles Seignious, Jr.), husband of Mary Ellen Long Way entered into eternal rest at his home at Seaside Farm surrounded by the love of his family who were the most important part of his life.
Charlie was born December 18, 1937 in Orangeburg, South Carolina, the eldest child of Sally Wise and Charles Seignious Way, Sr. His growing-up years were full of what being in a small South Carolina town could give - security, time spent working at his father's Gulf Service Station and motor courts, pure fun, and friends who have remained his through the years.
After graduating from Riverside Military Academy, Charlie entered the University of South Carolina. He pledged Sigma Chi and became Social Chairman, then Consul and President of the four fraternity group, Westhalion. Charlie was the very best shagger and the life of every party. Always an entrepreneur, he sold tailor-made shirts (Packard) to anyone interested on campus; that was how in 1957 he met his future wife, Mary Ellen Long. Charlie and Mary Ellen were married in 1959, weeks before he began Law School at USC. Upon graduation in 1962, they moved to Charleston with the first two of their five children, Berta and C. Charlie opened a "one man" office to practice real estate law. This became a partnership of Way, Burkett and Wise. He was a highly successful lawyer who liked to say "he never entered a courtroom."
In 1975 at the age of 38, Charlie became president of the Beach Company succeeding his father-in-law, J.C. Long. Under his leadership the company's presence expanded into Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee and Alabama and became a catalyst for the revitalization of King Street with the completion of Majestic Square. In 1988, Charlie led the group that purchased Kiawah Island and transformed it into a very desirable resort.
He served as Secretary of Commerce under Governor Jim Hodges from 1999-2002. The Order of the Palmetto, South Carolina's highest civilian honor, was presented to Charlie by both Governor Hodges and Governor Carroll Campbell.
In 2015, he accepted perhaps his greatest challenge when he became the Chairman of the Board of SC State University where he worked unceasingly to "get this ox out of the ditch." It proved to be a long-needed start to remedy a difficult situation.
Charlie's accolades were numerous and ranged from the Mary Ramsay Civic Award presented to him for his years on the Spoleto Board from 1985-1996, the SC Business Hall of Fame, to the Orangeburg County Chamber of Commerce Hall of Fame. He stated when he received the Distinguished Alumni Award from the University of South Carolina that he had tried to always live by his favorite saying, a quote from Winston Churchill, "You make a living by what you get, but you make a life by what you give." Charlie always said that his children were his greatest achievement and of everything, he was proudest of his family and their closeness.
In addition to his wife of 63 years Mary Ellen, Charlie is survived by his children: Alberta Way Freeman (Robbie), Ellen Way Dudash, (Steve), Sally Wise Way Howle (Will) and Leonard Darlington Way (Jennifer); grandchildren: Willington Edmondston Freeman (Meredith), Anna Freeman McDonald (Nicholas), Katherine Freeman Strickler, (Nate), Charles Albert Freeman (Nina), Macy Way Moore (Reid), Charles Sanders Way, Mary Ellen Dudash Darby (Hamer), John Francis Dudash (fiancée Marissa McAmis), Sara Riley Dudash (fiancé Robert Seigler), William King Howle II (Colleen), John Henry Howle (Emily), Mary Wise Wonderlic (Alex), Charles Way Howle, Amelia Lee Way, Leonard Christenberry Way and 14 great-grandchildren: John Robert Strickler, Crawford Ann Freeman, Charles Locke Freeman, Charlotte Way Strickler, Amelia Elizabeth Strickler, Albert Mills Freeman, Edward Long Freeman, Aldous Oswald McDonald, Colt Townsend Moore, Anne Bett Howle, Caroline Carter Howle, Ryan Sottile Wonderlic, Alberta Freeman Strickler and James Hayes Freeman.
He was preceded in death by his son, Charles Seignious Way III and his brother, Allen Samuel Way.
His Mass of Christian Burial will be held Saturday, September 10, 2022 in Stella Maris Roman Catholic Church at 11:00 a.m. Interment, Seaside Farm Proper Family Cemetery. The family will receive friends Friday, September 9, 2022 from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at the home of Sally Wise and Will Howle, Seaside Farm Proper. Arrangements by J. Henry Stuhr, Inc. Mount Pleasant Chapel.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Stella Maris Building Fund, PO Box 280, Sullivan's Island, SC 29482, or to Mepkin Abbey, 1098 Mepkin Abbey Road, Moncks Corner, SC 29461 or to the Charles S. Way, Jr. Endowed Scholarship for Darla Moore, Gift Processing, USC 1600 Hampton Street, Columbia, SC 29208.
A memorial message may be sent to the family by visiting our website at www.jhenrystuhr.com.