George Dewey Oxner Jr.

Dewey Oxner GREENVILLE - George Dewey Oxner Jr., 79 of Greenville, husband of Louise Earle Oxner, died Sunday, July 7, 2013. Born December 31, 1933, in Greenville, he was a son of the late George Dewey Oxner and Frances Ruckman Oxner. Mr. Oxner graduated from Greenville High School in 1952 and received his B.A. degree from Washington and Lee University in 1956. After receiving a J.D. degree at the University of South Carolina School of Law in 1959, he was admitted to the South Carolina Bar and began practice with the law firm of Haynsworth, Perry, Bryant, Marion and Johnstone in Greenville which is now Haynsworth, Sinkler, Boyd PA. He was a shareholder emeritus and a former managing partner at the firm where he specialized in medical malpractice and health law, products liability, and consumer litigation. Mr. Oxner loved the law and through over 50 years of practice he was involved in serving the legal profession as President of the S.C. Defense Trial Attorneys Association, Secretary and Treasurer of the Defense Research Institute, President of the Greenville County Bar Association, President of the S.C. Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocacy, and President of the South Carolina Bar Foundation. At the time of his death, he co-chaired with S.C. Supreme Court Justice John Kittredge the S.C. Supreme Court Chief Justice Commission on Professionalism, ensuring that the practice of law remains a high calling which serves clients and the public good. He received the Tommy Thomason Award from the Greenville County Bar Association, the 2009 DuRant Distinguished Public Service Award, South Carolina Defense Trial Association's Robert Hempbell Award, and the USC School of Law Alumni Association's Compleat Lawyer Platinum Award. Mr. Oxner was an active member of Christ Church and served his community as a volunteer to raise money for the United Way, YMCA Camp Greenville, the Peace Center and the Parkinson's Disease Program of the Greenville Health System. He served as a Trustee and Chairman of the Board of Faith Memorial Chapel in Cedar Mountain, North Carolina. Mr. Oxner was a past president of the Poinsett Club and the Cotillion Club. Surviving, in addition to his wife, are his brother, Glenn Ruckman Oxner (Kathleen Gallagher Oxner) and his three children, Frances Oxner Robertson (Paul L. Robertson III) of Atlanta, GA; George Dewey Oxner III (Dana Maddox Oxner) of Greenville, SC; Perry Earle Oxner (Scott Boulware Oxner) of Greenville, SC. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Helen Oxner, Dewey Oxner IV, Louise Oxner, Glenn Oxner II, Oliver Oxner, Sally Robertson, Caroline Robertson, Earle Oxner Jr., and Diana Oxner. Services will be Wednesday, 11 a.m. at Christ Church, with the Rev. Harrison McLeod and the Rev. Keith Turbeville officiating. Following the service, a reception will be held in McCall Parlor. A gravesite service for the family will follow. In lieu of flowers please send contributions to one of the following: USC Educational Foundation, 1600 Hampton St., Suite 814, Columbia, SC 29208 Please make checks out to USC Educational Foundation. Please write "Justice G. Dewey Oxner Law Scholarship in memory of G. Dewey Oxner Jr." on the check; or to Christ Church, 10 N. Church St., Greenville, SC 2960; or Clement's Kindness Fund For The Children, Community Foundation, 630 East Washington Street, Suite A, Greenville, SC 29601. The Macky Mortuary, Century Drive Online condolences at www.mackymortuary.com.