Charles Grandison Howard, Sr.

Charles Grandison Howard Sr., known affectionately as “Big C” died at his residence Tuesday, March 15th after an illness. He was born April 6, 1938 in Darlington to the late Armstrong Jolly Howard II and the late Annie Louise Milling Howard. Charles was a lifelong Darlingtonian. He was a graduate of St John’s High School where he was an outstanding athlete.  He was selected to play for the Palmetto League Baseball team in 1955 where they won the championship. In 1956 he was selected to play in the All-State Football Game.  He graduated from Presbyterian College in 1960 as a member of the Kappa Alpha fraternity.

Charles married the love of his life, Natalie Bettis Chase on November 30, 1963.  He went to work for his father in law, Maitland Chase, Jr. at Chase Oil Company.  He enjoyed the oil business and eventually, along with his two sons, purchased the company in 1993.  He was active in the industry and served on the Amoco Regional Jobber Advisory Board and the South Carolina Petroleum Marketer’s Board.  While on the Amoco Board, Charles was instrumental with helping Amoco join NASCAR in the early 1990s. 

Charles grew up in Darlington Presbyterian Church but joined St. Matthew’s Church after marrying Bettis. Charles embraced being an Episcopalian and served proudly as Senior Warden of the Vestry twice and Chairman of the Annual Pancake Supper, among other roles. He was proud to serve on the Board at Darlington County Bank for many years and was instrumental in leading efforts to assist in the restoration of Trinity Episcopal Church in Society Hill. He was an active member of the American Legion Post 13 of Darlington SC.

Charles' passion was the outdoors and he was happiest hunting quail with his bird dogs, fishing in Black Creek, or spending time on his beloved Witherspoon Island, the family’s hunting property. In fact he once successfully shot three bucks at one time while on a deer drive on Witherspoon Island. Also, Charles was a member of Woodstone Hunting Club.  In later years he enjoyed hog hunting with Chase and his friends, to include his great friends from Maryland! Charles was a proud member of “The Darlington Dairy Bar Daily Think Tank” where he enjoyed educating all of his friends. 

Charles' proudest accomplishments were his children and grandchildren.

He is survived by his three children: Charles Grandison Howard, Jr (Patty), Maitland Chase Howard and Natalie Bettis Howard.  His three grandchildren who affectionately called him PaPa: Charles Grandison Howard III (Emily), Simons Lucas Howard, and Lucas Milling Martin; one brother Whitfield Milling Howard; two brothers in law, Maitland Soutter Chase III (Betty Anne) and John Ravenel Chase, one sister in law Nancy Chase Burnside and multiple nieces and nephews who he loved. 

Charles was predeceased by his parents, his wife, Natalie Bettis Chase Howard; his brother, Armstrong Jolly Howard III and his brother in law, Simons Lucas Chase.

The family would like to acknowledge and sincerely thank JJ and Gloria Jacobs and Gloria Eady for their loving care provided to Charles the last few weeks and months. 

Visitation will be held at Belk Funeral Home on Thursday, March 17, 2022 from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. Funeral services will be held at St. Matthews Church in Darlington on Friday March 18, 2002 at 11:00 a.m. followed by interment at Mount Hope Cemetery 

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Matthews Church, 210 South Main Street Darlington, SC 29532; or to The Jamison Foundation (for the preservation of Trinity Episcopal Church in Society Hill, SC), 204 Hewitt Street Darlington, SC 29532.

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