William Green “Willie” DESCHAMPS, Jr.^[1]

1917 - 2009  (91 years)

• Name	William Green “Willie” DESCHAMPS  [2, 3, 4, 5, 6]
  Suffix	Jr.
  Birth	29 Aug 1917	Bishopville, Lee County, South Carolina   [7]
  Gender	Male
  Education	Clemson University graduate in 1938; he was a graduate of Clemson Agricultural and Mechanical College with a bachelor of science degree in 1938  [5, 7]
  HIST	at death- he had 3 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren He served as Bishopville mayor, member of Bishopville City Council, member of the S.C. House of Representatives and the State Senate “He’s the monarch of Lee County politics,” said Grady Brown, South Carolina House of Representative District 50 congressman. “He’s better known as the Godfather. Mr. DesChamps gets things done.” ¶ DesChamps has served as Bishopville mayor, a member of Bishopville City Council, member of S. C. House of Representatives and the State Senate. He followed in the footsteps of his father, Willie Green DesChamps Sr., who founded Bishopville Petroleum Company in 1930 and served on the state highway commission. ¶ DesChamps joined his father to operate Bishopville Petroleum Company soon after he graduated in 1938 from Clemson University, then called Clemson A & M. Date Published: April 9, 2009 Willie Green DesChamps, revered Lee County resident, dies at 91 tem file photo Willie Green DesChamps, right, and his son Green look over some of the elder DesChamps’ Clemson memorabilia in Bishopville in 2004. The senior DesChamps, a prominent member of Lee County, died Wednesday at 91. BISHOPVILLE – Lee County has lost one of its most revered and influential residents. William “Willie” Green DesChamps Jr., 91, died Wednesday morning at his home at 415 W. Church St. in Bishopville. The president of Bishopville Petroleum Company, DesChamps remained active in the business and as trustee emeritus at Clemson University, where he graduated in 1938 and served on the board of trustees for about 20 years. Gail Watson, an employee at Bishopville Petroleum for 20 years, said DesChamps had a routine he maintained until a few days before his death. “He would go to get coffee every morning at the chamber office,” Watson said. “Then he would go to the bank and the post office.” DesChamps earned everyone’s respect, she said. “He was just a good person,” she said. “He always considered your feelings, but he was a business man. He could be hard at times, but then he would give you a smile. He always said to put your family first.” DesChamps served as Bishopville mayor, a member of Bishopville City Council, member of the S.C. House of Representatives and the State Senate. He followed in the footsteps of his father, who founded Bishopville Petroleum Co. in 1930 and served on the state highway commission. State Rep. Grady Brown, D-Bishopville, said DesChamps’ influence went beyond Lee County. “He was an icon,” Brown said. “He was one of a kind, well respected and a true gentleman. He had vast knowledge of our educational and political system. He was comfortable with college presidents, senators and presidents. In my lifetime, I have never met a more influential man than Willie Green DesChamps. Going back 100 years, he would have to be our number one citizen. And on a personal note, he was like a second daddy to me.” DesChamps was recognized locally for contributing to local organizations and causes, including Little League, Special Olympics, Girl Scouts and schools. “He would help anyone,” Brown said. “You could be his political adversary one day and you would be someone he would help the next day. His door was always open for others.” Sen. John Land, D-Manning, said his friend of “more than 40 years ... was one of the most dedicated public servants I have ever known. He would call me even after I was no longer the senator of Lee County, looking for help for somebody in Lee. I was always impressed by that. He was a scholar and a gentleman, someone you loved to be around and loved to hear tell stories. He was a wonderful individual.” Ronnie Williams, formerly the director of the Lee County Chamber of Commerce and Bishopville fire chief, said local officials affectionately referred to DesChamps as the Godfather. “Everyone respected Mr. DesChamps,” Williams said. “I’ve always found him to be the go-to guy. If there was some piece of legislative history you needed, you would go to him. He was a wealth of knowledge.” Bishopville City Councilman Ennis Bryant said he considered DesChamps to be “a personal friend. He was always willing to respond to the needs of the community,” Bryant said. “I have never called on him for help that he didn’t respond.” Travis Windham, a member of Lee County Council, said DesChamps was the unofficial chairman of the Bishopville Coffee Club, which held daily sessions for about 40 years at the Dixie Café until it closed about 20 years ago. For the past 20 years, anywhere from a half a dozen to 15 local community and business leaders could be found drinking coffee every weekday morning at the chamber of commerce office on Main Street. “When you think of him, you think of Clemson,” Windham said. “But he loved the city of Bishopville, the county of Lee, the state of South Carolina, his church (Bethlehem United Methodist Church) and his family as much as he did Clemson.” In an interview with The Item in 2004, DesChamps spoke of his love for his wife, Elizabeth Duvall DesChamps, who died in March 2004. “She passed away on our 60th anniversary,” he said. “We had 60 wonderful years.” His long-time association with Clemson was easily his most important and satisfying accomplishment, DesChamps said. He received the Alumni Distinguished Service Award in 1962 and served as president of IPTAY for two years. His son, Green DesChamps, joined his father in the business after graduating from Clemson in 1975. In 2004, Green said his father’s generosity was his most important trait. “One thing I can say about him is that he truly cares about people,” his son said. Willie Green DesChamps is survived by a daughter, Ruth Kinsey DesChamps of Pawleys Island; two sons, William Green DesChamps III and Carroll Green DesChamps (Cindy) of Bishopville; three grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at Bethlehem United Methodist Church. —Randy Burns Item file photo Willie Green DesChamps, longtime president of Bishopville Petroleum Co. and one of Lee County's most prominent citizens, died Wednesday at 91. He's shown here in 2004 at a meeting of the informal Bishopville Coffee Club, of which he was a member for more than four decades. Date Published: April 9, 2009 WILLIAM G. DesCHAMPS Jr. BISHOPVILLE -- Services for William Green DesChamps Jr., 91, will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at Bethlehem United Methodist Church with the Rev. Dr. Paul Rogers officiating. Burial will follow in the Bethlehem United Methodist Church cemetery. The family will receive friends at the home of Green and Cindy DesChamps, 136 Denny Pond Road. Mr. DesChamps died at his home April 8, 2009. Born Aug. 29, 1917, in Bishopville, he was a son of the late William Green and Etta Hearon DesChamps. He was a graduate of Clemson Agricultural and Mechanical College with a bachelor of science degree in 1938. Upon graduation from Clemson, he enlisted in the U.S. Army, 47th Field Artillery. He married the late Elizabeth Noble Duvall on March 8, 1944, and they were married for 60 years, until her death in March 2004. He was a member of Bethlehem United Methodist Church and served it faithfully his entire life. William Green's professional career consisted of being owner and president of Bishopville Petroleum Co. Inc.; Quick Mart of Bishopville Inc.; president of Bishopville Cotton and Gin Co.; and past president of the S.C. Oil Jobbers Association 1957-1959. Affectionately called "Mr. Willie Green," Mr. DesChamps found no greater joy than helping others and being a true friend to all. He was a former mayor of Bishopville, a South Carolina state senator and a member of the South Carolina House of Representatives. In 1975, he was appointed to the Clemson University board of trustees and loyally served as a board member and trustee emeritus until his death. Clemson University also honored him with the Alumni Distinguished Service Award and the Clemson Medallion, the highest recognition bestowed by the University. He was past president of the Clemson IPTAY Club and a member of the IPTAY board of directors. His love and devotion to Clemson University and the Clemson Tigers was his lifelong commitment and pledge. He is survived by a daughter, Ruth Kinsey DesChamps of Pawleys Island; two sons, William Green DesChamps III and Carroll Green DesChamps II and his wife, Cindy, all of Bishopville; three grandchildren, Elizabeth Moore Winesett, Julia Duvall DesChamps and William Green DesChamps IV; and three great-grandchildren, Joe, Green and Lily Winesett. Memorials may be made to the Bethlehem United Methodist Church: Building Fund, P.O. Box 167, Bishopville, SC 29010 or to the Clemson University Foundation: William Green DesChamps Jr. Donations, P.O. Box 1889, Clemson, SC 29633. Hancock-Elmore-Hill Funeral Home of Bishopville is in charge of the arrangements.  [4, 5, 7]
  MILI	upon graduation from Clemson, he enlisted in the U.S. Army, 47th Field Artillery  [5]
  Occupation	he was owner & president of Bishopville Petroleum Inc.; Quick Mart of Bishopville Inc.; president of Bishopville Cotton & Gin Co.; and past president of the S.C. Oil Jobbers Association 1957-1959  [4, 5, 7]
  Religion	he was a member of Bethlehem United Methodist Church, Bishopville, South Carolina  [4, 5]
  _UID	D26D5D4E569C480688936038D85DC5BE95AD
  Death	8 Apr 2009	at his home at 415 W. Church St. in Bishopville, South Carolina
  Burial	11 Apr 2009	Bethlehem United Methodist Church Cemetery, Bishopville, Lee County, South Carolina   [5]
  	Hancock-Elmore-Hill Funeral Home, Bishopville, South Carolina
  Person ID	I100830	Singleton and Related Families
  Last Modified	7 Aug 2016

  
  

  Father	William Green DESCHAMPS, Sr.,   b. 9 Jun 1888   d. 14 Jan 1949 (Age 60 years)
  Mother	Etta HEARON   d. Bef 8 Apr 2009
  _UID	4B45BE1879D54B9F80416CC8AEBC18223724
  _UID	4B45BE1879D54B9F80416CC8AEBC18223724
  Family ID	F69808	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Elizabeth “Lib” /DUVAL L,   b. 1921, Cheraw, Chesterfield County, South Carolina d. 8 Mar 2004, Kershaw County Memorial Hospital, Kershaw, Kershaw County, South Carolina (Age 83 years)
  Marriage	8 Mar 1944  [3, 4, 5, 8]
  _UID	BB40D9DCDA1440998BF6A8B8B368AC7C9BE1
  _UID	BB40D9DCDA1440998BF6A8B8B368AC7C9BE1
  Children	1. Living   2. William Green DESCHAMPS, III,   b. 13 Mar 1948, Florence, Florence County, South Carolina d. 3 Aug 2016, at his home, (Bishopville, South Carolina) (Age 68 years)   3. Carroll Green “Green” DESCHAMPS, II
  Family ID	F69813	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	11 Apr 2009

  
  

• Sources

  [S24095] William Green “Bill” DesChamps, III. [S2402] . [S3183] Elizabeth D. Deschamps. [S12009] William Green Deschamps • 1917-2009. [S12010] William G. DesChamps Jr. [S14459] Burley-DesChamps. [S3593] He gets things done- Businessman, public servant known as “The Godfather”. [S3198] Elizabeth Duvall DesChamps 1921-2004 Woman will be remembered for love of gardening.