Edward Marion “Dick” SINGLETON

1922 - 2011  (88 years)

• Name	Edward Marion “Dick” SINGLETON  [1, 2]
  Birth	9 Oct 1922	Bucksport, South Carolina   [1]
  Gender	Male
  HIST	Edward Marion Singleton   |   Visit Guest Book CONWAY - Edward Marion "Dick" Singleton, age 88, died Thursday, May 12, 2011. Edward Marion "Dick" Singleton was born October 9, 1922, in Bucksport, South Carolina, the son of Benjamin Franklin and Floride F. Brakefield Singleton. He attended Conway Grammar School and Conway High School, where he was president of his freshman, sophomore and junior classes and excelled in athletics. He served in the U.S. Army as a physical reconditioning instructor during World War II. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in 1949, a master's degree in education in 1956, and a Ph.D. in educational administration in 1971, all from the University of South Carolina. He served as a member of the Board of Trustees of the University of South Carolina from 1952 to 1963. He was employed with the Conway Public School System from 1949 to 1962, as a teacher, coach, principal, and superintendent of the Conway City Schools.He served as director and later chancellor of USC Coastal Carolina College from 1963 until his retirement in 1983. Under his leadership, the institution began a period of dramatic growth and development; when his administration began, the two-year college had approximately 100 students and when he retired, the college had more than 3,200 students and awarded baccalaureate degrees. Upon his retirement in 1983, the Board of Trustees of the University of South Carolina named him chancellor emeritus. He was named senior consultant to the Coastal Carolina University administration during the institution's transition from the USC System to its independence in 1993 and has continued in that role for both presidents of the university. He was a member of the Coastal Educational Foundation from 1986 to 1992, and had served as director emeritus since then. A lifelong sports enthusiast, he led the Chanticleers to NAIA status, NCAA Division I membership, and he served as the first commissioner of the Big South Conference from 1983 to 1989. As commissioner, he directed the effort to establish women's athletics in the conference, which began with five men's programs and later added six women's programs. Today, the Big South includes18 men's and women's intercollegiate programs. He was an avid Boston Red Sox fan. He was the founder and first supervisor of the Conway Recreation Department. He coached the 1956 Conway American Legion state championship team that also won the championship among eight southeastern states. In 1991 he was inducted into the Coastal Carolina University Buddy Sasser Athletic Hall of Fame. In 2008 he became the first recipient of the Big South Conference Leadership Award, which is named in his honor. He was named Young Man of the Year by the Conway Jaycees in 1958 and was awarded the American Legion Distinguished Service Award in 1959. He served as President of the Conway Chamber of Commerce and belonged to the Conway Rotary Club, the Horry Technical Education Commission, was a board member of the Horry County Higher Education Commission, and chairman of the Advisory Board of C&S National Bank. He was a member of Kingston Presbyterian Church of Conway where he served as a deacon and ruling elder. He was the father of three children: Francesca Singleton Seccafico and husband Peter of St. Augustine, Fla.; Stephen Singleton and wife Beth, and grandson Parker, of Lugoff, S.C.; and Kim and wife Sara Jo and granddaughters Morgan and Claire Singleton, of Conway, S.C. He leaves his wife, Patricia Baker Durant Singleton, four stepsons: Walter, Chip, Wesley, and Patrick; and four step-grandchildren. He leaves a sister Jeannie, wife of the late E. Cater Floyd; and sister-in-law Rosemary Singleton, wife of the late James Singleton; as well as numerous nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his bothers Joseph and James, and sister Betty. Funeral services will be held 2:00 PM Sunday at Kingston Presbyterian Church with Rev. Rhett Talbert, Jr. and Edgar "Eddie" Dyer officiating. Burial will be private. The family will receive friends from 4:00 until 6:00 PM Saturday at the Edward M. Singleton Building at Coastal Carolina University. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be sent to the Edward M. Singleton Scholar Athlete Scholarship, Coastal Carolina University, P.O. Box 261954, Conway, SC 29528-6054. Sign a guestbook at www.goldfinchfuneralhome.com. Goldfinch Funeral Home, Conway Chapel, is in charge of arrangements. Published in The State on May 14, 2011 Read more: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/thestate/obituary.aspx?n=edward-marion-singleton&pid=150991741#ixzz1MTh2PBSe  [2]
  MILI	He served in the U.S. Army as a physical reconditioning instructor during World War II.  [2]
  _UID	49580FC18FE942C0BADE131996F25FAD43CC
  Death	12 May 2011
  Burial	15 May 2011	Kingston Presbyterian Church   [2]
  	Goldfinch Funeral Home, Conway Chapel, Conway, South Carolina
  Person ID	I164834	Singleton and Related Families
  Last Modified	19 May 2011

  
  

  Father	Benjamine Franklin SINGLETON,   b. 15 May 1877   d. 8 Feb 1953 (Age 75 years)
  Mother	Florida Cornelia BRAKEFIELD,   b. 5 Jul 1890   d. 3 Nov 1976 (Age 86 years)
  Marriage	30 Sep 1915  [1]
  _UID	E6C307794CBD41CF97BBCEB5E0E811E1D141
  _UID	E6C307794CBD41CF97BBCEB5E0E811E1D141
  Family ID	F112290	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family 1	Elizabeth Jane PARKER
  Marriage	14 Nov 1953  [1]
  _UID	8314471F94814423851AFCCA4E5B7AE2E306
  _UID	8314471F94814423851AFCCA4E5B7AE2E306
  Children	1. Living   2. Living   3. Living
  Family ID	F112292	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	28 Nov 2005

  
  

  Family 2	Patricia BAKER
  _UID	9EA5B0C2AE204FEA9728B73AE9B816DF02F0
  _UID	9EA5B0C2AE204FEA9728B73AE9B816DF02F0
  Family ID	F179383	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	23 Mar 2026

  
  

• Sources

  [S5947] Samuel G. Singleton Family BIble. [S15989] Edward Marion “Dick” Singleton.