Obituary of William Ansley Hurst, Jr.

William Ansley “Sonny” Hurst, Jr., 92, passed away Sunday, July 3, 2022 at Prisma Health Tuomey Hospital. His parents were the late William Ansley Hurst and Aline DuBose Hurst of Sumter. A short time after birth, his father gave him the nickname Sonny. Sonny was devoted to his wife and family, his church, and the Sumter community. As a young boy, Sonny joined the YMCA and participated in swimming, basketball, archery and other activities. He later joined the Boy Scouts of America Troop 38, attaining the rank of “Life” under Scoutmaster Wilbert Bernshouse. He attended the city schools in Sumter and graduated from Edmunds (Sumter) High School in 1946 where he played trumpet in the band and was on the varsity basketball team. He also was a member of the “Hi-Y” club. While in school, he worked at Brown’s Soda Fountain on South Main Street. As a senior in high school, he served as a class officer and was on the annual staff. After graduating from high school, Sonny started working with his father and brother-in-law, Richard Sexton, in the retail furniture store Hurst-Sexton Furniture Co. in Sumter, where he remained for 46 years. In 1992, he sold his share of the furniture store to his brother. He then became a licensed Realtor associated with Prudential John M. Brabham Real Estate Company during which time he obtained a broker’s license and completed the requirements for a Graduate Realtor Institute (GRI) designation. He was the recipient of Prudential’s Leading Edge Society Award several times. He was a past president of the Sumter Board of Realtors and was named the Sumter Realtor of the Year for 1998. He was an active member of Trinity United Methodist Church, serving as Chairman of the Trustees, Administrative Board, and the Worship Committee. He also served as a Lay Leader. He was a long time member and past president of the Faholo Sunday School Class. He represented Trinity Church on a committee in the early planning stages for the formation of a retirement home in Sumter, which was sponsored by several local churches and the synagogue. This became known as Covenant Place. He joined the South Carolina National Guard as a recruit in 1948, attaining the rank of Master Sergeant. He graduated from Palmetto Military Academy (National Guard “OCS”). He was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the Infantry, and he continued to serve in the National Guard until he was honorably discharged as a First Lieutenant. He enrolled in and completed the Basic Infantry Officers Course at Fort Benning, Georgia. The Infantry unit of the National Guard in Sumter, Hq & HqCo, 3rd Bn, 118th Rg, 51st Div SCNG, was disbanded. He then joined a Third Army Reserve Unit for a few years, from which he was honorably discharged in 1962. He felt an obligation to the city of Sumter as it had allowed him to make a living and support his family. Sonny was a life member of Claremont Lodge No. 64 Ancient Free Masons, having become a Mason in 1954. He was an active member and past president of the Sumter Jaycees, Sumter Kiwanis Club, and also a former member and past president of the Trian Club. He also was a member of and on the board of directors for the Sumter Merchants Association, the Sumter Chamber of Commerce, the United Way, and Habitat for Humanity. He was elected to and served two terms on the Board of Trustees of the Sumter School District No. 17 and he served as Chairman of the Board of the Sumter County Career Center. He played a roll in building the current Sumter High School on McCrays Mill Road and Patriot Hall, the community cultural center. In addition, he was a past member of the Board of Directors of the Sumter Salvation Army and the Sumter American Red Cross, a past member of the Sumter Elks Lodge, and a past member and chairman of the Sumter Family Health Center, now Tandem Health of Sumter. He also served as a member and as vice chairman of the board of the Sumter County Property Tax Appeals Board. He remained a supporter of the Boy Scouts, serving as Troop Committee Chairman of the troop sponsored by Trinity United Methodist Church, and as chairman of the Sumter, Lee and Shaw AFB Boy Scout Committee. He served as a member and past president of the Sumter Retail Furniture Dealers Association. As a young boy, he loved his pet dogs, particularly a lemon-eared Spitz named “Jack”. Jack would hop up into the open wire basket on the front of his bicycle and enjoy a ride all around Sumter. He enjoyed vacations at South Carolina beaches and also jitterbug and shag dancing and the game of golf. Sonny is survived by his wife, Shirley Holt Hurst; sons, Stewart Hurst (Michelle) of Babson Park, FL, Keith Hurst and Kevin Hurst of Sumter, Todd Hurst (Corrie) of Greensboro, NC; four grandchildren, Charles Hurst (Alana) of Vero Beach, FL, Jacqueline Hurst Oliver (Jake) of Vero Beach, FL, Miles and Nathaniel Hurst of Greensboro, NC; two great-grandsons, Hank Wesley Oliver, Ellis Wolf Oliver both of Vero Beach, FL and a great-granddaughter, Kenna Ansley Hurst of Vero Beach, FL. He was preceded in death by his sister, Geneva Hurst Sexton and brother, Russell Hurst. Memorial Services will be held at 11 A.M. Friday at Trinity United Methodist Church with Rev. Joseph James and Rev. Dr. Reginald Thackston officiating. Private Burial will be at the Sumter Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 4-6 P.M. Thursday at the Elmore Hill McCreight Funeral Home. Memorials can be made to Trinity United Methodist Church, 226 West Liberty Street, Sumter, SC 29150 or to The Salvation Army, P. O. Box 2229, Sumter, SC 29151. On-line condolences may be sent to www.sumterfunerals.com Elmore Hill McCreight Funeral Home & Crematory, 221 Broad Street, Sumter, is in charge of the arrangements (803) 775-9386.