Obituary of Richard Whitefield Dabbs

Richard Whitefield Dabbs passed away on December 18, 2022. He was 77 years old. Dick (“Dickie”) grew up in the Salem Black River community at Dabbs Crossroads in his ancestral family home. He returned there in the 1970’s to farm and lived there the rest of his life. In the early 2000’s he opened the Crossroads Workshop, where he made outdoor furniture and also carefully crafted custom furniture. Dick was very involved in his community. He was always a member of Brick Church (Salem Black River Presbyterian) and also attended Concord Presbyterian Church for many years where he sang in the choir and led an adult Sunday School class. Dick was also a member of Mission to Men, a men’s choral group that sang at nursing homes and retirement homes. Dick volunteered at the fire department and felt a close kinship to the farming community and the members of the Sportsman Hunting Club. As a young man, Dick attended Florida Presbyterian College (now Eckerd College). He received a Master’s Degree from Emory University. He was in the US Army as a First Lieutenant and a Green Beret and served in Vietnam from 1970 to 1971. After returning from military service he started work on a Ph.D. at the University of North Carolina, but decided that the academic life was not for him and returned to farm at his family home. Dick taught sociology at Central Carolina Technical College for almost 25 years. Dick is survived by his wife Barbara, his children Sophie, Sam and Nathan, his three grandchildren Zara, Eli and Jax, his sister Dorothy, and numerous nieces and nephews. He will be greatly missed. A memorial service will be held at Salem Black River Presbyterian Church at noon on Saturday, January 21, 2023. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Harvest Hope Food Bank (2220 Shop Rd, Columbia, SC 29201), The Southern Poverty Law Center. (400 Washington Ave, Montgomery AL 36104), Salem Black River Presbyterian Church c/o Church Treasurer (135 N Brick Church Rd, Mayesville, SC 29104), or Salem Black River Cemetery Association c/o Nancy Wilson, ( 228 Haynsworth, Sumter, SC 29150). Online condolences may be made at www.sumterfunerals.com Elmore Hill McCreight Funeral Home & Crematory, 221 Broad Street, Sumter, is in charge of the arrangements (803) 775-9386.