Obituary of Joseph S. Sublette

Joseph Shepard Sublette, 86, husband of Janet Brunson Sublette, died Sunday, October 9, 2016, at Palmetto Health Richland in Columbia. Born in Westminster, SC, he was a son of the late Alva Tindal Sublette and Jessie Tannery Sublette. Mr. Sublette was a member of First Presbyterian Church where he served as a Deacon and Elder and was a member of the Bethany Sunday School class. He was a former member of Swan Lake Presbyterian Church (Pitts) and Mt. Pleasant Presbyterian Church. He attended Furman University until being drafted into the U. S. Army to serve in Korea. After a banking career he returned to Sumter and became owner and operator of Electrical Wholesalers. He was founder of the Rental Center, Parties-R-Us and the Lighthouse. He was Charter President of the Sumter Palmetto Rotary Club which was organized in 1976. He was a Past District Governor of District 7770, Treasurer and was twice named Rotarian of the Year of the club and of the district. He received the “Service Above Self” Award, numerous Rotary Foundation awards, and district service awards. He received the Meritorious Service Award from Rotary Foundation International. He was a Paul Harris Fellow and a major donor fourth-level. He led a Rotary group study exchange to the Caribbean. He was co-chairman and founder of the first Crime Stoppers in South Carolina and former chairman of the Salvation Army’s Boys and Girls Club where he was named Man of the Year. He served as chairman of the USC Mid-Carolina Commission for Higher Education. He was a founding member of United Ministries of Sumter. He was a charter member of the board of Covenant Place and was honored with “Board Member Emeritus” for life. An avid deep sea fisherman, he won the 28th Annual Georgetown Blue Marlin Tournament: 1st Place Angler. Surviving are his wife; one son, Joseph Shepard “Shep” Sublette, Jr. (Linda); one daughter, Denise Sublette Dunn (J.D.) all of Sumter; two granddaughters, Brittany Grooms Rogers (Jimmy) and Kristen Sublette Timmons (Ben); two great-grandchildren, Henry and Charles Rogers; and a son-in-law, Gary Garner. He was preceded in death by a daughter, Renee’ Sublette Garner. A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 1 P.M. Friday at First Presbyterian Church with Rev. Nick Cheek and Rev. Josie Holler officiating. Private burial will be in the Sumter Cemetery. Honorary Pallbearers will be members of the Palmetto Rotary Club. The family will receive friends from 4:30 P.M. to 6:30 P.M. Thursday at 2770 Windmill Drive. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made in memory of Joseph S. Sublette to Rotary Foundation, One Rotary Center, 1560 Sherman Avenue, Evanston, IL 60201-3698, to First Presbyterian Church, 9 W. Calhoun Street, Sumter, SC 29150 or to a charity of one’s choice. 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.