JOHNSTON, S.C. – Henry Duncan Wofford, Sr., 93, of Johnston, SC passed away on July 20, 2013.

He was born in Columbia, SC on March 29, 1920 to the late Henry Carroll Wofford  and Ella Belle Duncan Wofford. As a young child he moved with his family to Orangeburg, SC, attended Orangeburg schools and graduated from Orangeburg High School. He learned his work ethic as a teenager, rising early in the morning assisting his father at the Railway Express Agency delivering freight with a team of horses, then delivering the Orangeburg newspaper before going to school. After school he obtained the foundation for his career working at Reneker’s Menswear. In high school he developed his love of music and played trombone in dance bands throughout the region and continued playing in dance bands while in the military. After enlisting as a private in the United States Army he was selected to attend Officer Candidate School at Ft. Benning, GA, where he was commissioned as a second lieutenant. He rose to the rank of captain in World War II while serving in China in the “Flying Tigers” of the 14^th Army Air Force. Many times he “flew over the Hump” to and from India, Burma and China. Henry loved to travel, visiting numerous countries and encircling the globe. He cherished friends throughout the world.

A civic leader, church leader, and business man, Henry served his community and state in many ways and received numerous honors. He was chosen as the South Carolina Jaycees “Young Man of the Year” for 1954; was past master and life member of Kadosh Lodge #181 Ancient Free Masons and a member of Johnston Memorial Post of the American Legion. He was past president of the Johnston Merchants Association; secretary of the Johnston Medical Center; vice chairman of the Yemesee District of the Boy Scouts of America; trustee of the Connie Maxwell Children’s Home; vice president of the South Carolina Eye Bank and for many years, a trustee of the Baptist Foundation of South Carolina. He was the grand marshal of the Johnston Peach Festival in 1994. Henry was also state director of the Junior Chamber of Commerce.

He was loyal and devoted member of his church. A founding member of Providence Baptist Church, he had served as deacon, Sunday school teacher, organist and choir director.

His contributions to education included his membership on the Edgefield County Board of Education and during 1984-1985 served as chairman of the South Carolina State Board of Education.

He first joined the Lions Club at age nineteen and had over sixty years of perfect attendance. As a member of Lions International he served as club president; district governor; chairman of his State’s Council of Governors; and was honored with the Gold Star Award; the International President’s Award and numerous extension awards and in 1977 was elected international director.

As a business man Henry owned and operated Wofford’s Men’s Clothing and Furnishings in Johnston for over sixty years. He received a certificate in retailing from New York University and was appointed to the United States Department of Commerce Small Business Administration’s Advisory Board. An industry leader, he also served as president of the Carolinas Clothiers Association, a professional organization promoting the men’s apparel industry.

Henry was preceded in death by his wife of fifty-two years, Edna Holmes Wofford. He is survived by his wife of eighteen years, Dorothy Ouzts Mixon Wofford; two daughters, Carolyn Stroup (Dave) of Florence, SC and Catherine Campbell (Fred) of Concord, NC and one son, Henry Duncan Wofford, Jr. of Edgefield, SC. Additional survivors include a daughter by marriage, Teresa Mixon Massie and a son by marriage, John L. Mixon III (Mary), both of Augusta, GA. Grandchildren are Alexander Campbell of Greenville, SC, Sara Campbell Hammonds of Concord, NC, Brannen McElmurray of New York, NY and Kristin Flaherty of Easley, SC. Grandchildren by marriage are Belle Mixon Massie of New York, NY, Bland Massie III and John L. Mixon IV of Augusta, GA. He was preceded in death by a daughter, Sara Wofford McFern and a grandson, Henry Duncan Wofford III. Also preceding him in death were brothers Connor Wofford and Samuel Wofford and a sister, Mary Frances Fogle, all of Orangeburg. SC.

Funeral services will be held on July 22, 2013 at 12:00 p.m. at Providence Baptist in Johnston with the Rev. Dr. Glenn Mosteller presiding. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service in the church sanctuary. Burial will follow the service at Philippi Baptist Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be given to Hospice Care of South Carolina, 110 Dillon Drive, Spartanburg, SC 29307 or Providence Baptist Church, 1701 Highway 191, Johnston, SC 29632.

Bland Funeral Home of Johnston is serving the Wofford family.

A memorial message may be written to the family by visiting our website at www.blandfh.