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South Carolina Law Review Volume 4 Issue 1 Article 4 Fall 9-1-1951 Memorials Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarcommons.sc.edu/sclr Part of the Law Commons Recommended Citation Memorials, 4 S.C.L.R. 37. (1951). This Article is brought to you by the Law Reviews and Journals at Scholar Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in South Carolina Law Review by an authorized editor of Scholar Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. et al.: Memorials NATHANIEL B. BARNWELL 1877-1950 By BuN SCOTT WuALEY On November 13, 1950, Charleston and the State of South Carolina lost a distinguished lawyer and public servant. Colonel Nathaniel B. Barnwell was born in Effingham County, Georgia, on June 12, 1877. He came of distinguished ancestry-the son of Nathaniel Berners Barnwell and Eliza Longstreet Barnwell. He was educated in the University School of Charleston and received his B.A. and M.A. degrees from the University of Virginia. Thereafter, he attended the University of Goettingen and Heidelberg Uuiversity, both in Germany, and the University of Grenoble, France. As was the custom in those days, he studied law in the office of his cousin the honor- able Joseph W. Barnwell and was admitted to the Bar in 1901. For nearly 50 years he was engaged in the active practice of the law at the Charleston Bar, being at the time of his death the Senior partner of his law firm. Answering the call of his country in 1918, Colonel Barnwell served with the United States Army as Division Judge Advocate, Seventh Di- vision, with the rank of Major, and he later served as Associate Judge Advocate of the Army of Occupation in Germany with the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel. Not only active as a lawyer and as a soldier, he also took an active and varied interest in public, civic and religious affairs. He was a mem- ber of the General Assembly of South Carolina, a Past President of the Charleston Chamber of Commerce, Past President of the Charleston County Bar Association and he held various positions such as Chair- man of the Port Utilities Commission; Vice-President of the Charleston Library Society and Vice-President of the South Carolina Historical Society. For 17 years, from 1935 to November 1950, he was also Chancellor of the Protestant Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina. He was married in 1914 to Miss Mary Williamson Elliott of Beau- fort, S. C. and is survived by two children: Mrs. Nathaniel I. Ball, Jr. and Nathaniel L. Barnwell, also a practicing attorney of the Charleston County Bar Association. His active career was almost terminated, in 1936, when he was stricken with tuberculosis. His remarkable recovery and active interest in the Charleston County Christmas Seal Sale Campaigns and his in- spired leadership helped many who were stricken with this dread disease. He was several times Chairman of the Christmas Seal Sale Campaign and also of the American Red Cross of Charleston County. Published by Scholar Commons, 1951 1 South Carolina Law Review, Vol. 4, Iss. 1 [1951], Art. 4 SOUTH CAROLINA LAW QUARTERLY Being an interested and genial host, he took part in the social life of the community,--he was a member of the St. Andrews Society, St. George's Society, the Charleston Club, the St. Cecilia Society and the American Legion. We cannot better describe the character and nature of this distin- guished and well beloved member of our Bar than by quoting from an editorial concerning him which appeared in the News and Courier fol- lowing his death: "The obligation resting upon a man, in proportion to his talents and inborn force, to serve God, his country and his neighbors had illustration in the life and works of Nathaniel B. Barnwell. He was a faithful churchman, a faithful soldier, a lawyer of uncommon attainments, an upholder of the profession's old and high standards, and withal a modest gentleman who vaunted not himself. It is the misfortune of the South Carolinians, of the Charlestonians, that too often they remain in ignorance of the strong men who are their fellow citizens, for no better or other reason than that those men do not seek favor by advertising themselves. Of Colonel Barnwell's services in World War I, of the duties that he long performed in his church and in the helpful civic in- stitutions the News and Couier has elsewhere told. It suffices now to say that they ought not to be forgot. It is the example of men of his character, his conduct and his attainments that inspires the unflagging effort of young men to be strong and to be worthy." R. E. BABB 1872-1951 By HOMlER S. BLACKWELL R. E. Babb, attorney, departed this life on January 21st, 1951. He was the eldest son of a distinguished and patriotic Confederate Veteran, Messer Babb, was born in the western part of Laurens County in 1872, attended and taught in the rural schools of the County, and graduated from the Citadel in Charleston in 1894. Thereafter he studied law at home and in law offices of attorneys at Laurens and was admitted to the bar in 1899. He was a partner of Col. J. L. M. Irby, former U. S. Senator; with W. B. Knight, deceased, and for a greater portion of his practice was a member of the law firm of Simpson, Cooper and Babb; R. A. Cooper ceased to be an active partner in the firm when elected Governor of S. C. and a few years thereafter Col. H. Y. Simpson passed to the Great Beyond, and Mr. Babb practiced under the firm name of Simpson, Cooper & Babb until his son, Thomas A. Babb, was admitted to the bar. For the past few years he practiced under the firm name of Babb & Babb. It should be no credit to one to be born with a superior intellect, but the credit or discredit comes from how one uses those powers (talents) given by Almighty God. Mr. Babb recognized and appreciated https://scholarcommons.sc.edu/sclr/vol4/iss1/4 2 et al.: Memorials BAR ASSOCIATION TRANSACTIONS this in his early manhood. With that superior intellect with which he was endowed, he diligently pursued the study of law and equity with all these two words imply. He, with his analytical mind, ever sought to make practical application and sensible interpretation of the broad meaning and principles of these two words to the end that justice may prevail. How well he performed this Herculean task is fully demon- strated by the respect and esteem accorded him by the members of the Bench and Bar of this State. On numerous occasions he was appointed as Special Judge to preside in the Civil and Criminal Courts of this State, and also to preside as acting Associate Justice of Supreme Court of S. C. He was selected by the Methodist Church as one of the at- torneys in one of the most important and far reaching pieces of litiga- tion in which this Church has ever been engaged. While his ability and dependability as a lawyer was outstanding, he was none the less prominent and outstanding as a private citizen. He was a member of the County Board of Education for more than 30 years and took an active interest in the education of the youth of Laurens County. As County Attorney for a number of years he wisely advised the County Commissioners, Sheriff and other officers of the County. And in every organization that had for its purpose the promotion of the general welfare of his County, he always could be found doing more than his part. As was said of another, "he was a real man in all that the word implies in dignity, moral character and integrity". And yet he was a most modest man; he never seemed conscious of his superior ability and sterling qualities. He was free from egotism or self esteem. He found real delight in helping some unfortunate individual, especially when his acts of kindness would not be made public. The writer knows from personal experience as well as from observation that he found genuine delight and pleasure in helping younger lawyers to solve their legal problems and would never stop until he was satisfied the problem was solved. Edgar Babb was not only an able and successful lawyer, and a use- ful and patriotic citizen, but most important, he was a Christian gentle- man. For forty-one years he was teacher of the Men's Bible Class in the Methodist Church at Laurens and held the most important offices in his church. His loyalty to his church was only exceeded by his implicit faith and trust in Almighty God. He was ever mindful of the admonition of the Prophet of Old: "0 man what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, to love mercy and to walk humbly with thy God." We, the members of the Laurens County Bar Association, are deeply grieved at his passing, and extend to his family our heart-felt sympathy. But we know that our city and county have been greatly benefited by his having lived in our midst. We feel that we can truthfully say of him: "Well done thy good and faithful servant". Published by Scholar Commons, 1951 3 South Carolina Law Review, Vol. 4, Iss. 1 [1951], Art. 4 SOUTH CAROLINA LAW QUARTERLY CHRISTIE BENET 1879-1951 By CHARLES B. ELLIOTT The death of Christie Benet, March 30, 1951, marked the close of a life of service that brought him eminence at the bar and distinction as a public servant and citizen.

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