Granville Smith (Sonny) Way, Jr., 89, of Summerville, South Carolina, went to be with our Lord on January 2, 2019. Sonny was predeceased by the love of his life, Sarah Elizabeth (Betty) Jamison. He was born in Ridgeville, South Carolina, January 19, 1929 to parents Granville Smith Way, Sr. and Kathleen Elizabeth Owens.
Way graduated from University of South Carolina lettering in baseball and the Medical University of South Carolina, 1954. He served in the US Navy Medical Corps, 1955-57, stationed in Camp LeJeune, NC and Argentia Newfoundland. Way moved to Summerville in 1957 where he and his wife raised four children and established a family practice in Summerville, delivering babies, general surgery and emergency room.
He designed and built Westoe Plantation Golf Course, now Legend Oaks, and served as President of the South Carolina Golf Association, the Dorchester County Medical Society and Academy of Family Physicians. Way combined his love of sports and medicine as the athletic physician for 27 years at Summerville High School and for 15 years at Charleston Southern University. As he perceived the needs of the community, Way built Live Oak Village, a skilled nursing facility for the aged in the 1970’s and 1980’s.
He chaired the tri-county committee for the construction of North Trident Regional Hospital and became Chief of Staff. Way and his family were active members of Bethany United Methodist Church where he and his wife served happily in various areas, including Chairman of the Administrative Board. Also, included in his enjoyed activities were playing golf with his friends at George Miler Country Club and farming projects involving a bulldozer, tractor and backhoe.
Sonny was a devoted husband and father who loved his family dearly. Way is survived by his three daughters, JeffreAnn Sumrall (Joe) of Warner Robins, GA, Beth English (Craig) and Margaret Way Parker, all of Greenville, SC; one son, G. S. (Gess) Way, III (Dr. Alice Boylan) of Charleston; twelve grandchildren, Gran Sumrall (Ashley), Sarah Toms (Gabe), Maggie Dixon (Randy), Josh Sumrall, Marianna Bisson (Benjamin), Andrew English (Philip Bradley), Legare Rabideaux, Robert Parker, Hal Parker (Sarah), Davy Powell (John), JessE Way, Sonny June Way; 8 great grandchildren; and his sister, Teal Etheridge of Jackson, SC. Funeral Services will be held Saturday afternoon, January 5, 2019 at Bethany United Methodist Church-Spell Chapel at 3 pm.
Visitation will also be Saturday from 1:30 – 3 pm at Bethany UMC. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation, 28 West 44th Street, Suite 609, New York, NY 10036. Arrangements by PARKS FUNERAL HOME, 130 West 1st North Street, Summerville SC 29483.
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