Yahoo Autos In Memoriam: Influential people Spartanburg County lost in 2021
Here is a look back at some of those who left us this year. They touched Spartanburg County – and beyond – with their innovation, creativity and humanity.
We lost philanthropists, educators, business leaders, beauty queens, world travelers and world-changers.
Here are some of their stories.
Gordon Lee
Gordon Lee, a member of Spartanburg School District One Board of Trustees died Nov. 20, at the age of 50. He was committed to serving his community, students and staff of District One.
He was loved and cherished by many people including his wife Sheila Lee; his mother Janey Lee; his children, Grayson Lee and Kennedi Lee; and his siblings, Barry Lee (Amy) and Robin Howell (Mike). He was also cherished by several nieces and nephews.
Lee was elected to the Spartanburg trustees in 2011, serving on various committees to include finance, policy, and building and grounds committees. He was also a member of the Swofford Career Center Liaison Board.
“Mr. Lee served on our board with distinction, passion, and dedication. He deeply loved children and always put them first and foremost in his service to our district. He has been a pillar of our community for a long time and I will forever be grateful for everything that he did for the students, teachers, staff, and community of Spartanburg One,” Spartanburg District One Superintendent. Ron Garner said in a statement.
Jeff Proper
Jeffrey John Proper, 50, died Sept. 28. He was a member of the District Five School Board and served as a trustee since 2015. He was a founding member and the treasurer of the D5 Sports and Activities Council for more than 10 years. He loved sports and was dedicated to District 5 by coaching baseball, basketball, football and volleyball for 13 years.
"Jeff Proper was an incredible champion for Spartanburg District Five Schools and believed in our mission of every child, every day," District 5 Superintendent Randall Gary said in a statement.
Proper was an active member of Tyger River Presbyterian Church and served his church in many ways, including his volunteer work at The Carpenter’s Table food ministry.
He was the son of Judith Saxton Proper of Chester, Virginia and the late John Proper and the husband of Tara Oates Proper of Moore. Survivors also include his son, Warren Proper; his daughter, Sara Proper.
Genelle T. Phillips
Genelle T. Phillips, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, educator and "life-long learner," was born on Feb. 8, 1934, in Spartanburg, to the late Anthony E. Tolliver, Sr., and Clara Glenn Tolliver. She died on May 12, in Cary, North Carolina surrounded by her family, after a brief illness.
Survivors include her children, Lyndelle Phillips (Nino), Andrea Phillips, Eleanor Nelson (Jackie, deceased), and Supee Phillips (Tasha); and her many grandchildren who affectionately referred to as "Momma Nelle."
Phillips spent the early years of her life in Spartanburg, where she graduated from Carver High School. As a young adult, living in South Carolina and raising her family, Phillips was active in local political life and voter registration drives often going door to door with her children in tow in her community and setting an example of a commitment to lifetime voting and social justice.
MacFarlane "Mac" Lafferty Cates, Jr.
MacFarlane "Mac" Lafferty Cates, Jr., was the leader of a prominent textile family and a philanthropist. He died at his home in Spartanburg on May 2 at the age of 93.
Cates was the CEO of Arkwright Mills in Spartanburg until his retirement. He also worked with Ludlow Manufacturing in Springdale, Massachusetts, where he worked in sales and at Pacific Mills-Lyman.
He was the son of the late MacFarlane Lafferty Cates, Sr. and Mary Sydnor DuPré Cates and was born and raised in Spartanburg. Cates served on several textile boards and received awards for his work. He formerly served as president of the South Carolina Textile Manufacturers Association, serving on the board for several years; President of the American Textile Manufacturers Institute and was honored with their Slater Award, the highest award given by ATMI.
As a philanthropist, Cates served on a number of boards including those of The United Way of the Piedmont, The Spartanburg County Foundation, the Spartanburg Historical Society, the Spartanburg Regional Medical Center Foundation, and the Chamber of Commerce, often in high leadership roles.
In 2017, he and his wife, Margi, were honored with the Kiwanis Club Citizen of the Year Award.
Read More: Former Arkwright Mill CEO, philanthropist Mac Cates dies at 93
“He and his wife were both recipients of the Citizen of Year award because of their 90 years of being in the community and providing so much, a lot of times unknown to people.” said Kiwanis Club member and former president Cyndi Waters, who presented the award.
Cates and his wife Marguerite "Margi" McGee Cates were married for 71 years. They raised four daughters, Marguerite DuPré "Dupie" Cates Cochran, Elisabeth "Lisa" Quarles Cates, Kathleen "Kitta" MacFarlane Cates, and Mary Lafferty Cates. In addition, Cates is survived by his grandchildren.
Albert Smith
Albert Smith, who was the first Black person to serve as president of the Spartanburg County Bar Association, lost his battle with COVID-19 on Jan. 13. Smith and his wife, Helen, were to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary in June.
“Until it (this virus) hits home, you just don’t know how serious it is,” Helen said in an emotional phone interview with the Herald-Journal.
Before Smith became an attorney with his own personal injury law office on John B. White Sr. Boulevard in Spartanburg, he attended the Carolina School of Broadcasting in Charlotte, North Carolina.
He later went to work in radio on weekends for WSPA before appearing on TV screens as the first Black newscaster in the Upstate.
After attending law school, he went on to be the first Black president of the Spartanburg County Bar Association; the first Black person to be appointed to the South Carolina Commission of Lawyer Conduct.
He was also the first Black chairman of the Spartanburg County Democratic Party, along with other accolades.
Kurt Zimmerli
Spartanburg philanthropist Kurt Zimmerli, 93, died on Sunday, May 30, at his home. A native of Oftringen, Switzerland, he was born on May 16, 1928, in Zofingen, Switzerland and was the son of the late Jakob and Frieda Zimmerli-Widmer.
Zimmerli spoke no English when he came to this country, but he quickly mastered the language and served as Honorary Consul of Switzerland for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania from 1965-70.
In 1969, Zimmerli and his wife, Nelly, came to Spartanburg where he founded Zima Corporation, a textile machine company, and Kűsters, a paper machinery company.
Read More: Kurt Zimmerli is remembered for his love of art, culture, and Spartanburg community
Friend and fellow Converse Life Trustee Bill Barnet described Zimmerli as a thoughtful and skilled businessman and leader who, with his wife, Nelly, made major contributions to the beauty of Spartanburg. The Zimmerlis paid for the amphitheater in Barnet Park. They also paid for the green space at the Spartanburg County Headquarters Public Library and the courtyard of the Chapman Cultural Center, which is named in their honor
"The gift of the amphitheater and fountain in the community park, the building at Converse College bearing their name, the fountain honoring the legacy of his friend Hans Balmer and the statue at the entrance of the library — all are examples of willingly given aesthetic assets we all can share." Barnet said.
At Converse, he is remembered for his love of music. Zimmerli was a regular at the Carlos Moseley Chamber Music Series and led the first renovation of Twichell Auditorium in 1989. In 2019, the Zimmerlis lead efforts to renovate Twichell, making the lead gift toward the renovation. In honor of their support, Converse bestowed the name Zimmerli Performance Center on the facility that houses Twichell Auditorium
Education also was a focus for Zimmerli and he provided scholarships to students in the Petrie School of Music and endowments for instrument repairs and was instrumental in Converse’s All-Steinway School designation in 2005. However, one of the most touching contributions Zimmerli made to the Petrie School of Music was his 50th anniversary to his wife, Nelly — a Steinway piano, now known as the Zimmerli Steinway, which sits in the Daniel Recital Hall.
