Marion Briggs Birt

Marion Briggs Birt, 98, of Charleston, SC, widower of Martha Bonnett Birt, passed away peacefully on December 23, 2018, surrounded by his loving family.

The relatives and friends of Mr. Marion B. Birt are invited to attend his Funeral Service at 1:00 PM Friday, December 28, 2018, at the James A. McAlister Chapel, 1620 Savannah Hwy. Burial will follow at Carolina Memorial Park. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the funeral home.

Marion Birt was born October 27, 1920, in Barnwell, SC to the late Darling Cleveland Birt and Mary Magdalene Still Birt. He was married to his wife, the love of his life for Seventy and a half years.

Mr. Birt worked with a military contractor during World War II airlifting war supplies to our allies in Europe and served in the United States Army following the end of World War II. After receiving a diploma from LaSalle University, he launched a career in the insurance industry and retired as an Insurance Executive of the United Life Insurance Company of America in his early forties. After retirement, he developed a successful real estate business that he retired from at the young age of ninety.

He was active in his community and was a member of the North Charleston Exchange Club until his death. While a member of the North Charleston Exchange Club, Marion devoted much of his time and energy to raising money to foster programs for abused children and those less fortunate. Marion proudly served as President of this Exchange Club and was awarded during his many years of active service, the Certificate of Service for 1987-89, Exchangite of the Year for 1988-89, a Certificate of Appreciation in 1995 and 2002, the Bill Terry Award In Excellence in Exchange from the National Exchange Club in 1998 and 2002, and the Presidential Award of Honor 2001-2002. Marion also served on the Charleston County Library Board during the development of major building projects. He was a Life Member of The Charleston Mariner Lodge #2 AFM and a member of Holmes Avenue Baptist Church for over fifty years. His leisure activities included time spent on the lake fishing with his beloved wife, children and friends. During the fall and winter months he enjoyed hunting at The Jenkins Hunting Club where he was a member for over 40 years. One of his favorite adventures was visiting England and Ireland to trace his family roots in both countries.

He was a kind and loving husband, father, grandfather, uncle and friend who would literally give you the clothes off his back if you needed it. His children and grandchildren have numerous memories of being in the car with him during the dead of winter when he would suddenly stop the car and give someone in need, the coat off his back because they needed it more.

He was predeceased by his wife, Martha; his two sons: Marion Levern Birt and Robert Joseph Birt; his five sisters: Maggie Lorene Ferguson, Meta Luceal Hair, Dorothy Elizabeth Jowers, Azalee Iduma Jowers, Ruth Ineta Birt; and his three brothers: David Otis Birt, Samuel Wilbur Birt and Darling Vernon Birt. He is survived by his daughter, Martha (Martie) B. Williams and her husband, Donald; his five grandchildren, Brenda Birt McAlhanny (Tony), Robert Birt (Kelly), Michael Williams Abro (Joseph), Billy Birt and Colleen Birt; his 11 great-grandchildren: Andrew, Rebecca, Brittany, Brandon, Kelsey, Isabelle, Alex, Karolina, Elliott, Liam and Bentley; 6 great-great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

The family would like to thank the many family and friends that have been such a wonderful support system during Marion’s extended illness. A special thank you to Dr. Christopher McLain and his staff, the nurses and staff on the Cardiac Floor of Roper Hospital, the nurses and staff at Welmore of Daniel Island and finally the best care givers anyone could ask for, Ann Kinard, Delia Bazemore, Emma McKenney and Nancy Tellman.

The family asks, in lieu of flowers, donations be made in memory of Marion to the Exchange Club of North Charleston, 2138 Helm Street, North Charleston, SC 29405 or to the Hibernian Society of Charleston Foundation, 105 Meeting Street, Charleston, SC 29401.