Obituary of Camille Ransom, Jr.

Camille Ransom, Jr. passed away peacefully at home on June 12, 2018 at age 92, with his wife Vera and family members at his bedside.  He is survived by his loving wife, who provided extraordinary patience and care during his last days; his son Camille Ransom III; daughters Teresa Ransom Ponder (husband Tom) and Jeneane Ransom Baughman  (husband Mark); four grandchildren, Ashly Verajoy Beaman (husband Greg), Mark Barnwell Baughman, Jr., Rachel Camille Ponder (wife Melanie Chan Cowes), and Daniel Dawson Ponder; four great-grandchildren, Kendall Paisley Beaman, Brooks Andrew Beaman, Ava Brynn Beaman, and Liam Blake Baughman; and a brother Barnard (Barney) Eugene Ransom. Camille was very proud of his family’s professional accomplishments and thankful for all the times they spent together.

Camille and Vera Mae Floyd serendipitously crossed paths while the two were employed by the Veteran’s Administration at Fort Jackson. The 22-year-old “red-headed boy” was persistent, always finding a way to be in the right spot at the right time when 19-year-old Vera appeared. After a whirlwind four-month courtship, they married in 1948 and welcomed three wonderful children in 1951, 1953, and 1955. Their beloved four grandchildren and four great-grandchildren adored their granddaddy.  Camille and Vera celebrated their lifetime of love and devotion at their 70th wedding anniversary on April 16, 2018 -- their journey of kindness, patience, faith and hope will continue to inspire and enrich family and friends.

Camille was born on May 1, 1926 to the late Camille Ransom, Sr. and Mattie Burnett Ransom.  He grew up on Florida Street in the Olympia Mill Village with buddies C. L. Ridgeway and Harold Taylor -- the three were born in the same month, were never far apart, and remained life-long friends.  “Snookie,” as he was fondly called by his friends, loved sports throughout his life and during high school was active in baseball, football, and basketball; when not in school, he spent the summer months in Sharon, S.C. where he enjoyed playing baseball.  He joined nearby St. Luke’s Lutheran Church at an early age, and played on the church’s basketball team at Olympia’s YMCA.

Camille enlisted in the U.S Army after graduating from Olympia High School and completed basic training at Fort Brandon near Jacksonville, Florida. He deployed to Germany, proudly serving with the 104th Infantry Division (Timberwolves) during the final months of World War II. Returning home with C. L. and Harold, he was stationed at Camp Beale in California where he was honorably discharged in July 1946.  He joined the U.S. Naval Reserves, receiving an honorable discharge in January1955. After a long and successful career with the U.S. Postal Service, he retired August 2, 1982.

Camille’s interest in sports continued over the years -- he was a fierce ping-pong player, avid golfer, and enjoyed water skiing with his brother. From 1962-1966, he coached Adam’s Piggly Wiggly, earning the team’s East Columbia Little League Championship in 1966. 

Camille and Vera took special pride in taking their two teenage daughters and son on family camping trips that stretched from the South Carolina coast to the Great Smoky Mountains, south to the Florida Keys, and north to New York and Ontario, Canada where they visited Expo 67 and camped in the Canadian wilderness at Algonquin Provincial Park.  In 1974, Camille and Vera purchased a lot on Edisto Island, and together with their family, completed a beach house that is “the happy place” for their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

In his later years, encouraged by his family and close friend Pee Dee Baughman, Camille returned to golfing and made many trips to Myrtle Beach and the Great Smoky Mountains. He and his golfing buddies played the Robert Trent Golf Course “loop,” finishing one and jumping in the car to head to the next -- one of the highlights of his life. 

Camille became a member of the Masonic Fraternity, Pacific Lodge No. 325 in March 1957.  On October 12, 2017, the Grand Lodge awarded him a Sixty-Year Certificate and Service Emblem for his devoted membership and service -- a special milestone achieved by very few. 

Throughout his life, Camille never lost his enthusiasm to laugh while telling funny stories, encouraging others to laugh along with him. He was always happy for the opportunity to indulge in boiled peanuts and his favorite dessert, homemade strawberry shortcake. At his most recent birthday on May 1, 2018, Camille achieved his goal of becoming the oldest known surviving member of the Ransom family -- and was delighted that he “broke the record.” 

Memorial Services for Camille will be held at Fort Jackson National Cemetery at 4170 Percival Road on June 21 at 12:00 noon. The family will receive friends between 1:00 - 2:00 p.m. at the family residence. Light refreshments will be served.

The family thanks the Columbia area hospitals, doctors, staff and Heartstrings Hospice who provided compassionate care, and the Masonic Fraternity for their kind assistance and memorial tribute.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donation to the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America, 322 8th Avenue, 7th Floor, New York, NY 10001, or the Children’s Ministry of St. Luke’s Lutheran Church, 1127 Olympia Avenue, Columbia, SC 29201.