Judge William Earl "Babe" Mcleod, Sr.

JUDGE WILLIAM EARL "BABE" McLEOD, SR. FLORENCE, SC JUDGE WILLIAM EARL "BABE" McLEOD, SR., 79, of Florence, died on Thursday, December 2, 2010 in McLeod Regional Medical Center after a short illness. Judge McLeod was born in Florence, SC on May 9, 1931, the son of the late William Clyde and Lola Virginia Williams McLeod.He was a 1949 graduate of McClenaghan High School and had attended Clemson College, the University of Nevada-Reno and the University of South Carolina School of Law. He served as Chief Magistrate for Florence County for 26 years and was a retired Captain with the South Carolina State Guard and was a member of the American Legion Post # 1.He was awarded the Order of the Palmetto, South Carolina's highest honor, by Governor Carroll A. Campbell, Jr. in 1993.He was a lifetime member of the South Carolina Magistrate's Association and a former member of the Florence Lion's Club.Judge McLeod had been a member of the Hampton Lodge # 204 AFM since 1957, York Rite, the Omar Shrine, Woodmen of the World, American Numismatic Association, Tri-County Golf Association and the Country Club of South Carolina where he enjoyed playing golf with his many friends. Judge McLeod's service to his country, his love for his family and community and his support to many causes will be greatly missed. He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Jim Mac McLeod and sister, Margaret McLeod Andrews. Surviving are his loving wife of 37 years, Betty Cameron McLeod; sons, John William "Billy" (Ginger) McLeod of Columbia, William E. "Mac" McLeod, Jr. of Florence, Robert A. "Robbie" (Ann Elizabeth) Owens of Florence, John M. (Melissa) Owens of Mount Pleasant; daughters, Mary Lynn M. (Jeff) Peter of Florence, Gayle M. (Ron) Morris of Florence and Debra O. (Ken) Jackson of Florence; grandchildren, John Wilson "Will" (Ashlee) McLeod of Florence, Jamie McLeod of Columbia, Erin Morris (Sean) Elko of Charleston, Blair Morris of Charleston, Robert Anthony "Tony" Viola of Florence, Lynsay Viola (Ryan) Shumpert of Swansea, SC, Emily Jackson of Clemson and Florence, Tyler Jackson of Florence, John Austin Owens of Mt. Pleasant and Holly Anne Owens of Mt. Pleasant; five great-grandchildren. Memorials in his memory may be directed to Friendship United Methodist Church Cemetery Fund, 5422 East Old Marion Highway, Florence, SC29506. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM Saturday, December 4, 2010 in the Stoudenmire-Dowling Funeral Home Chapel.Burial will follow at Friendship United Methodist Church Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6 – 8 PM Friday at the funeral home.