GEORGETOWN, S.C. —  Two churches on opposite ends of Georgetown County mourned the loss of their pastors Thursday.

Rev. Robbie Martin, 49, pastor of Lowcountry Community Church — better known as LC3 — in Murrells Inlet passed away Wednesday night after suffering a heart attack, according to County Coroner Kenny Johnson.

Martin, who had pastored the church since 2004, died at the Medical University of South Carolina at about 11:15 p.m. while awaiting heart surgery, Johnson said.

The church received family and friends last night and a “celebration of life” will be held at 6 p.m. Sunday at the church.

The funeral will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday at Patriot Hall located at 135 Haynesworth St., Sumter, SC. That will be followed by a procession to Elmor-Cannon-Stephens Funeral Home where visitation will take place.

Martin, according to the LC3 website, attended seminary where he earned his Masters of Divinity and Doctorate of Ministry after receiving a BA degree from the University of South Carolina.

Before being hired as the senior LC3 pastor, Martin worked as a youth minister and senior pastor of two other churches.

Rev. Tony Holcomb was Martin’s Maryville neighbor for many years.

“He was a great neighbor. He always smiled and we waved at each other,” Holcomb said.

Rev. Daniel Jiles

Hundreds of people packed St. Paul AME Church in the Oatland Community Thursday to say goodbye to Rev. Daniel Jiles, a man known not only for his work in the ministry but also for his service to the community.

Those who spoke about the contributions Jiles made to Georgetown County included County Council Chairman Johnny Morant and State House Rep. Carl Anderson, who is also a minister.

For more than four decades, Jiles pastored in Georgetown County at Nazareth-Sutton, Dickerson, St. John-Morrisville, Mt. Ararat and St. Paul-Oatland AME churches.

At his funeral, people spoke about Jiles’ numerous accomplishments.

Clarence Kinloch said Jiles was a lifelong friend who was known for his generosity.

“On several occasions he was honored for his contributions to the community,” Kinloch said.

Morant said when the county was looking for a place to put a park in the Choppee area, but could not find any suitable land, Jiles donated property for the project. It is now known as the Daniel Jiles Community Mini Park.

“His hands stretched throughout Georgetown County,” Morant said.

Jiles, he said, was a major force in getting water and sewer service to the Browns Ferry and Choppee areas. In fact, he  served on the board of Georgetown County Water and Sewer District.

He also helped get people registered to vote in the 1970s, Kinloch said.

Jiles served on the Georgetown County Voter Registration board.

“He would often provide words of wisdom to county council,” Morant said. “His words would sink in when we were in the midst of controversy.”

Anderson said he was in the State House in Columbia Thursday morning before driving back to Georgetown for the funeral. He said lawmakers, at 10:45 a.m. Thursday, paused for a moment of silence in honor of Jiles.

He also presented Jiles widow, Verdelle Jiles, with an American flag from the U.S. Capita.l

By Scott Harper

sharper@gtowntimes.com