Cordes Gaillard Seabrook, Jr., 88, of Anderson, died peacefully in his home on May 27, 2015, surrounded by his wife Araluen “Clinky” Seabrook and family. He was born on March 12, 1927, to the late Cordes G. and Ruth B. Seabrook and spent most of his life in Anderson, SC, the community and state that he loved. He was an inspiring but humble man with a great sense of humor. He enjoyed being around people and was always a leader and contributor.
After graduating from Anderson Boys High, Cordes attended the Citadel and graduated in 1948 with a BS in Business. He was then commissioned into the Army as a Second Lieutenant. As a Sloan Fellow he received a Masters in Industrial Management from MIT in 1960. He was a founding partner of Seabrook, Inc., a successful textile parts and improvements business that he and his brother Bill Seabrook sold in 1985. Cordes and Bill then partnered to form Value Systems, an organization of textile purchasing associations. He retired in 1997.
Cordes was appointed by Governor James Edwards to the ETV Commission and Endowment Board and served from 1976-1988. He was an accomplished fundraiser for many worthy causes. He never liked spending money on himself, but he did not mind giving it away. He was quite philanthropic not only with his resources but also with his time. He was a founding and charter member of the board of the Foothills Community Foundation. He was especially proud of his work to establish their endowment fund to promote philanthropy in the region.
He was involved in many civic activities in Anderson and was generally in a leadership role in these organizations. He introduced the idea for Wise Walks Public Art Project to the community and spearheaded the project to place inspirational quotes underfoot in downtown Anderson. He was also instrumental in raising funds for the TBA 100 Generator Project to add greenspace to the downtown area. He served on the Board of Trustees of AnMed as well as the Perpetual Bank.
He understood the importance of education and served several terms on the District 5 School Board. He was also involved with the United Way, the Anderson Area Chamber of Commerce, Friends of Anderson County Library, Alliance for Local Leadership, Anderson/Clemson University Alliance, All American City competition.
Cordes has been recognized with numerous awards over his lifetime. In 2011 he was named Communitarian of the Year by the United Way of Anderson, and in 2012 he was the recipient of the Duke Energy Citizenship and Service Award.
He followed politics and was always willing to let elected officials know what he thought. He was very much a fiscal conservative. He was one of the organizers of the South Carolina Republican Party and the first Republican Party Chairman in Anderson County.
He was a lifelong member of Grace Episcopal Church where he served several terms as Senior Warden and Treasurer. He served on the Kanuga Conference Center Endowment Board and Board of Visitors for many years and attended numerous conferences in Hendersonville, NC.
Cordes had an appealing personality. He had a wonderful sense of humor, loved people, and treated everyone like a peer. He was a networker before it was part of our common language. His natural curiosity motivated him to be a lifelong learner. He was dependable, liked work better than play, and always kept his word. He was an original thinker; his ideas were ahead of his time. Cordes described himself as a joyful troublemaker; he always enjoyed stirring up a little harmless trouble. He was genuinely fun to be around. If you knew him, you were fortunate.
He was a loving and devoted husband and father. He was very proud of his family and enjoyed being a mentor to all of them. He especially enjoyed an annual week at Kanuga with his children and grandchildren. He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Araluen “Clinky” Seabrook, whom he adored; four children, nine grandchildren, and two great grandchildren. The children are Cordes G. Seabrook, III (Georgia) of Troy, SC; Louise Seabrook Knisley (Charles) of Anderson, SC; Eleanor B.”Lee Lee” Seabrook of Ashville, NC; and March E. Seabrook, MD (Anne) of Columbia, SC. The grandchildren include Gloria Duryea, Chip Knisley, Nelson Seabrook, MD, L’Angel Midgley, Richard Seabrook, Ruskin Seabrook, Ian O’Connor, Elizabeth Seabrook and Thayer Seabrook. In addition, he is survived by his brother Bill Seabrook (Elizabeth) of Cramerton, NC.
A Memorial service will be held at Grace Episcopal Church in Anderson, SC at 2 p.m. on Sunday, May 31, 2015, with The Reverend John B. Hardaway, IV officiating. The family will receive friends immediately following the service. McDougald Funeral Home is assisting with arrangements.
In lieu of flowers the family requests that memorials be made to Kanuga Conferences, Grace Episcopal Church, United Way of Anderson or Hospice of the Upstate.
A message of condolence may be sent by visiting www.mcdougaldfuneralhome.com
The McDougald Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Anderson, SC.
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