Colonel James Boyd Way, USMC Retired was born May 10, 1938 at home in St. George S.C. He departed this life on January 10, 2025 at home in Greenville S.C. He graduated from The Citadel, class of 1960 and subsequently commissioned Second Lieutenant in the US Marine Corps. He earned a Masters Degree in Planning, with emphasis on Public Administration from the University of Virginia. Service schools attended include the Marine Corps Staff College, Quantico, Virginia and the Naval War College, Newport, Rhode Island.
Staff assignments during his career include Marine Corps Liaison to Army Material Command, Washington, D.C.; Artillery Weapons Officer, Weapons Branch, HQMC; Aide de Camp to the Deputy Chief of Staff Plans and Policies Division, HQMC; Strategic Plans Officer, Plans and Policies Division, HQMC; Chief of Staff, 9th Marine Amphibious Brigade, Okinawa, Japan; Chief of Staff G-3, III Marine Amphibious Force, Okinawa, Japan; and Chief of Staff, Second Marine Division, Camp Lejeune, NC.
Command assignments were Commanding Officer, Guard Company, Polaris Missile Base, Charleston, SC; Commanding Officer, Battery “M”, 4th Battalion, 12th Marines, Vietnam; Inspector & Instructor, 4th Battalion, 14th Marines, Birmingham, Alabama; Commanding Officer, 2nd Battalion, 11th Marines, Camp Pendleton, California; and Commanding Officer, 10th Marines, Camp Lejeune, NC.
Awards include Legion of Merit (2 awards), Bronze Star with combat V, Army Accommodation Medal, and Marine Combat Action Ribbon.
After retiring from the Marine Corps, he was Director of Administration for the Richardson, Plowden, Grier and Howser Law Firm in Columbia, SC and later the Dority and Manning Law Firm in Greenville, SC. He was President of the SC Association of Legal Administrators and served on committees at the organization’s national level.
Colonel Way is survived by his wife of 62 years, Susan Owings Way of the home; son James Boyd Way Jr. and wife Kiyoko of Ehime, Japan and daughter Lillian Way Henderson and husband Steve of Cary, NC. Granddaughters Emi and Sara Way of Tokyo, Japan and Rapley Henderson of Cary NC. He was predeceased by his parents James Woodrow and Evelyn Magill Way of St. George and sister Suzanne Way Peden.
A memorial service will be held February 7th at 3:00 pm at Open Hearts United Methodist Church, Greenville, SC. An interment will be held on February 8th at 12:00 pm at the St. George UDC Cemetery in St. George, SC.
In lieu of flowers, it is requested that memorial gifts be made to Global Foundation for Children with Hearing Loss or a charity of your choice.