The Lord brought Mr. Patrick Lee Baughman, senior immediately into His presence on August 4, 2021, after a forty-three-year courageous battle with cancer. Mr. Baughman, a resident of Columbia, South Carolina, passed away at his home. Born in Columbia, SC, Mr. Baughman was the only child of Otis Lee Baughman, senior and Pansy Cooper Baughman. He was married for 62 years to his sweetheart and best friend, Louise Cleland Lightsey who predeceased him on December 27, 2020.
Mr. Baughman was a decorated multi-sport athlete from Wagener High School where he graduated in 1953. He received his Bachelor’s degree from The Citadel in 1957 where he had a distinguished cadet career including serving as a Summerall Guard. After graduation, he was commissioned a lieutenant and served a tour of Army duty at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. In 1973, Mr. Baughman received his honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Baptist College, Charleston, SC (now Charleston Southern University). After being in the fuel oil business for many years in Wagener, Mr. Baughman owned a general life insurance agency in Wagener and then on Hilton Head Island for over 20 years. Throughout his life as a businessman, Mr. Baughman often said that he could not separate his faith walk from his work world. “Much like a boat functions in the water, a Christian must live in the world. The problem occurs when the world lives in the Christian.”
All who knew Mr. Baughman knew immediately he was a people person. His love of people was seen in his service to his communities where he lived. While in Wagner, he served on the Aiken County Technical Education Commission, the Board of Directors of Aiken County Helping Hands, and the Aiken County Red Cross. On Hilton Head, he was active in the Rotary Club and served on several local bank boards. Mr. Baughman received an appointment to the South Carolina Public Railways Commission, he served as Chaplain of the South Carolina Funeral Directors Association and was a member of the Clemson University Board of Visitors. Mr. Baughman and his wife, Lou, were very active in First Baptist Church of Wagener, First Baptist Church, Hilton Head and Shandon Baptist Church, Columbia. He was an avid outdoorsman and loved spending time with friends and family as he enjoyed God’s beautiful creation.
Mr. Baughman was also a man of great faith. In addition to serving as a deacon, teaching Sunday School, and holding other leadership roles in his local churches, Mr. Baughman was active in the South Carolina Baptist Convention, the Southern Baptist Convention, and with many local, national, and foreign mission organizations. In 1973, Mr. Baughman was elected President of the South Carolina Baptist Convention and at the time of his election at 37 years old, Mr. Baughman was the youngest person to serve as president and remains one of the few laymen to hold this position. After his election, it was said that “Pat brings to the presidency an unblemished record of Christian service in his church and association, and in other posts of denominational service.” Mr. Baughman was first elected in 1975 to serve on the Board of Trustees and later as Chairman at Anderson College, Anderson, SC (now Anderson University). For many years, Mr. Baughman was one of the three coordinators of the lay renewal ministry with the South Carolina Baptist Convention. Mr. Baughman also served on the Annuity Board for the Southern Baptist Convention and as Vice President of Philanthropy for the South Carolina Baptist Ministries of the Aging.
Mr. Baughman’s love of Jesus and love of others intersected most profoundly with his devotion to his family. His family knew that Papa Pat prayed daily for each of them and loved them from “the top of their head to the bottom of their toes.” Surviving are his three children: Lee Baughman of Hendersonville, SC, Lynn Asnip of Mount Pleasant, SC and Jan and James Hunter of Statesville, NC. Mr. Baughman is also survived by five grandchildren and two great grandchildren: Ashlynn and Allen Koon of Columbia, SC and their daughter, Cleland Louise, Manning Asnip of Allendale, SC and his fiancé, Carley Cofield, Patrick and Katie Hunter of Conway, SC, Edward and Leanna Hunter of Lyman, SC and their son Lawton Andrew and Louisa Hunter of Birmingham, Alabama. In addition to his wife and his parents, Mr. Baughman was predeceased by a son-in law Timothy Asnip, a half-brother Otis Lee Baughman, junior and a half sister Evelyn Ezelle.
The family would like to extend their special thanks and love to a faithful family friend, Carla Moody. In addition, the family expresses their deepest appreciation to Dr. Thomas Witzig and Dr. John Morris of Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota and Dr. Carroll Pinner and staff of Pinner Clinic, Peak, South Carolina for the excellent medical care provided for many years. Also, deepest gratitude to Stephanie Daniels and staff of Lighthouse Hospice, Lorie Heppard, Carol Pou, Elexcia Turner, and Charity Jeffcoat for their compassionate care of Mr. Baughman over this past year.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Mayo Clinic, Department of Development, Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street, SW, Rochester, Minnesota 55905, the Baptist Foundation of South Carolina, 190 Stoneridge Drive, Columbia, SC 29210-8239, The Citadel Foundation, 171 Moultrie Street, Charleston, SC 29409-6230 and Adnah United Methodist Church, 500 Adnah Church Road, Islandton, SC 29929.
A Celebration of Life service for both Pat and Lou Baughman will be held on Monday, August 9, 2021 at 1:00 pm at Adnah United Methodist Church, 500 Adnah Church Road, Islandton, South Carolina. The family will have a private graveside service for Mr. Baughman.
Peeples-Rhoden Funeral Home of Hampton is assisting the family with arrangements.
Posted in: The State
Posted on: 2021-08-05
Link to original obituary: https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/thestate/name/pat-baughman-obituary?n=pat-baughman&pid=199679750&fhid=8980