South Carolina H 4312: Howe Family Condolences

Bill Text

2025-2026 Bill 4312 Text of Previous Version (Apr. 09, 2025) - South Carolina Legislature Online 

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026

Bill 4312

Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter

(Text matches printed bills. Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)

A house RESOLUTION

to express the profound sorrow of 
the members of the south carolina house of representatives upon the passing of 
Gedney Main Howe III of charleston and to extend their deepest sympathy to his 
large and loving family and his many friends. 

Whereas, the South Carolina House of Representatives was saddened to 
learn of the death of Gedney Main Howe III, a towering figure in the state's judicial 
sphere, at the venerable age of seventy-eight on March 21, 2025; and

Whereas, the scion of the legendary Gedney Main Howe Jr. and 
Marybelle Higgins Howe was born in Charleston on November 16, 1946. Howe Jr., a 
formidable trial lawyer and a consummate storyteller with a distinctive 
Charleston brogue, was revered as the "Sage of the South." Following in Howe 
Jr.'s footsteps, Howe III graduated from the University of South Carolina and 
joined his father's law firm after completing his education with a juris 
doctorate from USC's School of Law in 1973; and

Whereas, with a larger than life persona, Howe III was known as a 
well-heeled, sharp-witted attorney, a man of immense generosity who helped so 
many people throughout his lifetime. This was reflected in the people he put 
through college, his showing up at the right time to make sure ends were met, and 
sitting bedside when friends were suffering, almost always on the condition of 
anonymity. The values his parents instilled in him never wavered; and 

Whereas, the lead attorney at the Law Offices of Gedney M. Howe III 
P.A. in Charleston, he represented people, businesses, schools, and even the 
State of South Carolina and the State Senate. Handling "Operation Lost Trust," one 
of the largest legislative corruption cases in United States history, Howe 
treated it as he would any other case, despite the significant publicity it 
garnered. He aggressively pursued businesses, the FBI, the Coast Guard, the 
State, Lockheed Martin, and countless others; and 

Whereas, affectionately called GIII, he was known for saying, "When 
someone entrusts you with the biggest problem in their life, you take that 
pretty seriously. There are a lot of facets to practicing law, all of which are 
very rewarding, but to have the ability to help make a difference in someone's 
life - it's pretty good stuff."; and 

Whereas, one of the largest projects of his life was the restoration 
of the Calhoun Mansion at 16 Meeting Street, a twenty-four thousand 
square-foot, formally condemned property dating from 1876. Howe lovingly and 
painstakingly transformed it, one room at a time, from a decaying monstrosity 
to it being labeled one of the most magnificent houses in America. Working 
diligently for over twenty years, the house became a showplace of Victorian 
architecture. Howe's law office on the quaint and cobblestoned Chalmers Street was 
another of his fabulous renovations. He meticulously restored the historic 
firehouse doing much of the work himself. Most of the furnishings that decorate 
the law office came from the Calhoun Mansion, including massive, gilt-framed 
oil paintings, marble busts, and lavish furnishings; and

Whereas, when Gedney finally settled down, his children became the 
center of his world. Gedney III always wanted what was best for his children 
and knew how to help them get there, even if it was kicking and screaming; and

Whereas, he will be deeply missed by his two sons, Gedney Howe IV 
(Mae), Charles A. Howe; daughter, Sydney Cochran (Ryan); grandchild, Marybelle 
B. Howe; and his brother, Donald H. (Greta) Howe. Howe was predeceased in death 
by his siblings Belle H. Stoddard and Robert G. Howe. Now therefore, 

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:

That the members of the South 
Carolina House of Representatives, by this 
resolution, express profound sorrow upon the passing of Gedney Main Howe III of 
Charleston and extend their deepest sympathy to his large and loving family and 
his many friends.

Be it further resolved that a copy 
of this resolution be presented to the family of Gedney Main Howe III.

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This web page was last updated on April 09, 2025 at 10:37 AM