Robert Edward Hemingway, Sr.

Robert Edward Hemingway, Sr., J.D. was born June 6, 1946, in Conway, South Carolina, the beloved son of the late Gerlean Washington and Wilber Robert Spain.  On Sunday, August 10, 2025, Robert departed this earth surrounded by his beloved wife and family.

Robert was united in Holy Matrimony to the former Lillian Parker on March 13, 1964, in Charleston, South Carolina.  Together they shared more than sixty-one (61) years of love and devotion to each other.

In 1963, at the age of seventeen (17), Robert began a stellar professional career in the U. S. Navy and propelled to the rank of a Senior Chief Petty Officer, culminating a stellar Naval career spanning twenty-three (23) years and seven months. Robert's bootcamp and first duty station was at the U. S. Navy Air Station in San Diego, California. His Military Occupational Specialties were Aviation Instruction Mechanic-Injection Seats, Aircraft Mechanics-A6 System Organizational Maintenance Technician and Correctional Counselor. This was only the beginning of an extraordinary professional career as he excelled through the ranks of the U. S. Navy with assignments from San Diego, California; Millington, Tennessee (B School), Beeville, Texas; Corpus Christi Texas (Delmar University); San Antonio, Texas; Moffett Field, California; Meridian, Mississippi; San Francisco, California; Woodby Island, Washington, NAS Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and successfully retiring while stationed at NAS Little Creek, Norfolk, Virginia. " Senior Chief" Hemingway's medals include but are not limited to, National defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal (Two), Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Republic of Vietnam Meritorious Unit, Commendation Medal, First Class Color with Palm, Battle F. Award.   

After traveling the world for over two decades, Robert Hemingway’s eagerness to be of service to his beloved State of South Carolina was his focus, passion and dedication. In 1984, this passion led him to enter University of South Caralina (USC) School of Law, Columbia, South Carolina. Upon graduating from the USC School of Law, he worked with a local law firm until he opened The Hemingway Law Firm, on Millwood Avenue, Columbia, South Carolina. His extraordinary law career also spanned well over two decades, and professionally and personally touched and significantly changed the lives of so many people. Robert served the community and his family with the utmost respect and kindness and in turn, the community he served always returned the utmost of respect, and the kindness of sentiments when they saw him.

In addition to his parents Robert was also preceded in death by his beautiful daughter, Karen Hemingway Cauthen who entered heaven in 2012.

He has left a legacy of love to his beloved wife, Lillian P. Hemingway; and his loving children, Robert (Tonya) Hemingway Jr., Corwin (Sheila) Hemingway, Ernest (Bettina) Hemingway, Gerlean (Keith) Hemingway Baylor; fourteen (14) grandchildren; twelve (12) great-grandchildren; and a host of other loving relatives and dear friends, all of whom will dearly miss him.

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