Friends pay tribute to Senator Lindsey Graham
By Karen Brewer, Publisher & Editor, The Pickens County Chronicle
Senator Lindsey Graham listens to Jim Garrison speak at the dedication ceremony for the Captain Kimberly Hampton Memorial Park at the Captain Kimberly Hampton Memorial Library in Easley on March 2, 2020. (Photo by Karen Brewer)
Senator Lindsey Graham speaks at the dedication ceremony for the Captain Kimberly Hampton Memorial Park at the Captain Kimberly Hampton Memorial Library in Easley on March 2, 2020. (Photo by Karen Brewer)
To listen to Senator Lindsey Graham's speech at the dedication ceremony for the Captain Kimberly Hampton Memorial Park on March 2, 2020, click on the play button on the audio player below. (Audio by Karen Brewer)
As word came early Sunday morning, July 12, 2026 that Pickens County’s native son and United States Senator, Lindsey Graham, had passed away unexpectedly the evening of Saturday, July 11, only two days past his 71st birthday, sorrow and disbelief grieved his family, the nation, and the state of South Carolina. His sudden passing, at his Washington home, was caused by an aortic dissection due to arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease, according to the District of Columbia Medical Examiner.
Graham was born on July 9, 1955, grew up in the town of Central, graduated from D.W. Daniel High School in 1973, graduated from the University of South Carolina in 1977 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology, graduated from USC’s School of Law in 1981 with a Juris Doctor, and passed the bar and became a licensed attorney.
He served in the United States Air Force from 1982 to 1988, the South Carolina Air National Guard from 1989 to 1995, and the United States Air Force Reserves from 1995 to 2015 – a total of 33 years in the United States military, retiring with the rank of Colonel.
He served as a lawyer in private practice, and assistant county attorney for Oconee County from 1988 to 1992, and attorney for the Town of Central from 1990 to 1994.
He served as a member of the South Carolina House of Representatives from 1992 to 1994 and then was elected to the United States House of Representatives in 1994, after longtime Congressman Butler Derrick decided to not seek reelection. Graham served for eight years in the U.S. House, beginning January 3, 1995. He was elected to represent South Carolina in the United States Senate in November of 2002, after longtime Senator Strom Thurmond decided to not seek reelection. Graham served as U.S. Senator from January 3, 2003 until his passing, having won reelection in 2008, 2014, and 2020, and having won the Republican Primary last month, expecting to face a Democratic challenger in November.
He lived in Seneca and in Washington, D.C., but his roots were in Pickens County, specifically in the town of Central, and he never forgot his roots.
Both of their parents passed away within 15 months of each other when Graham was only in his early 20’s and his sister, Darline, was barely a teenager. He became his sister’s legal guardian, and both have shared a lifelong bond.
The people of Pickens County send condolences to his sister and her family while also recognizing Senator Graham’s legacy.
Several people shared with The Pickens County Chronicle about the friend they knew.
Randy Hayes knew Lindsey Graham from the beginning — when both were little boys living in the small town of Central — and their friendship lasted through the present. “He was a great friend then and now,” Hayes told The Pickens County Chronicle.
After serving in the United States Marine Corps, graduating from Clemson University, and then living out of state for years, Hayes returned to his home state, living in Central, Clemson, Pendleton, Beaufort, and then back to Clemson. He reminisced with this writer about his childhood with Graham and reconnecting with him in adulthood.
“Lindsey was a couple of years younger than me,” Hayes said. “Most of my youth experience with Lindsey happened during the summertime. A gentleman by the name of Bill Phillips had a restaurant in downtown Central, and Mom worked in that restaurant.” Lindsey’s parents also owned businesses in town, and they lived next door to their businesses, in a building that now houses a Mexican restaurant. “My memories go back to when I was six or seven, and he was four or five. At that age, we were just two crew cut little boys running the streets of Central. Central wasn’t anywhere close to somewhat booming like it is now.
“One of the highlights of our days, in the summer, was when the train would come. I would go to the restaurant with Mom, and, of course, he was always there at his parents’ house, and we just loved watching the trains come through town. There was a gentleman by the name of Lee Gassaway, who worked for the post office, the granite face building in town. He would take a canvas bag and hang it up on a pole outside the tracks, and, when the train came by, they had a mail car, I guess, and the gentleman had a device, an arm that was attached to the train, and it would come whizzing by, and he would snatch that mailbag while the train was still moving. We remember one day when he snatched that bag, it didn’t catch, and the train ran over the bag, and Lindsey and I thought that was the funniest thing in the world, because the train just ran over the bag, and there was mail all over the railroad tracks.
“Central was our playground. That was when it could be a playground. We were two little crew cut kids. Just down from Mount Zion Church was Hunter’s Barbershop. That’s where we went when we got our haircuts. We got a haircut probably once a month or so, and our hair cut was a crew cut. A gentleman whose last name was Hunter had the barbershop, and I think it was 50 cents. He knew it was a buzz cut. You got it all cut off, and that was until it grew back out, and you got it cut off again.” Those crew cuts, he said, probably prepared both of them for their future service in the military. “That’s the first thing they do, of course, when you go into the military,” he said, referring to cutting off all of the hair.
Recalling other memories from childhood, he said, “There was a place on Main Street, and I think the Dyar family owned it, and they sold inside stand-up furnaces and furniture. Seglar was the name of one of the companies of the products that they sold, and, about once a year or so, they would give away promotional balloons with the Seglar name on the balloons, and Lindsey and I would go up there every day to find out if we could get some free balloons. That was always a treat. It was a different time, a lot of fun, and I had no idea that friendship in our youth would last as long as it did.
“One of my best stories about Lindsey is that I knew him when he had a ‘drug’ problem. We were five or six, and he went in to his parents’ medicine cabinet and took a partial bottle of St. Joseph baby aspirin, and we ate them like candy. I remember my Mom and his Mom getting together and saying, ‘Do you think we ought to take them to the doctor?’ I think they maybe called the doctor, and the doc said, ‘No, they’ll be fine. It’s just baby aspirin.’ To us, it was candy. We both knew that it tasted good.
“I had no idea — no one does. You have these friends as kids. You have no idea. You don’t realize just how far a person can go in this world.”
They kind of lost touch after Graham went into the military and then entered politics, and Hayes had gone into the military and lived out of state, but Hayes spoke about when he and Graham reunited, when Hayes and his wife, Lorett, lived in Pendleton. “We became close friends with the Bauld family, Greg and Denise, in Pendleton, when we lived over there. And Denise was Lindsey’s right-hand assistant for 20 something years. We’d go over to their house, and Lindsey would come walking in. It was kind of like a reunion. We never missed a beat. He remembered me, and I remembered him. For so many years, we would have dinner at Lorett’s restaurant with the Baulds. I knew he was an important person, but, to me, we were just old friends, and that was exactly what came across when we were together.”
Hayes explained that, because Graham’s passing was quick, “It does seem kind of surreal. I don’t know that we’ll ever go over to our friends’ house again and not expect him to walk in. Holidays, he was always there around the table, whenever he could be. I think he spent just about as much time over at the Bauld house as he did over at Seneca. He loved golf. He and Greg would play golf every chance they would get, when he was in town. He loved golf.”
Hayes was elected Mayor of Pendleton in November of 2009. “When I was elected Mayor of Pendleton, he sent me a flag that had flown over the Capitol on the day that I was elected,” Hayes said.
“It was good to serve as Mayor. I served for two years, and I got out. This was small town politics that I experienced for two years. I have no clue how that man could deal with national politics for as long as he did.”
When Randy and Lorett, a well known chef, owned 1826 on the Green in Pendleton, Graham frequently visited the restaurant. “When Lindsey was in town, on the weekends or whenever, he and the Bauld family would stop by and dine there quite a bit,” he said. “And Lorett got invited to the Capitol to cook lunch for the Republican Senators. We have a picture of Lindsey and her on the Capitol steps that he signed for her. It was a great event. He took her all through the Capitol, through the back passageways, places that very few people have the opportunity to see. It was a great, special event, a memory that she will never forget. And that’s the kind of person that he was. He liked her food, and he liked her restaurant, and he liked her.
“And, if he liked you, I don’t think there was anything he wouldn’t do for you. And I don’t think there was anything he wouldn’t do, within his power that was rational, for any South Carolinian. He was just a good man.”
Hayes said that, through the years, when someone would mention Lindsey Graham, Hayes would say, “I grew up with Lindsey,” and they would not believe him, saying, “No, not really.” He added that a young friend of his, who lives in Lake City, South Carolina, expressed to Hayes his respect for Senator Graham. “I said, ‘Really? How would you like to have an autographed picture of him?’ And he said, ‘Yeah, you’re kidding me.’ So, I had Lindsey autograph a picture from him, and he sent me a message, ‘This is one of the greatest gifts I’ve ever been given.’ So, he has made an impact.
“Having a military background myself,” Hayes added, “I don’t know of any veteran who would not show the utmost gratitude to Lindsey Graham and what he did for the military in this state and all over the world, for that matter. He really fought for the military and the veterans. He was a phenomenal leader in that respect.”
Graham loved his sister, Darline, and her family, Hayes said, and he loved his friends. Hayes noted how hard Graham worked and said that some asked why Graham never married. “My wife always said, ‘He never had an outside love interest, because he loved his work, and he loved his state, and he loved his country, and there was no time for him to have an outside love interest.’ He just totally enjoyed and loved what he did.”
“I don’t have the knowledge of all of his accomplishments of what he’s done, but, just from what I’ve seen, from what I do know, he was a phenomenal individual.” Hayes spoke of when Graham campaigned for President in 2015. “That wasn’t meant to be at the time. But I think he was the right person in the right place at the right time. Though he didn’t make the office of President, I don’t think anyone can look at that individual and not say, ‘Wow. What accomplishments this man made.’
“I think he did a lot, but I think he had a lot left in him, a lot of things to do, still. But it’ll get done.”
Lorett Hayes is pictured with Senator Lindsey Graham on the steps of the U.S. Capitol. (Photo courtesy of Randy and Lorett Hayes to The Pickens County Chronicle)
David Wilkins, who served as the United States Ambassador to Canada in the administration of President George W. Bush, and who served in the South Carolina House of Representatives for 25 years, spoke with The Pickens County Chronicle on Monday, July 13 about his friend, Senator Lindsey Graham. “Like all South Carolinians and Americans, I’m deeply saddened by the passing of our friend Lindsey Graham,” he said. “It is a huge loss to all of us and to our state and to our nation. He was bigger than life in some sense. He was certainly consequential. He made a difference. He had an impact that will be lasting for decades.
“I first met Lindsey in the spring of 1992, to encourage him to run for the South Carolina House as we were trying to build the Republican Party and become the first Republican majority in the legislature in the South since the 1880’s. Lindsey took on the challenge and took on an incumbent, a well respected Democrat, and won his House seat and served in the House with me for two years, and then he ran for Butler Derrick’s Congressional seat when he announced his retirement and became the first Republican to win that Congressional seat since Reconstruction. Eight years later, I had the honor of chairing Lindsey’s campaign for U.S. Senate when he ran for Senator Thurmond’s seat upon his retirement. So, I have known Lindsey for some 34 years and consider him a dear friend.
“When he ran for the House and I met with him and asked him why he wanted to run, he said he wanted to make a difference. And he took that same attitude to Congress, and he took that same attitude to the United States Senate. Whatever position he held, Lindsey was not interested in marking his time. He wanted to make a real difference and have an impact on the lives of others, and that he did.
“And, so, it’s a huge loss to all of us. His legacy will be lasting. His constituent service, his staff – the way they worked with people and handled people and helped people — is legendary. And he is leaving some huge shoes to fill. But his impact will be felt by all of us for decades to come. And he made a lasting difference in the lives of countless South Carolinians that will be appreciated forever.”
David Wilkins is pictured with Senator Lindsey Graham at a Clemson game. (Photo courtesy of David Wilkins to The Pickens County Chronicle)
Congressman Trey Gowdy, Senator Lindsey Graham, and Ambassador David Wilkins (Photo courtesy of David Wilkins to The Pickens County Chronicle)
Larry Martin, a Pickens County native who served as South Carolina State Senator from 1992 to 2017 and as a South Carolina State Representative from 1979 to 1992, also spoke with The Pickens County Chronicle on Monday, July 13, saying that it was a shock to learn Sunday morning of his friend’s passing.
“Everybody, even folks that didn’t really care for Lindsey a great deal, politically, respected his service and his commitment to the state and to our country.
“I had a great relationship with Lindsey over the years,” he said. “We first got to know each other when he got elected to the House and I got elected to the Senate that same year, 1992. He was only in the State House for a term before he ran for Congress when that seat opened up, and I supported him and encouraged him all I could, and he did very well. As a matter of fact, he came to see me, and he said, ‘Are you going to run?’ And I said, ‘No, I can’t run. We just had our third child. My wife would absolutely ‘kill’ me, and I wouldn’t be anybody’s Congressman.’ He said, ‘Well, if you’re not going to do it, and there are a couple of other folks I want to talk to, and if they’re not going to do it, I’m going to do it.’ So, he stepped up and ran. He ran a great race and was very well received and got elected and did a great job. And, then, of course, when the Senate seat became available, he ran for that with pretty broad support within the party. It was probably unprecedented how much support Lindsey had in 2002, when he ran for the Senate. The Party really rallied around him, and he was elected to succeed Senator Thurmond.
“I’ll tell you one of the real personal experiences I had with him when he was in the Senate. I really never went up there when he was in the House, except I did see him a time or two when I would go up for various bills that were pending, dealing with textile imports and that kind of thing we were dealing with at the time. But I went up when Judge Henry Floyd was confirmed to the Federal bench the first time. He had nominated Judge Floyd to the Federal Bench, and I felt like his confirmation was going to go pretty smoothly, and it did. But I went up. Scott Dover was there from Pickens, and Judge Floyd’s family was there. And Lindsey just basically invited me to spend the day with him, not just go to that hearing. I went to lunch with him and went back to his office with him, and I spent a lot of time with him that day and ran into a lot of his colleagues as we shuttled out and back to the Capitol or to the hearing room.
“We ate lunch in the Senate cafeteria. I never will forget. We had lunch with Senator Grassley from Iowa. Twenty years ago or so, he was a much younger guy, and he’s still there. He’s in his early 90’s now. And, then, I met Senator Biden. And that was before Senator Thurmond had passed away. I met Senator Lieberman. The interesting thing was Senator Biden spoke later at Senator Thurmond’s funeral. He eulogized Senator Thurmond. And I ran into him at the First Baptist Church in Columbia after the service. Outside the church, a group of us from the legislature were talking, and he walked up, and he looked up at me and said, ‘You know, I think I remember, have you been in Washington in the last six months?’ And I said, ‘Yeah, I was up there with Lindsey.’ And he said, ‘Yeah, I remember meeting you.’ I didn’t expect him to. But Lindsey was just that kind of guy. He was very well thought of on both sides of the aisle.
“As a matter of fact, I ran into then Senator Hillary Clinton while with him on the subway, going from the Senate Office building over to the Capitol, and she couldn’t have been nicer to both of us at the time, very nice conversation with her. I was really taken aback by how nice she was — not just to me, but her interaction with Lindsey at the time was very nice.
“That was a really memorable day that I was privileged to get to spend with him. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have experienced anything like that. I didn’t go up there very much. But it was easy to see how well respected he was.
“I haven’t really been in touch with Lindsey much since I left office. I may have talked to him once, maybe twice, but I’m not running in those circles anymore where I would see him like I did. But I do keep up with what’s going on in the news and have followed him a great deal. He had his finger in a lot of issues that really mean a lot to our country. Whether it was Ukraine or the Iranian situation, he was very much involved in it, in terms of trying to influence a positive outcome, and we’re going to miss that in somebody like him who has the benefit of the nation at heart, I believe, particularly with what’s going on in the Middle East and with Ukraine. We’re going to really miss his leadership.”
State Senator Larry Martin is pictured with Senator Lindsey Graham in Central on the day Graham announced his campaign for the Presidency in 2015 (Photo courtesy of Larry Martin to The Pickens County Chronicle)
Rex Rice, who has served as South Carolina State Senator since 2017 and served in the South Carolina House of Representatives from 1994 to 2010, also spoke with The Pickens County Chronicle on July 13 about the passing of Senator Graham. “It’s very sad that the state of South Carolina and the United States have lost a great statesman,” he said. “He did a lot of good for a lot of people and served in the Senate for a number of years. He followed Strom Thurmond, so he had big shoes to step into, and he did step into them and did a good job. A lot of people may have disagreed with some of the things he did, but, overall, it’s going to be hard to replace him and what he did for not only our region but the state and the country.”
South Carolina State Senator Rex Rice and South Carolina Representative Davey Hiott greet Senator Lindsey Graham at the Pickens County Veterans Parade in Liberty in November of 2023. (Photo by Karen Brewer)
Phillip Bowers, who has served Pickens County’s District 3 in the South Carolina State House since 2024, also spoke with The Pickens County Chronicle. “I’ve known Lindsey for a very long time,” he said. “He grew up in Central, which is in my House district. I represent that area. He has done a great deal for the local area and the state and nation. He went to high school with one of my brothers and graduated from Daniel. He’s a native son. We’re going to miss him. He and I didn’t agree on everything. I don’t agree with anyone all of the time. But he was a hard worker, and he knew South Carolina well. He knew our needs, knew our people, and he knew the world, really. He was in the South Carolina House for a number of years. Then, he was in the U.S. House for eight years. And then he has been in the Senate for 20 years. So, lots of knowledge we’ve lost there. I continue to pray for the family as they work through this. Losing a family member is hard anytime, but suddenly, like this, really makes it even more difficult. He’s going to be missed, and I just appreciate all he’s done and the sacrifice he’s given for the state.”
Gresham Barrett, who served in the United States Congress, representing the Third Congressional District, from 2003 to 2011, and served in the South Carolina House of Representatives from 1996 to 2002, also spoke with The Pickens County Chronicle, saying that he could not believe it when he learned of the passing of his friend. “Lindsey will be extremely hard to replace,” he said. “I was so proud of him, because he took small town Central, South Carolina values not only to Washington but all over the world. And Lindsey proved to us that we can still work together for ideals and make the nation and the world a better place. I miss him, and I love him.”
Kent Dykes, past President and CEO of the Greater Easley Chamber of Commerce and a past member of the Easley City Council, also spoke with The Pickens County Chronicle. “I have great memories of Lindsey Graham,” he said. “We’ve been good acquaintances for a very long time. Back when I was Chamber of Commerce President, I asked Lindsey to come and speak to our Leadership Pickens County. This was probably about 2004. He was our guest speaker that kicked off the Leadership Pickens County at that time. Just a great speaker and a great group of people. I introduced him at that time. And, later on, I brought him to let him be the speaker at the Rotary Club in Easley. And, then, after that, I attended a Chamber of Commerce luncheon with him. Just a terrific guy, down to earth, funny. He was very humorous. Just a good person to talk to, a good conversationalist. And he could talk on any level. He could talk to a President or he could talk to a person around town in Pickens County, and Central, and Seneca. He was just comfortable wherever he was. Just a wonderful gentleman, and many, many, many people are going to miss him. And he was awfully good to the people in South Carolina, especially here in the Upstate.
“I was in a restaurant in Pendleton about three years ago, in Pendleton Square, with my wife, and the next table over was Lindsey Graham with a friend of his. He was home for the weekend, I guess, and he was having a friendly dinner. Nobody would bother him while he was eating, but, when he got through, he stood up and walked around. There were only about four or five tables in that little restaurant. And he spoke to everybody. He remembered me from our meetings in the past and spoke to me and my wife. That was very good of him.”
Senator Lindsey Graham is pictured with Kent Dykes at an Easley Rotary meeting in July of 2021. (Photo courtesy of Kent Dykes to The Pickens County Chronicle)
Jim Garrison, a retired educator who spearheaded Operation Dragonfly to honor the late Captain Kimberly Hampton with the Captain Kimberly Hampton Memorial Park at the Captain Kimberly Hampton Memorial Library in Easley, also shared with The Pickens County Chronicle about the legacy of Senator Lindsey Graham. “Like so many others, I was saddened to hear of Senator Lindsey Graham’s sudden passing. My thoughts immediately went back to Operation Dragonfly and one question: How would we have ever acquired the OH-58 helicopter without his help? Now, six years later, the Captain Kimberly Hampton Memorial Park has become an Upstate landmark. I remain deeply grateful for Senator Graham’s support in helping us bring our ‘bird’ to the Park. His assistance played a vital role in preserving Captain Kimberly Hampton’s legacy for generations to come.
“My wife, Betty, and I were also talking about Senator Graham’s life of public service. As we learned more about his journey through the various offices he held, it became clear that he didn’t go to Washington to enrich himself – he went there to serve the people. That kind of dedication is becoming increasingly rare.
“We were also touched to learn how devoted he was to the caring for his younger sister, Darline Graham Nordone. That speaks not only to the kind of public servant he was, but also to the kind of brother and man he was.
“Senator Graham leaves behind a legacy of service, patriotism, and compassion. He will be greatly missed, and I will always be thankful for the difference he made in the lives of so many – including mine.”
Jim Garrison is pictured with Senator Lindsey Graham in 2017, three years before Senator Graham attended and spoke at the dedication ceremony for the Captain Kimberly Hampton Memorial Park at the Captain Kimberly Hampton Memorial Library in Easley. (Photo courtesy of Jim Garrison to The Pickens County Chronicle)
Ann Hampton, mother of the late Captain Kimberly Hampton, also spoke with The Pickens County Chronicle about Senator Graham and the support he showed for the military, for her daughter, Kimberly, and for the Captain Kimberly Hampton Memorial Park. “Senator Graham was very supportive of the Memorial Park in Easley and was the keynote speaker at the dedication in early March, 2020, right before Covid hit,” she said. “Mr. Jim Garrison worked with Paul Howell in Greenville. He was Senator Graham’s aide, and I believe his title was Military Liaison. Paul, at Senator Graham’s instruction and with his approval, was always very supportive. Senator Graham gave the keynote speech at the dedication, and he was very kind. He arranged his schedule to stay in the Upstate over a long weekend so he could speak at the dedication on a Monday morning before leaving to go to Washington. And he was very well known for arranging his schedule so that he would be available for the military, his state, and his country. He was a workaholic, and probably to his detriment.
“Sitting between Lindsey and me was Will Braman, who was Kimberly’s fiancé at the time she died. Even though he’s married with children now, he and his family are real close to us, and he was thrilled to be able to come to the dedication ceremony and also to meet Senator Graham. Will is retired military, also.”
Hampton related that she and others had been invited to the American Consulate in Erbil, Iraq.
“And they had prepared a plaque for Kimberly for their wall,” she said. “And right after, I think like a week after I was there, Senator Graham was there, and, of course, they showed him the plaque and said this is one of your South Carolina girls. He said, ‘Yeah, I know Kimberly.’ Well then, later on, when Clemson had the military appreciation day, Senator Graham ‘chased’ me down and said, ‘I just saw your daughter’s plaque in Erbil.’ I was happy that he remembered.
“I think he leaves a huge void for the people of South Carolina, for the country, and especially for the military. And I hope whoever replaces him will kind of take up the banner and keep the strong support for the military.
“Everybody all over the country knows Lindsey Graham. Over the years, we have been involved with the military from everywhere, and they all know Senator Graham and his support.”
Hampton noted Graham’s 33 years of military service. “Thirty three years – that requires dedication, on top of everything else he did.”
She also spoke of Graham’s willingness to work with members of another political party. “I have admired the fact that Senator Graham was not afraid to cross the aisle — and I called it building a bridge from one side of the aisle to the other — in order to get things done, and that was for the greater good of the country. I think we need more like him, who will put political parties aside and concentrate on what’s best for the state or country or the world.”
She spoke of the friendship between Graham, John McCain, and Joe Lieberman (who was a Democrat) and the fact that they were called ‘The Three Amigos.’ “The three of them were very close and worked together. That’s pretty cool. Working with all people, regardless of political party, is very important.”
Senator Lindsey Graham, Will Braman, Ann Hampton, Dale Hampton, Easley First Baptist Church Pastor Dr. John Adams, and Jim Garrison at the dedication ceremony of the Captain Kimberly Hampton Memorial Park at the Captain Kimberly Hampton Memorial Library in Easley on March 2, 2020. (Photo by Karen Brewer)
Photos courtesy of Clemson University Military and Veteran Engagement to The Pickens County Chronicle)
(Photos courtesy of Clemson University Military and Veteran Engagement to The Pickens County Chronicle)
Senator Lindsey Graham stands with Liberty High School Army JROTC students before the start of the Pickens County Veterans Parade in Liberty on November 11, 2018. This was the first year of the Pickens County Veterans Parade and the first of two times that Senator Graham would attend and participate in the Pickens County Veterans Parade. (Photo by Karen Brewer)
Pickens County native and veteran U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham participates in the first annual Pickens County Veterans Parade, held in downtown Liberty on November 11, 2018. (Photo by Karen Brewer)
Click on the play button on the audio player above to listen to Pickens County Council Chair Roy Costner, of Liberty, introduce Pickens County native U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham at the first Pickens County Veterans Parade on November 11, 2018. (Audio by Karen Brewer)
Past Pickens County Council member Jimmy Patten drives Senator Lindsey Graham in the 2023 Pickens County Veterans Parade, as Senator Graham waves to spectators who stand and sit in front of the Pickens County Performing Arts Center in downtown Liberty on November 12, 2023. (Photo by Karen Brewer)
Click on the play button on the audio player above to listen to Roy Costner of Pickens County Council introduce Senator Lindsey Graham at the Pickens County Veterans Parade on November 12, 2023. (Photo by Karen Brewer)
Senator Lindsey Graham is pictured with Frank Looper, Jr., Secretary and a member of the Board of Trustees for Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative, at the 2017 Blue Ridge Fest in Pickens. (Photo by Karen Brewer)
Public statements on the passing of Senator Lindsey Graham:
In alphabetical order, following are public statements shared about the passing of Senator Lindsey Graham:
Dr. Annie Andrews (a Charleston area pediatrician and the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate from South Carolina):
“My deepest condolences are with the family of Senator Lindsey Graham, his friends, his devoted staff, and all who are grieving this sudden and tremendous loss. From his small-town South Carolina roots to the halls of the U.S. Senate, he was a man of great faith who proudly served our nation as a JAG officer and Air Force colonel. I hope that South Carolinians will join me in setting partisanship aside and offering gratitude to Senator Lindsey Graham for his service to the great state of South Carolina.”
David Beasley (Governor of South Carolina from January of 1995 to January of 1999):
“South Carolina has lost a giant. Lindsey and I found common purpose fighting global hunger together. He never hesitated to use his voice in the Senate on behalf of the World Food Programme, and countless lives were saved because of it. He also spent over two decades representing our state with a tireless, personal touch that became his trademark. I’ve lost a friend and colleague, and my heart and prayers are with his family and staff.”
George W. Bush (United States President from January of 2001 to January of 2009):
“Laura and I were saddened to wake up to the shocking news of Senator Lindsey Graham’s death. He was a knowledgeable Senator who understood how the world works and how important America’s international engagement is to resist tyranny. He was a kind and funny man who loved our country and loved serving it. South Carolina was fortunate to have such a committed public servant in its corner. And I was fortunate to have known Lindsey Graham.”
Central Mayor, Town Council, and employees:
“On behalf of the Town of Central, Mayor, Town Council, and its employees, we extend our deepest sympathies to the Graham family at the loss of Central’s native son, Senator Lindsey Graham. Senator Graham never forgot his roots and could be seen visiting throughout his busy schedule. Senator Graham was instrumental in securing $2 million this past year to go towards the construction of a much needed and updated Fire Department. Senator Graham grew up on Main Street in the building that is now the Mexican restaurant. So many residents have numerous stories to tell, remembering Senator Graham. Rest in peace, sir, and, again, thank you for always remembering Central.”
City of Clemson:
“Together with all of South Carolina and the nation, the City of Clemson is mourning the passing of Senator Lindsey Graham. Throughout his decades of public service, Senator Graham was a steadfast champion for Clemson, never forgetting the community he first called home. He was instrumental in securing federal funding, moving projects forward that will benefit Clemson for years to come. We will always remember his personal support at milestones like the Pendleton Clemson Wastewater Treatment Plant expansion groundbreaking. We extend our deepest condolences to his family, staff, and all whose lives were touched by his career and leadership. His legacy will live on in the progress he made possible for the City of Clemson.”
Clemson University Military and Veteran Engagement:
“Our office is deeply saddened by the passing of Senator Lindsey Graham. Senator Graham’s support for Clemson University’s military-connected community was personal, genuine, and unwavering. He believed in the potential of our student veterans, service members, military family members, and ROTC cadets, and he consistently championed efforts that expanded educational opportunities and strengthened support for those who have served our nation. His encouragement and advocacy helped our office grow its impact, and we are grateful for the time and support he invested in our students, our program, and our mission. We extend our heartfelt thoughts to all who are grieving this loss and join the Clemson Family in honoring a life dedicated to service.”
Neal Collins (South Carolina State Representative, from Easley, from 2014 to the present):
“My thoughts and prayers are with Senator Graham’s family, friends, and staff. Whether you agreed with him, disagreed with him, or found yourself doing both at different times, he cared deeply about South Carolina and our country. May he rest in peace.”
Clay Counts (Republican nominee for South Carolina House of Representatives District 4):
“Sad news this morning to hear of the unexpected passing of Senator Graham. Please join me in praying for his family and loved ones.”
Trey Gowdy (United States Congressman for South Carolina’s Fourth Congressional District from 2011 to 2019):
“He loved his country. I went to his retirement from the Air Force, and it was one of the few times I ever saw tears roll down his face. And he loved South Carolina. He loved his sister, Darline, and her family. He was devoted to his staff, many of whom had been with him since day one. He was one of the funniest people I have ever been around. And no one was spared, including himself. Life is fragile. If only I had known last Friday was the last day that I would ever see him, but we don’t know. I think he knew that I loved him. Even on the days when he made me pull my hair out, I still loved him. I’ll see you again, Chairman. In the meantime, enjoy your parents. Rest. I’ll see you on the first tee. Good night from a brokenhearted South Carolina.”
Jim DeMint (U.S. Congressman from South Carolina from January of 1999 to January of 2005 and U.S. Senator from South Carolina from January of 2005 to January of 2013):
“Lindsey Graham was one of a kind. I’ve never known anyone like him. We served in the House and Senate together and remained good friends. I enjoyed working with him because he wasn’t afraid of anyone and didn’t perform for any group. He was a happy warrior who never held a grudge; he’d disagree with you vehemently on an issue, then be your best ally on the next political battle. He was an independent thinker with common sense — Washington could use a lot more like him. I will miss him, and so will South Carolina and the nation.”
Nikki Haley (South Carolina Governor from January of 2011 to January of 2017 and United States Ambassador to the United Nations from January of 2017 to December of 2018):
“Lindsey loved South Carolina deeply. There was never a day he stopped fighting for the people of our state. Through his military service and years in public office, he gave his all to protect America and our freedom-loving allies. He was truly one of a kind. Michael and I are lifting up Darline and his entire family in prayer during this difficult time.”
Todd B. McCaffrey (South Carolina Department of Veterans’ Affairs Secretary and retired U.S. Army Major General):
“The Palmetto State and our entire nation mourn the loss of a towering statesman, a fierce advocate for our armed forces, and a dedicated brother-in-arms. Senator Lindsey Graham’s lifelong commitment to public service was deeply rooted in his own military journey. Throughout his legislative career in both the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate, Senate Graham was an unwavering vanguard for South Carolina’s veterans, military families, and defense infrastructure. He understood that our freedom is maintained through the strength and well-being of those who wear the uniform. His passing leaves a profound void in our state’s advocacy network and in the hearts of the veterans he fought so tirelessly to support. On behalf of the South Carolina Department of Veterans’ Affairs and the nearly 400,000 veterans who call our state home, I extend our deepest condolences, thoughts, and prayers to Senator Graham’s family, loved ones, and staff during this incredibly difficult time. We stand forever grateful for his lifetime of service to South Carolina and the United States.”
Henry McMaster (Governor of South Carolina from January of 2017 to the present):
“Peggy and I – and our children – are devastated. Lindsey Graham is irreplaceable. The fiercest of fighters for South Carolina and America – and a loyal and steadfast friend. We grieve with Darline, his family, and his devoted staff. May God hold him gently in the palm of his hand. We shall not see his likes again.”
Tim Scott (United States Senator from South Carolina from January of 2013 to the present):
“South Carolina lost a statesman, and I’ve lost a friend. My prayers are with his sister and the rest of his family. From his humble beginnings to the Senate floor, Lindsey always led with faith, family, and South Carolina first. Lindsey remained committed to public service and doing what he loved. He always introduced levity and brought wit to the most challenging moments. Lindsey Graham will be missed.”
Tri-County Technical College:
“Today, we pause to honor the life and legacy of Senator Lindsey Graham. Senator Graham understood the importance of education, workforce development, and economic growth in creating brighter futures for individuals and communities. Senator Graham was instrumental in securing funding for critical needs training in manufacturing and other high demand areas for TCTC during his political career. His support for Tri-County Technical College helped shape opportunities that continue to benefit students, families, and businesses in our communities. TCTC extends heartfelt condolences to Senator Graham’s family, friends, colleagues, and all who were touched by his service and leadership. His legacy of dedication to South Carolina and its people will be remembered for generations to come.”
Upstate Warrior Solution:
“We were saddened to learn of the passing of U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham. Over the years, Senator Graham supported the mission of Upstate Warrior Solution and the veterans, first responders, and military families we are honored to serve. We are grateful for the opportunities we had to work alongside him in support of those who have served our country and our communities. We extend our sincere condolences to Senator Graham’s family, friends, and the members of his staff. Our thoughts and prayers are with all who knew and served alongside him during this difficult time.”
