Obituary of Isaac Washington III

Isaac Washington III lived a life of meaning and joy, and the best part was that he felt blessed to share it with others.

He was devoted to his wife Pat and his children. As one of Jehovah’s Witness, he spread God’s love. He served with the U.S. Army’s 82nd Airborne Division. He served his community as a third-shift pressman at The Charleston Post and Courier. And because this world is always in need of good music, he was a backup singer (the deep part) in an R&B band. Meaning, joy, and harmony indeed.

Isaac Washington III of Charleston, S.C., died unexpectedly on Tuesday Nov. 21, 2023. He was 74.

Isaac was born on Sept. 11, 1949, son of the late Mary Green Washington Holloway and Isaac Washington Jr. He was educated in Charleston County Schools, graduated from Wallace High School and joined the 82nd Airborne, serving at Fort Bragg (now Liberty) near Fayetteville, N.C. Retiring from the Army in 1973, he came home to Charleston and spent over 30 years as a pressman at The Post and Courier. He loved the job, the people he worked with and putting the news in readers’ hands.

What fun he had. Isaac enjoyed traveling, music (anything by The Temptations), football, basketball and sharing it all with family and friends. He had camping and fishing buddies. With Isaac, you were either a friend or about to be one.

Since his baptism on July 16, 1988, Isaac shared his unwavering faith and belief in the hope of resurrection and comforted those in need. He volunteered countless hours in the ministry over the years.

Isaac is survived by Pat Washington, his wife of 35 years, who was at his side when he passed away at MUSC Health. He is also survived by four sons – Isaac IV (Elizabeth) of Orangeburg, S.C., Reginald of New York, Tyrone of Charleston, SC and Carlton of James Island, S.C.; stepdaughter Jackie Davis of Greenville, SC; stepsons Lee McGee , Marcus Kemp and Patrick Kemp all of Greenville, S.C.; siblings Cheryl LaBoard of Georgia., Clara (Ernest Jr.) Bailey of James Island, S.C., Carl (Cheri) Washington Sr. of Goose Creek, S.C., and Ray (Belinda) Holloway of Charleston, SC; sisters-in-law Mary Jane Jenkins of Greenville, S.C., Terrilyn Taylor of Atlanta and Henrietta Hill of Greenville, S.C.; brothers-in-law Rayford Hill and Fred Hill (Deloris) both of Atlanta, GA; one uncle, Paul Drayton of California.; and four aunts – Jean Green of Charleston, SC, Rose Huggins of Walterboro, S.C., Shirley Green of Florida., and Ethel Harvey of Ohio. He is also survived 15 grandchildren and 25 great-grandchildren a host of nephews, nieces, cousins, and Angela and Roger Darbasie of Florida.

A service to celebrate his life will be at 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 25, at Kingdom Hall, Jehovah’s Witnesses, 3312 Bonanza Road, Charleston. Brother Steve Henderson will speak.

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