Henry Donald "Bobby" Gerald
Henry Donald “Bobby” Gerald, 67, died Sunday, March 22 in at Carolina’s Hospital in Florence, after a brief illness.
The family will receive friends from 6-9 p.m., Tuesday, March 24, at Marion Baptist Church. Services will be at 4 p. m. on Wednesday, March 25, in Marion Baptist Church. Burial will follow at Rose Hill Cemetery, directed by Richardson Funeral Home.
Mr. Gerald was born in Marion, a son of the late Dudley and Leatha Shelley Gerald. He is also predeceased by a brother, Harold Gerald and sisters, Betty Lou Price and Mary Alice Williamson. He was a member of Marion Baptist Church and the Oak Tree Sunday School Class. Mr. Gerald was the mayor of Marion, a position he held for the last 24 years. and former owner of Bobby Gerald Ford.
Bobby was a 1960 graduate of Marion High School. He began working as a salesman for Neil Padgett Motors at the age of 16 and after graduation became a full time salesman. Mayor Gerald took advantage of every salesmanship course offered by the Ford Motor Company, and completed the Dale Carnegie Course. Through the years he won every award for salesmanship given by Ford. In 1967 he joined forces with Earl Collins Ford Motor Company, serving there as General Manager and Executive Vice-President, until Earl Collins retired, at which time Mr. Gerald purchased the business in 1980.
Mr. Gerald was appointed as a member of the Marion County Board of Commissioners by Ralph Gasque in 1975. Then under the Home Rule, he ran for County Council and was elected to his first term as a member of Marion County Council in January 1977, where he served as Vice-Chairman of the Council. He later served as Chairman of the Council from January 2, 1979 until June 30, 1982. In June 1982, he was appointed by the Marion County Delegation as a member of the State Highway Commissioners, serving this post until June 1985 when he ran for the Office of Mayor of the City of Marion.
Mayor Gerald was also past President of the Jaycees, past President of the State Jaycees, charter member of Mullins Rotary Club, member of the Marion Civitan Club, Council of Pee Dee Regional Government, and member of SC Automobile Dealers Association.
Some of Mayor Gerald’s awards include: Honorary 1st Sergeant Award for Leadership and Support of Company A 1st Battalion 263 Armor, Marion, SC, Catholic Men’s Club “Man of the Year” in 1987, Board of Directors Award in 1995 from Historic Marion Revitalization Association, Jaycee Downtown Development Association Award, Community Service Award in 1995 from the Marion Chamber of Commerce, Public Service award in 1996, American Hometown Leadership Award in 1999. Mayor Gerald received the “Silver Palmetto Award” from the Municipal Association of SC on February 18, 2009. In addition Railroad Avenue in Marion was renamed Bobby Gerald Parkway.
Surviving are his wife, Frances Harrelson Gerald of the home; son, Donny Gerald and his wife Paige, of Marion; daughters, Kim Gerald Turner and her husband, Talbert, of Irmo, SC and Sonya Gerald Herren and her husband, Greg, of Marietta, GA; brothers, Zack Gerald of Florence, SC and Joe Gerald of Sumter, SC; sister, Mildred Love of Florence, SC; grandchildren, Tal Turner, Corbin Bailey, Anslee Turner, Ella Grace Gerald, and Anne Gregory Herren.
Memorials may be made to the City of Marion Fire Department, 107 E. Bond Street, Marion, 29571, or to Marion Baptist Church New Organ Fund, 106 South Main Street, Marion, 29571.
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