Dillon County officials want late coroner’s son to fill post

By Jamie Rogers
Morning News

Dillon County officials have asked Gov. Mark Sanford to appoint Randy Grimsley the county’s new coroner, filling the role his late father held for more than two decades.

Grimsley’s father, Daniel G. Grimsley, held the position until his death Monday.

“We sent a letter to the governor requesting that (Grimsley’s) son Randy be appointed to fill the unexpired term of his dad,” David Mobley, interim Dillon County administrator, said.

Mobley said legal counsel from the governor’s office instructed Dillon County Attorney Dan Shine to write a letter stating the request.

Mobley and Shine have been in contact with the governor’s office since Tuesday in an effort to obtain guidance on how to go about filling the coroner’s position.

Randy Grimsley, 53, one of the late coroner’s two sons, is a local EMS worker who served as his father’s deputy coroner and had been helping with the duties associated with the Dillon County Coroner’s Office during his father’s hospitalization.

Randy Grimsley also has been the director of Dillon County EMS since 1979, according to his personnel file.

Dan Grimsley, who had been Dillon County coroner for 25 years, died at a Florence hospital after years of declining health.

Prior to his death, Dillon city and county residents were planning a “Dan Grimsley Appreciation Day” on Friday, but the event has been canceled,  Dillon Police Chief Bobby McLean, one of the organizers of the event, said. A day of remembrance may be planned, instead, but no final decisions have been made.

Grimsley’s funeral will be at 3 p.m. Thursday at East Dillon Baptist Church.