Reggie Malphrus

Reginald "Reggie" Leon Malphrus, 63, of Ridgeland, South Carolina, passed away Wednesday, August 21, 2024, after a long battle with cancer. 

He was born on September 27, 1960, to Mr. Leon and Carolyn Hubbard Malphrus, in Savannah, Georgia.

He graduated from Thomas Heyward Academy in 1979 where he lettered in football and basketball. While in high school, he played the role of Abbot in the Oscar-winning film The Great Santini (1979). 

After he graduated high school, he entered into a career as a professional firefighter and worked with Hilton Head Island Fire and Rescue for 34 years. He was an expert driver for emergency vehicles which he was rumored at times to drive on two wheels. 

After his retirement he worked full time at Turkey Hill Plantation doing what he loved the most. He served many positions while working there, including his favorites as senior equipment manager and quail hunt guide. He worked there part time or full time for over 15 years until just months before he passed. 

He was a loving and devoted father to his children and he cherished the time he spent with them. He was also dedicated to his extended family and friends and was a fixture at family gatherings. He spent countless hours with his friends at “The Shedd.”  His idea of fine dining was to eat at the Waffle House. 

Reggie was an avid outdoorsman. He loved spending time hunting, boating, driving tractors, shooting clays, and perfecting his long range marksmanship skills. He also was involved in the Outdoor Dream Foundation which assists children with cancer in making their hunting dreams come true.

Reggie lived life to the fullest at his own speed which all who knew him knew was wide open. Some of his fondest memories were driving a NASCAR race car, pulling his children on a tube a little too fast, and hosting friends and family at his house, where he was always the life of the party. He fought cancer with the same upbeat determination that he lived his life. 

He is survived by his mother Carolyn Degler, his daughters Jessica Malphrus Goodman (m. Josh), and Jamie Malphrus (m. Lauren), his step daughter Brielle Jungblut, his "sister" Kim Malphrus, his fiancé Danielle Mace, and his half brother Roy Prescott. 

He was preceded in death by his father Leon Malphrus and his beloved dog Pearl. 

A memorial service will be held on Tuesday, August 27, 2024, at Ridgeland Baptist Church, 1448 Grays Highway, Ridgeland, SC at 2pm. The family will receive friends beginning at 12:30pm until the hour of service.

Following the memorial service at Ridgeland Baptist Church, there will be a celebration of life at the Lake House at Turkey Hill Plantation, 2215 Log Hall Road, Ridgeland, SC.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his honor to the Outdoor Dream Foundation, P.O. Box 802, Anderson, SC 29622. 

 https://outdoordream.org/donate

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