Three Weeks After Hurricane Helene: Honoring Lives Lost in South Carolina

Three Weeks Later: Remembering the Lives Lost to Hurricane Helene

South Carolina is mourning the devastation and loss of lives following Hurricane Helene, the deadliest storm to hit the Palmetto State since 1989. Today, we pay tribute to three of the 50 lives lost: Christopher Mark Owens, Derrill Eugene Pitts, and Lester A. Brown.
These brave souls not only left a void in their respective families, but in their communities as well.

The Legacy of Christopher Mark Owens

Christopher Mark Owens, who passed away at 64, spent his childhood cosseted by greenery and landscaping—a passion that he would carry throughout his life. On September 27, Owens and friend Derrill Pitts were found lifeless in a golf cart, victims of a fallen tree while assessing storm damage in the Earles Fort Road neighborhood, Landrum. Owens had started grass cutting for local neighbors at a young age, refusing an employment offer from his own father, in a bid to shape his own path, reveals Mark, Owens’ brother.

The adventurous spirit who had rolled with multiple fractures in both arms during his childhood, also worked part-time in Red Fox Country Club and Tryon Country Club during high school for the sheer satisfaction of being close to the greenery and even mowing the golf courses. Owens later obtained a degree in golf course management from Catawba Valley Technical College and served as a greens superintendent at various golf courses in the Carolinas.

His indomitable spirit was evident as he continued to give back to the community by helping with lawn care, despite a severe injury from an excavator accident, the consequent double knee replacement surgery, and the unfortunate demise of his father. Owens also led bible studies at Tyger River Prison Ministries, battling bile duct cancer, simultaneously seeking a liver donor around the Charleston area.

A service in Christopher Owen’s memory was conducted on October 12, at First Baptist Church of Landrum. Christopher’s legacy continues through his brother Mark, who says, “Chris found a way to weave himself into the fabric of everyone he met, becoming an integral and irreplaceable thread that bound us all together.”

A Tribute to Derrill Eugene Pitts

Derrill Eugene Pitts, 70, was a successful real estate developer, multi-business owner, sports coach, and a beloved family man. The Newberry-born gentleman spent his final moments with his friend Christopher Owens, while trying to gauge the severity of storm damage in Landrum.

A bona fide family man, Pitts took pleasure in coaching his younger offspring in sports and looked forward to trips to Destin, Florida, with his wife, Karen. His friends and family remember him as a patient, thoughtful, and diligent man. A private graveside service was conducted for Pitts’ family on October 3, at Fort Prince Memorial Gardens, Wellford. Leaving behind an impressive legacy and a grieving family, Pitts will forever hold a cherished spot in our memories.

Remembering Lester A. Brown, or better known as “Sonny”

Lester A. Brown, 79, popularly known as “Sonny” by friends, was vibrant, charming, and full of life. He met his untimely end on October 1, following a vehicle crash when a tree crashed across Highway 292 near Inman. Brown’s positive and jovial persona resonated in his workplace at Honeywell, Greer, South Carolina, as well as within his community.

The funeral service for “Sonny” Brown took place on October 8, at The John Stinson Woodward Memorial Chapel in Spartanburg, where an outpouring of love and heartfelt prayers marked the final sendoff for this cheerful soul.

As we remember these exemplary lives, let’s strive to keep their memories alive and find strength in unity to rebuild our communities, one day at a time. Our collective spirit can overcome adversity and together we keep hope alive as we mend from the aftermath of Hurricane Helene.