Former longtime Aiken County state lawmaker Roland Smith was laid to rest on Saturday, remembered by Gov. Henry McMaster for his "lifetime of service."
Smith died at age 92 on June 30.
Smith was born Feb. 26, 1933, in Aiken. A Korean War veteran, Smith was a retired rural mailman, minister and businessman who was elected to represent District 84 in the South Carolina House in 1988 and retired in 2014 after serving more than two decades.
In the House, Smith was chairman of the House Ethics Committee and sat on the powerful House Ways and Means budget-writing committee.
Smith's obituary said he was also chair of the Beech Island Rural Community Water District board for 10 years, and served on the Aiken County School Board for six years, four of which he was vice chair.
His obituary also describes Smith as an "avid bicyclist."
"Above everything else was a dedicated and loving husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather," his obituary said.
Smith married Peggy, his wife, in 1953.
They had three children: Garry, who served in the House with his father, Todd and Caroline. Smith is also survived by five grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
In Smith's hometown newspaper, the Aiken Standard, Aiken Rep. Bill Taylor called Smith a "statesman, not a political showman." Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey, of Edgefield, said Smith was "devoted to the Valley."
Smith told the newspaper in 2014, “I’ve been blessed to be a part of all of this. I’ve always tried to do the right thing, and I hope that’s the legacy I’m leaving behind.”
On Saturday, McMaster directed that flags on state buildings and the Capitol be lowered.
The Governor directs that the flags atop the State Capitol, state buildings and buildings of the political subdivisions be flown at half-staff from sunrise until sunset on Saturday, July 5, 2025, in honor of James Roland Smith. pic.twitter.com/M8nvMm8NFd
— SC Governor Press (@scgovernorpress) July 3, 2025
