James R. Council, Jr., 85, of Orangeburg, SC, went to be with the Lord surrounded by family on March 23, 2026. 

James was born in Orangeburg, SC, to James Roger Council, Sr. and Dorothy Long Council. From a young age, James was always getting into mischief with his friends in the neighborhood and the Edisto beach house. He was an alumnus of Orangeburg High School, Class of 1958 and Clemson University, Class of 1962 with a degree in ceramic engineering. 

During his time at Clemson, he met the love of his life, Brenda Hayes, whom he married two short years later. Following the wedding, the newlyweds moved to Knoxville, Tennessee, where James started his career as an engineer. It was a very short time before his father and uncle needed him back home in Orangeburg to help run the family business, Council Lumber Company. James spent many years running the logging side of the business. 

Upon his father’s death, he took over responsibility for running the entire furniture square operation. Around 1980, James was forced to pivot his business due to foreign imports of lumber and designed a boiler plant using waste wood products to produce steam. CLC went on to become one of the largest recyclers in South Carolina.

 No matter how busy James was with work, he always prioritized family and friends time. Many wonderful memories were made at the “River House” on the coast near Beaufort, SC and in the mountains of North Carolina. The number of children James taught to water ski and horseback ride are too numerous to count. Anyone that he shared his special places with was made to feel welcome. He never tired of shrimping, crabbing and sitting on the front porch looking out over the water. 

Retirement took the couple to The Villages, Florida, near their daughter, Beth. James was either on the Florida rivers in his boat or on the back of a horse. Shortly after moving, they found a church they loved and lived out their 63-year love story together.

 He was preceded in death by his brother, Thomas Z. Way. James is survived by his wife, Brenda Hayes; his children James Roger (Kirk), daughter Elizabeth (James); grandchildren Katherine, Corey (Jordan), and Kelsey (Cody), Kelley (mother of Corey and Kelsey), great-grandchildren Sullivan, Caroline, and Teddy as well as numerous relatives across the southeast. 

Services will be held at 11:00 am, Saturday, April 18th, 2026 at Silver Spring Shores Presbyterian Church, 674 Silver Road, Ocala, FL 34472. A graveside service at 11:00 am, Saturday, May 16th, 2026 at Memorial Park Cemetery, 2720 Broughton Street, Orangeburg, SC 29115. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be sent to Tunnels to Towers.