Richard P. Moses

Richard Phillips Moses, 87, widower of Eleanor Ruth “Tat” Burke Moses, died Sunday, July 21, 2013, at his home.

Born in Sumter, he was a son of the late Henry Phillips and Charlotte Virginia Emmanuel Moses. A former mayor of Sumter, Mr. Moses made a name for himself serving in many capacities on the national and statewide health care scene. He was the first non-hospital administrator to serve as a trustee and chairman of the board for the South Carolina Hospital Association in 1979. He was a member of the House of Delegates of the American Hospital Association, an honorary member of the American College of Hospital Administrators and published a book on hospital trustee leadership. He was chairman of the AHA’s Congress of Hospital Trustees in 1992.

Nicknamed “Doc” Moses, he served on the Tuomey board for more than 25 years, serving in the 1970s, 80s and 90s, and as chairman several times. He was a past president of the Sumter County Development Board, the Sumter Chamber of Commerce, the Sumter Jaycees and the S.C. Hospital Advisory Council. The S.C. Hospital Association awarded him the Distinguished Service Award in 1977, and he received the Southeastern Hospital Conference’s Distinguished Service Award for Excellence in 1990.

Moses also served on the first board when The Tuomey Foundation was created in 1995. He was recognized in 2009 for his continued dedication to Tuomey by the Foundation Board, which named him a lifetime member of the Foundation’s Board of Governors. He previously served on the board of directors for the Carolina’s Hospital and Health Services, and was the chairman of that board in 1983. He was on the initial board of directors for SunHealth Inc. and SunHealth Network. He was a member of the board of directors of the Municipal Association of South Carolina, and a member of the State College Board of Trustees serving Lander, Francis Marion, and College of Charleston. He was a former member of the board of Solomon’s Home, Sumter-Shaw Community Counsel and the Sumter County Disability and Special Needs Board.

A graduate of the University of North Carolina, Moses was a veteran of the U.S. Navy Air Corps and a longtime Sumter real estate broker and businessman. He was a member of Temple Sinai, where he served as former president of the men’s group and was warden of the Sumter Jewish Cemetery. He was a former president of the state and local Jaycees, where he was awarded “Young Man of the Year.” He was a member of the Sumter Rotary Club and the Mt. Vernon Coffee Club. He was a former referee of High School and Division II college football. He was an Eagle Scout.

He left a legacy of wonderful times spent at the beach and the mountains for his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

The family would like to express their deep appreciation to his caregivers, Katherine Geter, Vivian Franklin, Lydia Woods and Stacey Cooper.

Surviving are two sons, Dr. Henry P. Moses (Linda) of Sumter and Perry Weinberg (Denise) of Greenville; one daughter, Mary Moses Deakin of Sumter; two brothers, Robert A. Moses (Clara) of Sumter and Herbert A. Moses (Annabel) of Raleigh, N.C.; one sister, Octavia (Ta) Mahon of Sumter; six grandchildren, Whitney Moses Przybyla (Adam), Charlotte Deakin Hale (Mark), John Frederick Deakin II (Marissa), Caroline Moses Zitzke (Ryan), Helen Moses Trammell (Ben) and George Davis Weinberg; and six great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by a daughter, Eleanor Phillips Moses.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Temple Sinai with Rabbi Sanford Marcus officiating. Burial will follow in the Jewish Cemetery.

Pallbearers will be nephews, Steve Moses, Dr. James DuRant, Richard “Dick” Mahon and John Jones Jr., T. Randy McElveen and Jay Cox.

Honorary pallbearers will be members of the Mt. Vernon Coffee Club.

The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. today at 110 Conyers St.

Memorials may be made to Temple Sinai, 13 Church St., Sumter, SC 29150; to the Tuomey Foundation, 102 N. Main St., Sumter, SC 29150; or to Solomon’s Home, 620 N. Guignard Drive, Sumter, SC 29150.

Online condolences may be sent to www.sumterfunerals.com.

Elmore Hill McCreight Funeral Home & Crematory, 221 Broad Street, Sumter, is in charge of the arrangements (803) 775-9386.