James Stuart Land Jr.

James Stuart Land, Jr., husband of the late Doris Jackson Land and son of the late Luvie Craps and James Stuart Land, Sr., died Saturday, June 11, 2016, at the Abbeville Nursing Home. Born in Columbia, SC on January 2, 1919, Mr. Land graduated from Columbia High School in 1936 and received his B.S. degree in Civil Engineering in 1940 from Clemson College. During World War II, he proudly served in the United States Army Infantry. Mr. Land was employed as a civil engineer by the South Carolina Highway Department. He was the first executive director of the Abbeville Housing Authority and served in this capacity for 40 years. Mr. Land owned and operated Land's "Gifts of Distinction" on the square in Abbeville. After moving to Abbeville in 1949, he became an active member of the Abbeville Presbyterian Church, serving as Sunday School teacher, Sunday School Superintendent, and on Diaconate and Session where he served as clerk. Stuart faithfully served Abbeville Presbyterian Church through-out his life. In 1951, he was named Jaycee 'Man of the Year" in recognition for instituting public housing in Abbeville. Stuart served as Chairman of the Planning and Zoning Commission for 12 years, was a former member of The Lion's Club and Rotary International. Having served for 40 years on the Board of Directors, for the Abbeville Savings and Loan, he was named Director Emeritus. Abbeville was truly his home; he was enthusiastically active in civic and social affairs. Mr. Land is survived by his sister-in-law, Eleanor J. Carmichael; nieces Meredith C. Trask and Lucia C. Bishop (Thurmond); nephew, Duncan Carmichael (Melanie); great-nephews, John Andrew Bishop, Stuart Land Trask, William Bishop, and Webster Trask; great-nieces, Mary Hagen Carmichael, Anna Frances Bishop Bond (Matthew), Caroline Bishop and Katherine Carmichael. In addition to his parents and wife, he was preceded in death by his great-nephew, Leith Paul Trask, III. A service to celebrate Mr. Land's life will be held 1:30PM, Sunday, July 10, 2016, in the Abbeville Presbyterian Church with the Rev. Dr. Greg Henley officiating. Memorial contributions, in memory of Mr. Land, may be sent to the Abbeville Presbyterian Church, Building and Grounds Fund, PO Box 733, Abbeville, SC 29620. A message of condolence may be sent to the family by visiting www.harrisfuneral.com. HARRIS FUNERAL HOME AND CREMATION SERVICES of Abbeville is assisting the Land family.