Former Newberry County Councilman John Edward Caldwell

Mr. John Edward Caldwell of Newberry is the son of the late George and Elmira Caldwell. He was born and raised in Newberry County and attended the county's public schools. He furthered his education at Benedict College where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry and mathematics and also participated in football, baseball, and track.

Mr. Caldwell distinguished himself as a member of the United States Army where he was assigned to the Redstone Arsenal of the United States Army Missile Command as a Missile Mechanic. He was also a former math and science teacher in Spartanburg County, Ben E. Mays High School. He was employed by Independent Life and Accident Insurance Company for 32 years, where he was the first African American Staff Sales Manager in South Carolina and was honored with several awards.

John E. Caldwell was the first African-American elected to the Newberry County Council and served continuously for 32 years. Councilman Caldwell served with distinction as Chairman of the Newberry County Council from 1997 to 2003. He also represented Newberry County in positions with the National Association of Counties, as the past president of the County Governmental Association, as a member of the South Carolina Association of Counties Board of Directors, and as a member of the National Association of Counties Finance Committee.

Throughout his lifetime, Mr. Caldwell distinguished himself as a leader and a public servant in Newberry County. He was one of the first African Americans appointed to the Newberry County Memorial Hospital Board of Trustees. He also served on numerous other boards, commissions, and organizations dedicated to the people of Newberry County.

After his retirement from the Newberry County Council, Mr. Caldwell celebrated his retirement with friends and family on January 4, 2015 at the Firehouse Conference Center in Newberry. His longtime leadership service yielded a sterling record of achievement that helped to build a better County and City of Newberry for its residents.

On Oct 12, 2015, the members of the General Assembly requested that the Department of Transportation name the bridge carrying Boundary Street over the CSX and Norfolk Southern railroad tracks in the City of Newberry as the "County Councilman John E. Caldwell Bridge" in honor of former Newberry County Councilman John E. Caldwell, and further requested that the Department of Transportation erect appropriate signs or markers reflecting this designation.

John Caldwell was a faithful, dedicated, hardworking member of Bethlehem Baptist Church in Newberry, SC where he served as chairman of the deacon board and as a treasurer.

The Honorable John E. Caldwell leaves to cherish his memory, his loving wife, Patricia (Henderson) Caldwell, his son, Sean Edward (Takissa) Caldwell, one granddaughter, Brittany Shadday Caldwell, and one great-grandson, Lasean Johnathan Caldwell, all of Newberry, S.C. He is also survived by a sister, Kathleen Sligh, of Newberry, S.C. one sister-in-law, Dorothy Henderson Brown of Columbia, S.C. and a host of nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Funeral Arrangements for John E. Caldwell

Bethlehem Baptist Church

1501 College Street

Newberry, SC

803-276-1893

Friday, July 20, 2018

2:00 pm - 5:00 pm - Lie in state at Bethlehem Baptist Church

5:00 pm - 6:00 pm - Family will receive visitors

Saturday, July 21, 2018

Bethlehem Baptist Church

11:00 am Funeral Service for John Caldwell

Internment immediately following service at the Newberry Memorial Gardens.

In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting memorial gifts/donations be made to the Alzheimer's Association in memory of John E. Caldwell at https://act.alz.org. Alzheimer's Association is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization. Donations are tax-deductible. Our federal tax ID number is 13-3039601.

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