Obituary of Charlie Ray "C. Ray" Miles

LUGOFF-A service to celebrate the life of Charlie Ray “C. Ray” Miles, 87, will be held Friday at 3:00 PM at Spears Creek Baptist Church with burial to follow in the Miles Family Cemetery. The Rev. Greg Sweet and the Rev. Stewart Kidd will officiate. The family will receive friends Thursday 4:30 – 7:00 PM at Powers Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Salem United Methodist Church, PO Box 66, Elgin SC 29045.

Mr. Miles, husband of 47 years to the late Shelby Jean Stockman Miles, passed away on Saturday, March 19, 2022. Born in Kershaw County, he was the son of the late Fred and Lula Viola Goff Miles. C. Ray founded C. Ray Miles Construction Co., Inc. in 1966 and it is still in operation today. Additionally, he also owned and operated Lugoff Sand Company, Inc. and Midlands Machinery, Inc. He also created Turtle Creek Farm, LP, which raised cattle and buffalo. He was a lifelong member of Salem United Methodist Church, where he contributed in various areas over the years. 

 C. Ray served in many capacities and received many awards during his long career. He was the 1990 Elgin Citizen of the Year, 1993 Agri-Business Person of the Year, 2004 Kershaw County Chamber of Commerce President’s Award recipient and 2009 Conservationist of the Year. He formerly served as a member of the SC Cattlemen’s Association, Kershaw County Zoning Board, Associated General Contractors (AGC) Board and West Wateree Rotary Club. He was listed in Who’s Who of the South in 1977 and 1988. He was a current member of the Kershaw County Farm Bureau Board and also a SC State Constable. He was a charter member of The Possom Breeders Club.

He was well known and highly respected in the road construction industry throughout South Carolina. C. Ray was an honorable, fair, highly intelligent and hard-working man who enjoyed a challenge. He was a unique individual and a great story teller, with a wonderful sense of humor, who touched many lives over the years. He definitely left his mark on our world and he will be forever missed.

Left to cherish his memory are his children, Rajena Miles of Lugoff, Charlie Ray “C.R.” Miles, Jr. (Debbie) of Lugoff and Shannon Miles Smith (Chris) of Lugoff; sister, Lynette Barwick (Wayne) of Lugoff; brother, Kenneth Miles (Fannie) of Lugoff; grandchildren, Charlie Ray Miles III (Jackie), Casey Miles (Shana), Chandler Miles (Susanmarie), Christian Ray Smith and Shelby Elaine Smith; and great-grandchildren, Charlie Ray Miles IV, Harper Ann Miles and Hudson Thomas Miles, with a fourth great-grandchild on the way. He was also survived by a special cousin and friend, Judy G. Groves. He was predeceased by a sister, Gladys Ruth Miles.

The family would like to extend their sincere appreciation to the staff of Son-Shine Christian Caregiving – Melissa Hinson, Patricia “Sissy” Branham, Melinda Williams, Penny Mattox, Renee Pruitt and Leroy and Monica McClinton. Their loving care allowed our Daddy to remain in his home for the past 3 ½ years and we are forever grateful.