Obituary of William Carl "W.C." Mobley, Jr.

W.C. was born in Bethune, where he lived out his football dreams as the star quarterback and earned the nicknames of “swivel hips” and “wild cat”. He was and remained to his last days, a devoted brother to his three siblings, though never outgrowing the classic baby brother role of class clown.

He served in the Air Force and then graduated from North Greenville Junior College and Carson Newman College. And though he put that physical education degree to good use as an educator and coach for over 47 years, he took the “rest” recommendations of the curriculum equally as seriously. He could be found with a Diet Dr. Pepper every Saturday afternoon watching the Gamecocks or the Dodgers.  He was a consummate Sunday afternoon NASCAR napper who could be snoring up a storm until the second someone attempted to change the channel at which point he would say with his full chest “quit it, I was watching that.” He was well known to be a strict, no-nonsense Colonel at Camden Military Academy, but also cared deeply for his students and players and coached many of them through more than just football. 

Often juggling multiple jobs and after school activities, he still delighted his four children with weeknight breakfast for dinner, showing off his skills as a perfectly-crisped-edge pancake professional. He repeatedly taught his family to never let him be the one to run to the store for that one thing we needed real quick, as he never once in his life did a single thing real quick. He was an early riser that knew the only way to wake up teenagers on vacation was to waft the smell of simmering freshly baked bacon through the camper. 

He loved Jesus with all of his heart and was a committed church member, there every time the doors were open. He was a dedicated member of the Gideons and was known to have numerous bibles on hand to give to anyone he had the opportunity to witness to. He shared his singing talent on Sundays as a member of the choir and on every other day of the week by embellishing oldies, with accompanying dance moves, performed in public to the purposeful embarrassment of his family. 

He was an overprotective father whose first answer was always No, whose children quickly learned to tell him “Mom said I could” before asking him anything, whether that was actually true or not. He was a playful grandfather who couldn’t ever say no to his grandchildren even though that resulted in a broken back from a sledding accident.

WC passed away at home on Wednesday, March 6, 2024. Surviving are his wife of 44 years, Dena Bryant Mobley; children, Breanna Karns (Ben), Brandon Mobley (Crisna), Bridgette Clare (Aaron), and Brittany Zanelli (Laurence); sister, Elaine Mobley Jackson; brother, Sam Mobley (Anne); and grandchildren, Case Clare, Ellis Clare, Finn Karns, and Sophie Karns.  He was predeceased by a sister, Tina Mobley Horton.

A service to celebrate the life of Willam Carl Mobley, Jr., 78, will be held on Monday, March 11, 2024 at 2:00 p.m. at Lugoff First Baptist Church.  The Rev. Doug Huntsinger, the Rev. Greg Sweet, and the Rev. Donnie Padgett will officiate.  The family will receive friends on Sunday, March 10, 2024 from 4:30-6:30 p.m. at Powers Funeral Home.  In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Lugoff First Baptist Church Building Fund or Gideons International.