Pat Conroy memorial an ‘outpouring of love’ in Beaufort

Hundreds turned out Saturday for a public memorial at the Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park in Beaufort honoring best-selling author and Beaufort’s adopted son Pat Conroy.

They brought lawn chairs and lined both sides of the wide green space overlooking the park’s concrete and brick-covered stage as speakers read excerpts from his work and recounted a few “Pat” stories along the way.

“God did we laugh,” said longtime Conroy friend Bernie Schein.

Schein read an imagined conversation with his friend that he had written — a conversation in which, at times, he imagined Conroy in heaven entertaining God himself.

“God did we laugh,” he said again.

In addition to Schein, those who spoke included South Carolina historian Walter Edgar; USC Beaufort English professor and author Ellen Malphrus; New York Times best-selling novelist Patti Callahan Henry; and Conroy’s widow, novelist Cassandra King.

Citadel classmate John Warley served as the event’s master of ceremonies, and Marlena Smalls of the Hallelujah Singers opened the informal gathering with a melody of folk songs.

Also present at the event were three of Conroy’s siblings, including Kathy Conroy Harvey, Tim Conroy and Mike Conroy.

Hosted by the University of South Carolina Beaufort Center for the Arts and the city of Beaufort, the free public event was a way for many readers, neighbors and just general fans of the iconic Beaufort resident to come together.

“This outpouring of love is very, very special,” said King to those who attended. “It speaks to me and speaks to how Pat meant so much to you.”

Sandra Simmons, of Seabrook, a self-described Conroy fan who read “whatever he published, whenever he published it” was there Saturday with her daughter, Melinda Ackerman, of Beaufort.

Simmons said the author and his books had “meant a lot” to her, particularly during some of the more difficult times of her life.

“I thought I was the only one who had had pain in their life,” she said, laughing.

Simmons said Conroy would never be forgotten.

“He’ll always be here with us,” she said. “Every time you see a winding river or Spanish moss blowing on the breeze, you’ll think of him.”

This story was originally published May 15, 2016 at 11:37 AM with the headline "Pat Conroy memorial an ‘outpouring of love’ in Beaufort."