Coronavirus claims life of lobbyist, son of former South Carolina governor
A Camden legislative lobbyist and son of former governor John West has died of complications from the coronavirus, putting him among at least nine people in South Carolina who have succumbed to the disease this month.
Jack West of Camden passed away Wednesday afternoon, according to a message from his church to his fellow parishioners, as well as an email from a top official with Winthrop University.
“The family of Jack West wanted you to know of his passing today from complications from the Covid-19 virus,’’ according to the notice from Bethesda Presbyterian Church. The notice said his wife is under quarantine but has had no symptoms.
His passing marks the first coronavirus-related death in Kershaw County, a small county northeast of Columbia that has been ground-zero for the virus since it first was confirmed in South Carolina three weeks ago.
The virus has swept through South Carolina since state health officials reported the first cases March 6. All told, state health officials have confirmed more than 400 cases of coronavirus, a disease that attacks the lungs and makes breathing difficult. State regulators confirmed Thursday that the virus has killed nine people.
West’s condition has been the source of great concern in Camden and Kershaw County since he was hospitalized earlier this month.
Well respected in Camden as a community leader, West, 71, most recently served as a lobbyist for the S.C. Children’s Coalition, the S.C. Stevedores Association, the Carolina Sporting Dog Association and the S.C. Cities Coalition, state records show.
His father, John West, was a popular governor in the early 1970s, who later served as U.S. ambassador to Saudi Arabia. The elder West, a Democrat, died more than a decade ago.
Brodie McKoy, Jack West’s stepson, said West was sick for several days before he was admitted to the hospital on Sunday March 15. He was on a ventilator the entire time he was in the hospital, ultimately succumbing to the disease just before 3 p.m. Wednesday at a Prisma hospital in Columbia, McKoy said.
McKoy, a doctor from Mt. Pleasant, said the family has no idea how West became ill with the coronavirus. His stepfather had had heart surgery several years ago, but had recovered and was in good shape, McKoy said. McKoy said because of the coronavirus threat, the family was not able to spend time with West in the hospital during his illness.
“This is a serious disease that takes lives,’’ McKoy said. “Jack was 71 years old, a fairly healthy man. He had a bypass probably five or seven years ago, but other than that, he would go walking through the woods, deer hunting, quail hunting. It’s not like he was a decrepit man in a nursing home.’’
McKoy said his stepfather was a kindly man who always supported his family.
“He would do anything for anybody,’’ McKoy said. “Whenever he would introduce me to anybody, he introduced me as his son.’’
Church officials were not immediately available, but Winthrop’s interim president, George Hynd, said West’s death brings “great sadness to the university community.’’ Jack West and his family have been boosters of Winthrop’s West Forum, founded by the former governor to train political and civic leaders.
“The West family has provided notable leadership, resources and time to this institution for decades,’’ a statement from Hynd said. “Jack continued the work at Winthrop started by his late parents, the late Governor John West and First Lady Lois West.’’
West was an attorney, Winthrop booster and active member of Bethesda Presbyterian in Camden.
During a news conference Thursday, Republican Gov. Henry McMaster choked up when asked about West’s death. He called West a “fine man, from a fine family. Those of us who knew and loved him are going to miss him. We hope that we see fewer and fewer of those cases.’’
His former pastor, John Hallman, said West was a kind person adept at making friends and bringing people together. Hallman said he received four to five calls from church members about West’s death.
‘You’d have to look long and far, to me, to find a better person,’’ Hallman said. “He was just somebody that I could count on. If I needed something done, I could call Jack. He would always do that, and he did it with a smile.’’
Bill Funderburk, a Camden lawyer and the husband of Democratic state Rep. Laurie Slade Funderburk, said West was friendly and well thought of like his governor father, but focused more on local issues than international issues.
Funderburk was a Camden High School classmate, graduating with West in 1966.
“It’s a shock to know that one of my friends has gone; this virus is taking people from all walks of life,’’ he said.
Staff Writer Joe Bustos contributed to this story.
BEHIND THE STORY
MOREWhat you should know about the coronavirus
The coronavirus is spreading in the United States. Officials are urging people to take precautions to avoid getting sick, and to avoid spreading the disease if they do contract it.
Click the drop-down icon on this card for more on the virus and what you should do to keep yourself and those around you healthy.
What is coronavirus?
Coronavirus is an infection of the respiratory system similar to the flu. Coronaviruses are a class of viruses that regularly cause illnesses among adults and children, but this outbreak has spawned a new disease called COVID-19, a particularly harsh respiratory condition that can lead to death.
Health officials believe COVID-19 spread from animals to humans somewhere in China. It spreads among humans by physical person-to-person contact, including via coughs. That’s why health officials urge sick individuals to avoid contact with other people.
For more information, visit the website for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
What are the symptoms?
Symptoms are similar to the flu and include fever, coughing and shortness of breath.
How can I stop the spread of the coronavirus?
Wash your hands regularly with soap and water, and cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze.
If you develop symptoms similar to the coronavirus, you should seek medical attention. Stay home from work or school and avoid contact with others. It can take up to 14 days after coming into contact with the virus to develop symptoms.
COVID-19 is a new condition and there’s much about the disease we still don’t understand. For now, taking precautions is the best way to stop the spread of the coronavirus.
This story was originally published March 25, 2020 at 8:12 PM.
