A prominent Dillon citizen has passed away.

Judge William J. McLeod, 91, died at his residence Saturday, May 8, 2010.

Visitation was from 5-7 p.m. Monday, May 10, 2010 at Kannaday Funeral Home in Dillon.

Funeral services are at 4:00 p.m. Tuesday, May 11, 2010 at Main Street United Methodist Church with burial in Greenlawn Cemetery, directed by Kannaday Funeral Home.

William J. McLeod, the son of Dr. W.R. and Ellen Byrd McLeod, was born March 24, 1919, in Timmonsville, South Carolina. After graduating from Timmonsville public schools, he attended Furman University from 1936-1939. He entered the University of South Carolina School of Law in 1939, graduating in 1942. While at Furman, he was a member of the student council for 3 years, a member of Kappa Alpha fraternity and a member and chairman of the Pan Hellenic Council. At law school, he was a member of Phi Delta Phi legal fraternity and of ODK.

In April of 1942, Judge McLeod entered active duty with the U.S. Marine Corps, serving until 1946, with 26 months in the Pacific Theater participating in the Marshall Islands and Okinawa campaigns. He continued his service by joining the U.S. National guard in 1949, retiring in 1975 as a Brigadier General. His National Guard unit was called into active duty during the Korean War and remained on active duty for 22 months.

Judge McLeod began the practice of law in Dillon, South Carolina in June, 1946 and was a general practitioner until his election as a Family Court Judge in 1978. He was active in civic affairs as a member and past president of the Lions Club, City Recorder, County Board of Education, president and member of the Hospital Advisory Board, Library Board, Citizen of the Year in 1978, and Dillon County Veteran of the Year in 2006.

He was a member of the South Carolina House of Representatives from 1966 to 1978, where he was Vice-Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, a member of the General Joint Conference Committee and other Senate and house joint committees.

Judge McLeod was a member of Main Street United Methodist Church where he had been a Sunday School teacher for more than 50 years and had served in many other positions.

He was married to the former Sara Alice Carmichael of Hamer, South Carolina. They have two children, William James McLeod, Jr. and his wife Gayle McLeod and Martha McLeod, and five grandchildren: James Tyler Lee, Jr., Esquire and his wife Cari Kepner Lee, William McLeod Lee, William James McLeod, III, Emily Kathryn McLeod and Sara Ellen McLeod.

Memorials may be made to Main Street United Methodist Church, 401 East Main St., Dillon, SC, 29536.

You may sign the guest book at: www.kannadayfuneralhome.com