Fred Randolph Fanning, Jr., affectionately known by his family and friends as Tony, graduated from the University of South Carolina with an A.B. degree in 1936, and a juris doctor degree in 1938, having been chosen for two leadership fraternities — Blue Key in academic school and Phi Delta Phi in law school. He was admitted to the bar in 1938 and practiced law from 1938 until 1990. He was a member of the Orangeburg County Bar where he served as president in 1964, a member of the South Carolina Bar Association and the American Bar Association.
Fred R. Fanning, Jr., was municipal judge of the City of Orangeburg from 1954 until 1980. He served his country in the U.S. Army Air Corps in World War II. He also served as Chairman of the South Carolina Railroad Commission from 1981 to 1991.
The interests of Tony Fanning were widespread and varied. He loved golf and was a member of the Country Club of Orangeburg serving as the President for two different terms. He was a member of the Woodmen of the World and the Orangeburg County Democratic Party where he was secretary for many years. Tony loved God and served Him as a member of Holy Trinity Catholic Church and served Him as he helped so many people as a lawyer without compensation or praise and as a genuinely “good” man.
He is survived by his widow, Sarah Johnston Fanning, by his daughter Mary Fanning Taylor, predeceased by his son, Fred R. Fanning III, by his son-in-law, Warley Graham Taylor, and by the light of his later years, his granddaughter, Sarah Christine Taylor, whom he affectionately called “Salley”.