G. Dewey Oxner, Jr. was born December 31, 1933, in Greenville, SC, to parents Justice G. Dewey Oxner and Frances Ruckman Oxner. He graduated from Greenville High School in 1952 and received his B.A. degree from Washington and Lee University in 1956. After receiving his J.D. degree from the USC School of Law in 1959, he was admitted to the S.C. Bar and began practice with the law firm of Haynsworth, Perry, Bryant, Marion and Johnstone in Greenville, which is now Haynsworth Sinkler Boyd, P.A. He was a shareholder emeritus and a former managing partner at the firm, where he practiced in medical malpractice and health law, products liability and consumer litigation.
Oxner loved the law, and with more than 50 years of practice, he was involved in serving the legal profession and served in many capacities of the following organizations: S.C. Bar (president, 2000–01), S.C. Bar Foundation, Defense Research Institute, S.C. Defense Trial Attorneys’ Association (president, 1976), Greenville County Bar Association (president, 1985), American College of Trial Lawyers and the S.C. Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocacy (president, 1990). He was also a member of the International Association of Defense Counsel, Federation of Insurance and Corporate Counsel, Association of Defense Trial Attorneys and the U.S. District Court Advisory Committee.
At the time of his death, he co-chaired with Justice John W. Kittredge the S.C. Supreme Court Chief Justice Commission on the Profession, ensuring that the practice of law remains a high calling that serves clients and the public good. Dewey received the Tommy Thomason Award from the Greenville County Bar Association, the DuRant Distinguished Public Service Award from the S.C. Bar Foundation, the Robert Hemphill Award from the S.C. Defense Trial Attorneys’ Association, the USC School of Law Alumni Association Compleat Lawyer Platinum Award, and the Jeter Rhodes, Jr. Trial Lawyer of the Year Award from the American Board of Trial Advocates.
Oxner was an active member of Christ Church and served his community as a volunteer to raise money for the United Way, YMCA Camp Greenville, the Peace Center and the Parkinson’s Disease Program of the Greenville Health System. He was a member of the Peace Center Endowment Committee, past chair of the Lawyers Division of the United Way, past president of the Poinsett Club and the Cotillion Club, and served on the board of trustees of Faith Memorial Chapel in Cedar Mountain, NC.
G. Dewey Oxner, Jr. died on July 7, 2013. He is survived by his wife, Louise E. Oxner; his children, Frances O. Robertson, G. Dewey Oxner III and Perry E. Oxner; and nine grandchildren, Helen, Dewey (IV), Louise, Glenn (II) and Oliver Oxner; Sally and Caroline Robertson; and Earle (Jr.) and Diana Oxner.