Edward Randolph Stone was born July 3, 1918, in West Pelzer, South Carolina, to parents Maggie Cothran and Hugh Edward Stone. He graduated from Ellen Woodside High School in Greenville and the University of South Carolina and earned his Juris Doctor from the University of South Carolina School of Law in 1948.
Stone practiced law with W. Ed Bowen for several years before opening his private practice in 1955. He was a member of the U.S. Navy in the Pacific prior to World War II and in the U.S. Army Air Corps in Europe during World War II.
He served as senior warden and vestry at Christ Church Episcopal, board chair of Christ Church Episcopal School, on the board of Converse College and chair of the Canoeing Section of the Sierra Club. He testified at the Congressional hearing that led to the Chattooga River being included in the Wild and Scenic Rivers system.
Randolph had a real passion for nature and especially white water rivers. Randolph began paddling canoes in the Chattooga River in the early 1970’s. He and another lawyer in Greenville, Ted Snyder, were instrumental in having the Chattooga River designated as a wild and scenic river by the Untied State Congress, which prohibits any development in this wonderful area. On October 29, 1973, Randolph traveled to Washington to testify before a Subcommittee on National Parks and Recreation. Because of Randolph’s love for this river, it remains in its original pristine state and will forever.
Stone is survived by his wife, Joanna Batson Stone; sons, Kirk Louis Stone and Roger Hugh Stone; daughter, Dena Stone Benedict; and grandchildren, Jeffrey Stone Benedict, Kathleen Joanna Benedict, Kirk Louis Stone, Jr., Nicholson Thomas Stone, Edward Randolph Stone, II, Caroline Sullivan Stone, Roger Hugh Stone, Jr., and Michael Batson Stone.