Porter Brawley Rose

Marion Porter Brawley Rose, 80, husband of Ann Roe Rose, passed away on Tuesday, May 24th, 2022. Porter was born March 4, 1942, in Greenville, SC, the third son of the late Bennett Smedes Rose and Patricia Brawley Rose. He was followed by his sister, Patricia four years later. Porter was fortunate to grow up in Greenville during the rapidly changing post WWII years and attended Greenville public schools, graduating from Greenville High in 1959.

His older brothers, Bennett and Jack, blazed many trails for him growing up, some of them well off the beaten path. He, and they, survived nonetheless and eventually grew up to get educated and push on the wheels of economic progress.

Porter’s education culminated with BA and MBA degrees from the University of South Carolina, where he was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity.

Relying on the scant bit of real knowledge his degrees had provided him, he took a job in the Investment Division of Liberty Life Insurance Co., which became his professional home for the next thirty years. These years provided him with a continually interesting, challenging and rewarding experience. Along the way he earned the designation of Chartered Financial Analyst and was named Distinguished alumnus of USC’s Moore School of Business.

After leaving Liberty Life in 1997, Porter joined Azalea Capital as a partner and spent the next ten years in the private equity investment arena. These too were enjoyable years and helped broaden his business perspective.

Aside from the daily work commitments, Porter and his wife Ann (mostly Ann) were busy parenting two lovely daughters, Marion and Elizabeth. Through a succession of dwellings, cars, pets and other extras, they managed to successfully shepherd the girls to adulthood.

As any of his family and friends will attest, Porter enjoyed sporting activities and was an avid hunter, fisherman and conservationist. He touched the lives of many with his love of the outdoors. He had a profound respect for and love of nature and found sanctuary and communion with God on the waters and in the woods. From his many hours spent rocking on the porch of his and Ann’s creek house at Litchfield, Porter accumulated a long list of bird species and became very knowledgeable about many. Although he was a socially acceptable golf and tennis player, his sporting enjoyment came more from field, stream and ocean.

Porter also found time to give back to his community and state through serving as a member of many boards and organizations over the years. He was a member of Christ Church where he served as Chair of the Christ Church Endowment Board, served on the boards of the South Carolina Nature Conservancy, the Peace Center, Greenville Country Club and the Greenville Downtown Development Corp. He was a member of the Poinsett Club where he served as President, as well as a member of the Poinsett Investment Club, the Cotillion Club, Pawleys Island Yacht Club and the St. Andrews Society. He was a member of Ducks Unlimited, National Wild Turkey Federation and a lifetime member of Delta Waterfowl.

The last few months of Porter’s life have been bittersweet because the man—who wasn’t known for being particularly sentimental—became more comfortable expressing his love and affection with Ann and his girls. They shared many days and nights just being together as a family. They thank God for that sweet gift. During his illness, Porter, his girls and his “Annie” developed a deep love and connection that will be some of their most cherished memories. One of his last conversations with his girls was his telling the chaplain at the hospital that, to him, family was everything.

He had a unique passion for living life to its fullest. He loved being with friends and family and always had a great time doing whatever came his way. Fondly known as “Pop” to his 6 grandchildren whom he loved dearly, he had a genuine interest in every aspect of their lives.

Surviving are his wife of 56 years, Ann; daughter Marion and her husband William Crawford and their son Brawley and his wife Sterling, and daughters McKoy and Marion Caroline (MC); daughter Elizabeth and her husband James McKissick and their daughters Perrin and Sallie and son Powers. Porter is also survived by a sister Patricia (Trish) Rose Gilmore, and a brother Bennett Rose and his wife Andie and a brother Jack Rose and his wife Margaret; and his brother-in-law Tom Roe.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday, June 2nd at 3:00pm at Christ Church Episcopal, Greenville, South Carolina. The family will receive visitors after the service at the home of Marion and William Crawford, 422 Crescent Avenue.

Memorials may be made in his memory to the charity of your choice or:

Christ Church Episcopal, 10 North Church Street, Greenville, SC 29601;

Or Ducks Unlimited Memorial Contribution, One Waterfowl Way, Memphis, TN 38120

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.mackeycenturydrive.com for the Rose family.