Rev. Albert "Al" L. Brodie, Jr.

Rev. Albert L. Brodie, Jr. 90, went to be with Jesus in his eternal home, on Wednesday, June 28, 2023.

Mr. Al was born in Perry, SC.  He was the son of Albert L. “Doc” and Susan “Susie” E. Salley Brodie.  Mr. Al was the brother of the late Wade M. Brodie and his wife Sylvia of Aiken, the late Amelia Ann and her husband the late Raymond Henderson, and Susan Elizabeth Sanders and her husband the late Don Sanders of Stone Mountain, GA.  Mr. Al is the father of Christopher “Chris” G. Brodie of Perry, Tracy V. Brodie of Columbia, and Michael B. (Tammy) Brodie of Salisbury, NC.  He is the grandfather of Cody Brodie and his wife Amy, Alysha Brodie and her fiancé Kurt Williams, Crystal Brodie, Jacob Brodie and his wife Mackenzie, and Grace Brodie.  Mr. Al is the great grandfather of Brianna Brodie, Callen L. Brodie, Haily Cushman, and Axel Williams.  He is the uncle of W. Martin Brodie, Jr., the late John Michael Brodie, John Albert “Bert” (Sheri) Sanders, Ramona (Dennis) Henderson Brady, Andrea Henderson, Susan Sanders Neville, and Sabrina Sanders Ricci.  Mr. Al is the great uncle of Whitley Sanders, Zachary “Zac” Sanders, Preston Sanders, Elizabeth McFadden, Emily McFadden, Britney Neville, Amanda Ricci, and Christina Ricci. Mr. Al is the great great uncle of Ava Ricci, Olivia Sanders, and Julianne Johnson. Mr. Al was affectionately known by his children and grandchildren as Papa.

Mr. Al graduated from Wagener High School in 1951, Newberry College in 1955, and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary of Fort Worth, TX in 1976.  He was an Ordained Baptist Minister.  Mr. Al was a veteran of the United States Army having served from 1955 – 1957.  He was a member of First Baptist Church Wagener.

Mr. Al served God and his community.  He served as Deacon of Perry Baptist Church and First Baptist Church of Wagener.  He served as Assistant Pastor at Broadmoor Baptist Church in Jackson, MS from 1968 – 1970.  Mr. Al served as Chaplain of SC Department of Juvenile Justice for 30 years.  He was Past President of the South Carolina Youth Workers Association and Past President of South Carolina Child Care Association.  Mr. Al was a Co-founder of Helping Hands of Aiken County, which exists to this day.  He was Co-founder of Christian Prison Ministries of Columbia.  Governor James Edwards appointed Mr. Al to the Foster Care Review Board, which he helped found in 1975; with the Board electing him as Chairman and served in this capacity for 10 years.  The Foster Care Review Board was the first established in the nation with many states establishing Review Boards patterned after the SC System.  Governor Richard Riley appointed Mr. Al to serve on the Crime and Delinquency Prevention Committee in 1980 and he served in this capacity throughout Riley’s Administration.  Mr. Al was a foster father to 33 boys over a period of 13 years and adopted 3 of them.  While working with the Department of Juvenile Justice he received a letter of commendation from Hillary Rodham Clinton, when she was an attorney with the Children’s Defense Fund for his work in attacking the practice of children being jailed and put in prison with adults in the South Carolina prison system.  Mr. Al lobbied tirelessly in the passing of laws preventing this practice.  Mr. Al served one term as the Mayor of Perry.  He was the author of three history books; A History of the Brodie Family 1754 – 1993; William and Ann Carter Tyler & Some of Their Descendants 1604 – 2008 and Your Kitchings Roots.  Mr. Al devoted his life ardently defending the causes and rights of children. 

In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to: First Baptist Church PO Box  298 Wagener, SC 29164  or Samaritans Purse Samaritan’s Purse PO Box 3000 Boone, NC 28607 or online at  https://www.samaritanspurse.org/donation-items/where-most-needed/

The Brodie family will receive friends on Friday, July 7, 2023 from 4 to 6 pm at the chapel of Blizzard Funeral Home. A Service Celebrating Mr. Al’s life will be 12:30 pm on Saturday, July 8, 2023 at First Baptist Church of Wagener. The Brodie family will honor Mr. Al’s life with a private graveside service.   

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