Benjamin Chapin Chapman

Benjamin Chapin Chapman of McClellanville passed away on June 17, 2011, at the Hospice Center of Charleston. Ben was born in Trenton, New Jersey on the sixth of October, 1941, the son of the late Ann Mangum and William McKissick Chapman. He attended the Solebury School, the Perkiomen School in Pennsylvania, and the St. Elizabeth School near Wakapala, South Dakota.He served four years in the United States Navy as a medical corpsman and two years fishing in Alaska and mining in Colorado before settling in Charleston. Here, he worked as a forester with Robert Knoth, then, spurred on by a friendship with master landscaper Robert Marvin, he became interested in horticulture which led him to his position at Middleton Place. He was head of the Horticultural Department at Middleton Place, as well as manager of Middleton Place Woodlands. As both a horticulturalist and environmentalist, Ben was an active and articulate defender of the unspoiled. He was a founding board member and second president of the Lowcountry Open Land Trust, a past board member of the Nature Conservancy (Charleston Chapter), and was instrumental in the conservation of the Santee Coastal Preserve, the Caw Caw County Park and many other Low Country properties. In retirement, his love and enjoyment of the natural world continued as before and he was happy to share his knowledge with others. As a gardener and steward he tended the grounds of both St. James Santee Brick Church and the Chapel of Ease in the Village where he was a faithful member of that congregation. Ben is survived by his beloved companion Kathleen Ireland of the home address and his daughters Ann Harleston Chapman of Denver, Colorado, and Katharine McKissick Chapman of Durango, Colorado. Also surviving are his siblings: William McKissick Chapman of Tasmania, Ellen Reilly of New York City, John Harleston Chapman of Lititz, Pennsylvania, and Alexander Gregorie Chapman of Summerville, as well as several nieces and nephews. A service will take place at the St. James Santee Brick Church on Old Georgetown Road at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, June 22, 2011. A reception will then be held at the Morrison House in McClellanville. All are invited. Interment will be at the Gregorie family cemetery near Yemassee.In lieu of flowers, contributions in his memory may be sent to St. James Santee Brick Church, P.O. Box 123, McClellanville, S.C., 29458, the Lowcountry Open Land Trust, 80 Alexander Street, Charleston, S.C., 29403, Nature Conservancy, P.O. Box 20246, Charleston, 29413, or to Gregorie Cemetery. Arrangements are by Sauls Funeral Home of Ridgeland.