William Alexander Apps

William Alexander Apps (Alex) tragically departed this earth on Thursday, October 3rd, 2013 in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina. We all know this earthly life is temporal, but his was ended much too soon in a violent act that is all too commonplace in our society. Alex's passing leaves a void in the lives of not only his family and a large number of friends, but also a community. His contribution in his 25 years was experienced by many, and hopefully his loss will resonate in a way that will change the way we view this type of heinous crime. Alex was born in Savannah, Georgia on September 15th, 1988. He moved to Chelsea Plantation near Beaufort, South Carolina when he was three years old. Alex cherished his years at Chelsea where he learned to truly appreciate nature and the importance of preserving it for the future. He began his formal education and his love for learning at Sea Pines Montessori School on Hilton Head Island. He then attended Beaufort Academy in Beaufort, South Carolina from first grade through his high school graduation in 2007. The Beaufort Academy family became his extended family and support group after the loss of his father when he was fifteen and continued to be throughout his life. He was enrolled at the College of Charleston where he completed a B. A. degree in history and was nearing completion of a second degree in business with the aspiration of entering law school upon graduation. Alex had a love for history and a passion for historic preservation that extended well beyond his 25 years. This love of history led him to work for a time during his college career at the Carolina Polo & Carriage Company of Charleston where he was able to share his stories and historical knowledge of Charleston and the Low Country with guests from all over the world. Alex enjoyed traveling extensively with his parents. They had the opportunity to travel abroad and visit many countries that were once part of the "Old British Empire" as his father was English. He also enjoyed trips on his own to Germany and to France where he had an opportunity to practice his "French" extensively. Alex enjoyed many genres of music ranging from southern rock to country. With the promise from his mom that he would be glad that he did, Alex took ballroom dance lessons at a young age with a close group of friends. He continued to enjoy dancing socially into adulthood always being the first on the dance floor especially when the shag music started. His smile and jovial nature were contagious to all those around him. Alex was an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed fishing and hunting all types of game. He and his father traveled across the U.S. and abroad following their passion for turkey hunting. Alex was a fervent conservationist and was very much concerned with land management. Of all his many interests, sports were at the top of his list. He played soccer and basketball at Beaufort Academy, and one of his greatest thrills was refereeing soccer games with his dad and watching their favorite soccer team, Manchester United. Despite living most of his life in South Carolina he stayed true to his Georgia Bulldogs even when he was surrounded by a sea of Carolina fans. Alex treasured visits to his maternal grandparents in Georgia where he helped with the farm chores and spent time with his cousins hunting and fishing. From Georgia to South Carolina, Alex rarely met a stranger. He cherished socializing with his many "best friends" both locally and abroad. Alex was preceded in death by his father, William "Bill" Apps, maternal grandmother, Martha Durden, paternal grandfather, William Apps, and paternal grandmother, Violet Daring. Survivors include his mother, Agatha Apps of St. Helena Island, a sister, Christy Gibson of Savannah, his maternal grandfather, B. G. Durden, Sr. of Stillmore, Georgia, several aunts and uncles, many cousins, and his best friend and love, Lauren. A memorial service will be held Saturday, October 19th, at the Baptist Church of Beaufort, South Carolina at 10:00 a.m. A time of sharing for friends and family will follow the service. A graveside service and interment will be held at New Hope Baptist Church in Lexsy, Georgia at 4:00 p.m. Donations in Alex's memory are welcomed to the World Wildlife Fund, 1250 24th St., P. O. Box 97180, Washington, DC 20090, Member #63887954, or to the National Wild Turkey Federation, P. O. Box 530, Edgefield, SC 29824. Change of Service - 10:00 am, Saturday, October 19, 2013 at The Baptist Church of Beaufort, 601 Charles St., Beaufort, SC with burial at 4:00 pm in the New Hope Cemetery, Lexsey, GA. Friends may greet the family immediately following the services at the Baptist Church of Beaufort prior to leaving for the burial.