Charles Halbert Browne, III

Charles Halbert Browne, III, affectionately known as Chip, departed for his heavenly home at 8:15am on the morning of July 3rd, 2025. He was 74 years old. He is survived by his wife of twenty years, Melissa Sprouse Browne; his brother, Jay Sterling Browne of Columbia, South Carolina; his sister, Marlo Browne of Wailuku, Hawaii; his sister-in-law and her husband, Carolyn Sprouse Bradley and Reverend Michael Bradley of Spartanburg, South Carolina; his nephew and his wife and family, Jamie, Loretta, McKenzie and Tesla Bradley of Chesnee, South Carolina; his nephew and his wife and family, Jon, Angela and Wesley Bradley of Glendale, South Carolina and their daughter Grace McNeely, her husband Connor and their daughter Rebecca of Glendale, South Carolina; and his best little buddy, Cayman the tuxedo cat (the first cat to ever visit ICU), along with Cayman's sisters Bella Boo and Coconut.

Born in Florence, South Carolina on Flag Day, June 14th, he was a true patriot who loved his country. He traveled extensively with his family, as his father was an officer in the United States Air Force. During his childhood, he traveled to England; Madrid, Spain; Biloxi Mississippi; Falls Church and McLean Virginia; Fort Walton Beach, Florida; Oahu, Hawaii; Dillon, South Carolina; and several more locations for a total of 43 moves.

In his youth, he could build model airplanes and cars suitable for a curator in a museum, with painstaking attention to detail. He enjoyed watching surfing during his time in Hawaii; as the best surfers in the world surfed the North shore, including Gerry Lopez. He loved music and even played guitar.

Chip graduated from Niceville High School in Niceville, Florida in 1969. He then graduated from Clemson University in 1973 with a Bachelor's degree in Political Science and then returned for post graduate work in Constitutional Law.

His first professional job was with Borg Warner in Hawaii. He was also a district manager at Radio Shack (his favorite story from a Radio Shack store was in Berea where he watched a man go into the neighboring K-Mart and come out with an armful of spray paint cans and subsequently spray painted his car, right there in the parking lot).

He then went to work with his father, Colonel Charlie Browne, who had retired from the Air Force and began the Southern Institute of Real Estate in April, 1977. Chip was first licensed as a real estate professional in 1978 and began his decades-long teaching career in 1982. After Chip's father retired from teaching, he led the South Carolina Institute of Real Estate and the Real Estate School of South Carolina as the main instructor. He successfully prepared thousands of students for a career in real estate. He authored courses, taught all levels of licensure and continuing education, worked with the South Carolina Real Estate Commission on an education task force and was a recognized leader in the industry. He served as Broker in Charge of South Carolina Realty, a real estate brokerage in the Midlands of South Carolina.

Chip loved cars of all sorts and was an early aficionado of things that go fast. He's collected a number of great cars over the years, including a 1966 Jaguar XKE 2+2 Convertible, a 1999 C5 Corvette, a Ferrari 348, a Ferrari 360 Spider, a Lamborghini Gallardo and his daily driver, the Miami Blue Porsche Macan S. He regretted passing up the chance to purchase a Ferrari Dino in the 1970s; he rejected it because it was mustard green. He was an active member of the Three Rivers Region, Porsche Club of America, the Lamborghini Club and the Ferrari Club of America, South Carolina Chapter.

He loved gardening and tropical plants. He created an urban oasis with a saltwater pool, an actual Tiki bar and every possible variety of plant you could imagine, including hibiscus, tea plants, bananas, plumeria, elephant ears, ginger, bird of paradise and many other species in an incredible flowering display.

With his educational foundation in political science, Chip was always interested in politics. He was an active member of the Lexington County Republican Party, having recently been elected as its State Executive Committeeman. He was previously the Executive Committeeman of the Westover Precinct and had previously managed political campaigns, served as a speech writer and policy crafter for local campaigns over the years.

Chip was the kindest, most generous man you could ever meet. His sharp wit made him a joy to debate and he loved engaging on almost any subject. His enduring legacy in our community will carry on forever. Well done, good and faithful servant.

Thank you to the entire staff of the Surgical Trauma Intensive Care Unit (STICU) at Prisma Richland Hospital in Columbia, SC. For 30 days, they delivered the highest level of care to Chip and supported his family in every possible way.

Funeral details: Saturday, July 12, 2025 at 11:00am, Northside Baptist Church, 4347 Sunset Boulevard, Lexington SC 29072. Receiving of friends and family to follow the service at the church from 12:00pm - 2:00pm.