Former Beaufort Mayor Henry Chambers dies

Henry Chambers helped Beaufort turn its face to the water, but his vision went much further.

The former mayor secured resources to pour into a flailing downtown and establish proper paved roads and proper sewer, revitalizing downtown business, helping make Beaufort a place residents wanted to stay and the darling it is now to national media.

And yes, there was the waterfront park now bearing his name.

Chambers died Saturday night at age 89. He had been in declining health for years.

Bill Harvey, city attorney and lifelong friend of Chambers, along with his father, former Lt. Gov. Brantley Harvey, said Sunday that Chambers’ vision and importance to Beaufort was equivalent to Charles Fraser’s for Hilton Head Island.

“We have lost an icon,” Harvey said. “He truly was a visionary.”

A public ceremony is being planned to celebrate Chambers in Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park, a Copeland Funeral Service representative said. Details of the event are still being decided.

Chambers was elected mayor in 1969 and served for 20 years. He advocated for a waterfront park soon after he was elected.

To make it happen, he tapped a vast network, including his alma mater, Clemson University, U.S. Sen. Strom Thurmond and area state lawmakers. The 7-acre park, site of the annual Beaufort Water Festival and numerous other events throughout the year, received much resistance at the time.

“They said it can’t be done,” Chambers told The Beaufort Gazette and The Island Packet last year. “It was because they never did it.”

Harvey said Chambers saw the vision for the park before anyone else could.

“He had the vision to pull it off both technically and financially,” Harvey said. “It really is the work of a genius. Those types of minds don’t come around very often.”

Few would admit any opposition to the park today, current Mayor Billy Keyserling said, because it helped spur a period of growth downtown with a new business organization, property owners investing in their properties and having buildings open into the park.

Chambers’ lasting contribution also included bringing Beaufort into modern times by paving unpaved roads, adding sewer service to end the city discharging waste directly into the river, annexing Mossy Oaks and easing the pain of sprawl as business moved out of downtown.

Chambers also helped bring sewer service to Dataw Island, with a grant that was reinvested into the city.

“I just think that while we all celebrate the park, the park was one of many bold, progressive moves he made to fulfill the vision of waking up his hometown, which was dying,” Keyserling said.

Chambers was born July 23, 1928 on Port Republic Street. He was part of the state championship football and basketball teams at Beaufort High School before graduating in 1945.

Chambers was an Eagle Scout and Scout leader, a pilot and civic volunteer. He worked in concrete and real estate.

For “The Point” neighborhood, Chambers was a staple in the community long before he was mayor.

“Every Christmas the Chambers would have a neighborhood Christmas Eve party for all the families in the neighborhood,” said Harvey, whose family lived down the street. “All the families in the neighborhood would gather. There were probably 30 to 40 families, all with young children. It is a wonderful memory I have of the Chambers.”

Harvey said Sunday was among the saddest days he has ever had.

“Beaufort has lost one of the most significant individuals in this community,” Harvey said.

Chambers loved his city.

Longtime friend Edie Rodgers asked Chambers for his support while she was running for state representative. He gave his endorsement, but not before asking why anyone would want to leave Beaufort for Columbia, Rogers remembered Sunday.

She noted Chambers was also a trusted reference for city history, with a prodigious file he could access for an answer to any question.

“For years I tried to get him to write a book,” said Rogers, who served on City Council with Chambers at the end of his time as mayor. “And he never did it.”

This story was originally published July 15, 2018 at 5:06 PM.