McSwain-Evans Funeral Home

HERBERT W. ROBERTSON, Former HealthCare Administrator and Antique Automobile Enthusiast

Herbert Willis Robertson, 77, passed away Wednesday, August 15, 2012, at his home in Newberry, SC.

The eldest son of Herbert and Doris Ivey Robertson of Hawkinsville, Georgia, Mr. Robertson attended North Georgia Military College before entering the United States Air Force where he graduated from the Air Force School of Technology. After his military service he attended the University of South Carolina in Columbia, SC.

Mr Robertson then worked at SC Baptist Hospital, now Palmetto Baptist of Columbia, as Lab Technologist, Chief of Lab, and was later appointed as Vice President of Diagnostic and Therapeutic Services. He was an integral member of a dynamic administrative team that helped grow Baptist Hospital into the successful health care center it is today as Palmetto Baptist. After a career of over 20 years, he moved into the long term care aspect of health care administration, serving as Administrator of J.F. Hawkins Nursing Home in Newberry, SC. As a visionary, he anticipated the need for retirement health care in Newberry County and conceived, designed, and supervised the building of Springfield Place, a retirement, assisted living, and nursing home facility in Newberry and an arm of the JF Hawkins Health Care System. Mr. Robertson served as President/CEO of Springfield Place and J.F. Hawkins for the last 10 years of his health care career.

An avid antique automobile enthusiast and restoration expert, Mr. Robertson collected and restored numerous classic antique automobiles that continue to be part of automobile collections throughout the United States. His most beloved automobile which he has continued to restore is his 1934 Packard, built in the year he was born. In the late 1960’s, he founded and served as the first president of the Sandlapper Antique Automobile Club of the Midlands.

Mr. Robertson was a beloved and dedicated family man who is survived by his wife, Jane Clements Robertson, of Newberry. He was the very proud father of: Renee Hembree (Greg) of North Myrtle Beach and Robbie Robertson of Columbia, children of Fay Hall; Ashley Robertson of Columbia, Daniel Robertson of Newberry, and Marianna Robertson of Newberry, children of Jane Robertson. He was predeceased by two brothers: Edward Robertson and Emory Robertson (Margaret).

He also leaves behind his grandchildren, Nora Hembree Battle, Ellen Hall Hembree and John Isaac Hembree, in addition to brothers: Spencer Robertson of Hawkinsville, Ga; Alva Robertson of Hawkinsville, Ga; Charles Robertson of Hawkinsville, Ga; and Randy Robertson of Atlanta, Ga. In addition to many beloved nieces and nephews.

The family will receive friends at McSwain-Evans Funeral Home in Newberry from 6-8, Friday evening, August 17. Funeral services will be held at Aveleigh Presbyterian Church in Newberry on Saturday, August 18, at 11:00 am. Burial will take place at Camp Creek Baptist Church in Union Mills, North Carolina at 4:00 pm.  Memorials may be made to All Grace Hospice, 2562 Kinard Street, Newberry, SC 29108.

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