Jimmy Motley, 90, ‘the best electrician around’
April 3, 2022
James Edwin Motley of Murrells Inlet died Sunday at home surrounded by his family. He was 90.
Known as Jimmy, he was one of eight children of Wade and Ellen Motley of Columbia. He served in the Army as a heavy equipment mechanic during the Korean War.
His father taught him the electrical business, and he was a master electrician in Columbia when he met and married his late wife, Barbara, becoming the father of her two young children.
They moved to Murrells Inlet in 1973. Jimmy started his electrical business, and Barbara opened The Sandwich Castle in Garden City.
Mr. Motley did sewer treatment work for Grand Strand Water and Sewer and was widely known as the best electrician around. He was always on call to help someone in need.
An active member and director of the Omar Vettes Shriner Unit, he could often be seen driving a miniature Corvette in holiday parades throughout the Lowcountry. He was especially proud of his fundraising work for Shriners’ Hospitals across the U.S. and, on several occasions, visited the hospitals in Greenville and Pigeon Forge, Tenn.
Mr. Motley was known for his easygoing personality, his generosity, and his ready smile. He loved to laugh and tell his friends a story, a joke, or a “southern saying” and there were many in his repertoire. He and Barbara were both hard-working, but they loved to socialize with friends, dance and travel. His favorite times were those shared with his family.
He is survived by his brothers, Fred and Mason Motley of Columbia; his daughter, Pamela Talbert (Rhett), and his son, Jimmy Motley Jr. (Charlene), of Murrells Inlet; his grandchildren, Christiane Mills, Kira Shipley (Bill), Jason Motley and Jacob Motley (Brianne), Chet Floyd and Caroline Floyd, Callie and Katie Talbert, and Ansel Talbert (Englund) and Andrew Talbert (Bethany); and his great-grandchildren, Addie, Afton, Angus, Aran, Arana, Casper, Clover, Forrest, Hadley, James, Jessa, Kingsley, Langston, Riley, and Saiorse.
The family will receive visitors at Belin Memorial United Methodist Church at 10 a.m. Saturday with a memorial service at 11 a.m. in the sanctuary.
Memorials may be made to to the Greenville Shriners’ Children’s Hospital at lovetotherescue.org.
