James R. "Rotie" Salley

James Raworth “Rotie” Salley, 83, husband of Susan Slappey Salley, passed away Sunday, August 30, 2026 at Greenville Memorial Hospital.

Rotie was born in Orangeburg, SC, the son of the late Eula Rowe Wolfe and James R. Salley, Jr. He grew up in Clemson and was a 1960 graduate of D.W. Daniel High School and a 1968 graduate of the University of Georgia where he majored in Horticulture. Through Rotie’s long and distinguished career, he used the many skills and expertise in horticulture and especially his love of turf management. He served as Assistant Superintendent of the Atlanta Country Club during the era of the course being host to PGA events. He at one time was the Superintendent of Parks in Albany, GA. He was also involved with landscaping the campuses of University of Georgia and Clemson University. He later moved to Orangeburg, SC where he was the Superintendent of Parks. After moving to Seneca he started his own Pest Control Business.

Even with his busy career, Rotie found time to be involved in both civic and religious activities. He was a Rotarian and a member of Clemson Presbyterian Church. He served for 28 years as a volunteer in Medical Missions where he experienced adventures in many countries of the world. He was a skilled carver of wood and his attention to detail can be seen in every example of his many carvings of wildlife. He was a veteran of the Army and actively served in the US Army Reserves for 17 years.

In addition to his wife, Rotie is survived by his sons, James R. Salley, IV and his wife, Catherine of Summerville, SC and Thomas Henderson Salley, and his wife, Heather of Elkin, NC; and grandchildren, Emily Salley, Evan Salley, Hartley Salley, Lola Salley and Julia Salley.

Funeral Services will be held at 2 pm, Friday, September 4. 2026 at Clemson Presbyterian Church with burial to follow in Woodland Cemetery, formerly known as Cemetery Hill, on the campus of Clemson University.

The family will receive friends from 12:30 to 1:50 pm prior to the service at the church.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Mission to the World, P.O. Box 744165, Atlanta, GA 30374-4165 or mtw.org

Visit RobinsonFuneralHomes.com or Duckett-Robinson Funeral Home & Cremations, 108 Cross Creek Road, Central, SC 29630,