Herbert U. Fielding
Politician Herbert U. Fielding was born on July 6, 1923 in Charleston, South Carolina to Julius and Sadie Fielding. Fielding served in the United States Army during World War II prior to attending and receiving his B.S. degree from West Virginia State College in 1948.
In 1952, Fielding took charge of the day-to-day operations of the family funeral home business, becoming President and CEO of Fielding Home for Funeral Services. Founded in 1912 by Fielding’s father, Fielding Home for Funeral Services was the largest African American-owned and operated funeral home in the state of South Carolina.
Fielding became involved in the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s. He often paid for the bail of civil rights activists, picketers and demonstrators. Fielding encouraged African Americans to vote and mobilized them to memorize the constitution in order to gain voting rights.
In 1970, Fielding became the first African American to be elected a representative in South Carolina since Reconstruction. He served for three years, then returned to the South Carolina State House in 1983. In 1985, Fielding was elected to South Carolina’s State Senate, where he served until 1992. In 1990, he became the chairperson of the South Carolina Legislative Black Caucus.
Fielding is a member of several organizations including the South Carolina Commission on Vocational Rehabilitation, the University of South Carolina Budget Board and the South Carolina Human Affairs Commission. He is also a vestry member at Calvary Episcopal Church in Charleston.
The Department of Transportation named Highway 61 from James Island Expressway to South Carolina Route 61 in Charleston County as the Herbert U. Fielding Connector.
Fielding was interviewed by The HistoryMakers on February 2, 2007.
Fielding passed away on August 10, 2015.
A2007.042
Male

2/2/2007
Fielding
U.
Avery Normal Institute
Lincoln Academy
West Virginia State University

Herbert
Charleston
FIE03
Summer
South Carolina
Bermuda
Dad Blame It.

South Carolina
7/6/1923
Charleston
USA
Pork, Beans, Sausage
8/10/2015
Politician Herbert U. Fielding (1923 - 2015 ) was the first black representative elected to the South Carolina legislature since Reconstruction. He later served as the chairperson of the South Carolina Legislative Black Caucus.
Fielding Home for Funeral Services
South Carolina Senate
South Carolina House of Representatives
Beige, Brown
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/485240">Tape: 1 Slating of Herbert U. Fielding's interview</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/485241">Tape: 1 Herbert U. Fielding lists his favorites</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/485242">Tape: 1 Herbert U. Fielding lists his maternal relatives</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/485243">Tape: 1 Herbert U. Fielding describes his father's family background</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/485244">Tape: 1 Herbert U. Fielding describes his mother's upbringing in Charleston, South Carolina</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/485245">Tape: 1 Herbert U. Fielding talks about his mother's family history</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/485246">Tape: 1 Herbert U. Fielding describes his paternal grandparents</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/485247">Tape: 1 Herbert U. Fielding remembers his paternal step-grandfather</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/485248">Tape: 1 Herbert U. Fielding describes his family's roots in South Carolina</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/485249">Tape: 1 Herbert U. Fielding describes his neighborhood in Charleston, South Carolina</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/485250">Tape: 2 Herbert U. Fielding recalls his paternal family's religious and business activities</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/485251">Tape: 2 Herbert U. Fielding lists his siblings</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/485252">Tape: 2 Herbert U. Fielding describes his paternal family's store in Summerville, South Carolina</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/485253">Tape: 2 Herbert U. Fielding describes the Avery Normal Institute in Charleston, South Carolina</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/485254">Tape: 2 Herbert U. Fielding remembers Lincoln Academy in Kings Mountain, North Carolina</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/485255">Tape: 2 Herbert U. Fielding recalls class distinctions at Avery Normal Institute</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/485256">Tape: 2 Herbert U. Fielding remembers his activities at Lincoln Academy</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/485257">Tape: 2 Herbert U. Fielding recalls West Virginia State College in Institute, West Virginia</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/485258">Tape: 2 Herbert U. Fielding recalls joining the U.S. Army during World War II</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/485259">Tape: 3 Herbert U. Fielding recalls racial discrimination in the U.S. Army during World War II</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/485260">Tape: 3 Herbert U. Fielding recalls serving overseas in the U.S. Army in World War II</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/485261">Tape: 3 Herbert U. Fielding remembers returning to college after World War II</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/485262">Tape: 3 Herbert U. Fielding recalls his return to Charleston, South Carolina</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/485263">Tape: 3 Herbert U. Fielding describes his paternal grandmother's community service</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/485264">Tape: 3 Herbert U. Fielding recalls his political activity in the late 1940s and early 1950s</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/485265">Tape: 3 Herbert U. Fielding describes the funeral customs of Charleston, South Carolina</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/485266">Tape: 4 Herbert U. Fielding recalls joining Fielding Home for Funeral Services</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/485267">Tape: 4 Herbert U. Fielding recalls the civil rights involvement of Charleston's black business community</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/485268">Tape: 4 Herbert U. Fielding describes his civil rights activities in Charleston</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/485269">Tape: 4 Herbert U. Fielding describes his interactions with Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr.</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/485270">Tape: 4 Herbert U. Fielding recalls the violence during the Civil Rights Movement</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/485271">Tape: 4 Herbert U. Fielding recalls his election to the South Carolina House of Representatives</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/485272">Tape: 5 Herbert U. Fielding recalls serving in the South Carolina House of Representatives</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/485273">Tape: 5 Herbert U. Fielding recalls resigning from the South Carolina legislature</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/485274">Tape: 5 Herbert U. Fielding describes his political career in the 1980s and 1990s</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/485275">Tape: 5 Herbert U. Fielding talks about his retirement from politics</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/485276">Tape: 5 Herbert U. Fielding describes his successors at Fielding Home for Funeral Services</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/485277">Tape: 5 Herbert U. Fielding describes his organizational involvement</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/485278">Tape: 5 Herbert U. Fielding describes his marriage</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/485279">Tape: 5 Herbert U. Fielding reflects upon his life</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/485280">Tape: 6 Herbert U. Fielding describes his advice for future generations</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/485281">Tape: 6 Herbert U. Fielding offers advice for those seeking a career in politics</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/485282">Tape: 6 Herbert U. Fielding narrates his photographs</a>
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