Fire Chief Donnie Longshore

Fire Chief Donnie Leo Longshore, 75, of Leesville passed away peacefully on Wednesday, July 29, 2026. He was born on March 23, 1951 in Newberry, South Carolina to the late Reginald Longshore and Nora Emma Richardson Counts. Donnie was a charter member of the Circle Fire Department in 1981 with 45 years of service where he was the present Fire Chief. Donnie was Saluda County fireman of the year in 2023 and fireman of the year at the Circle Fire Department for numerous years and lastly in 2023. He was awarded the South Carolina Police Chief’s Association’s certificate of recognition for going above and beyond in 2004, 2008, and 2015. Donnie retired from the University of South Carolina’s motorpool after 41 ½ years where he earned employee of the year in 2002. He was requested by Dr. Andrew Sorensen, the president of the University of South Carolina to travel with him to all 46 counties of South Carolina and several in North Carolina on his Bowtie tour. Donnie was also a lifetime member of the Prosperity Masonic Lodge #115 and a member of Rehoboth Methodist Church of Lake Murray. He will be remembered for his dedication to serving others and will forever leave an impact on all the lives he touched.   

Surviving are his wife, Jo Cousins Longshore; sons, Marty Longshore and Jason Longshore (Lori); daughter, BillieJo “BJ” Rawlings (Jim); grandchildren, Carly Longshore, Claire Longshore, and Blythe Rawlings; and great-granddaughter, Ellison Blaire Koon.

Funeral services will be conducted 2:00 p.m. Sunday August 2, 2026 at Rehoboth Methodist Church of Lake Murray with the Rev. Mark English officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. Serving as active pallbearers will be Reggie Beckham, Todd Poole, Corby Hite, Sammy Connelly, Ricky West, and Josh Frye. Honorary pallbearers will be the members of Saluda County Fire Departments. The family will receive friends on Saturday, August 1, 2026 from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at Barr-Price Funeral Home and Crematorium, Historic Batesburg-Leesville Chapel. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Rehoboth Methodist Church of Lake Murray, 3676 Holley Ferry Road, Leesville SC 29070 or to the Circle Fire Department, 9251 Columbia Highway, Leesville SC 29070.

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