On Thursday, January 12th, 2012, business in Greenville came to a quiet halt, as almost two thousand people stopped what they were doing in order to pay their respects to a man who was arguably Greenville’s favorite son, C. Dan Joyner.
The Sanctuary at First Baptist Church of Greenville on Cleveland St. was already full half an hour before the service was to start. That sanctuary holds 1,400 people. Two days earlier, more than 1,500 people stood in line to offer their prayers and encouragement to the Joyner family – C. Dan Joyner was that well loved.
People from all walks of life, from all over the country, came to bid him farewell. Former Furman University basketball coach Joe Williams (1970-1978) drove in from Mississippi; his son, Blake, came in from Tampa. “We felt like Dan was our closest friend, and you can see how many other people felt that same way,” said Joe Williams, looking around at the packed church.
“This is the best-attended funeral I’ve ever been to in Greenville,” agreed Ambassador David H. Wilkins.
Former WYFF-TV4 Reporter and Michelin PR Director Nan Banks said, “I remember thinking that the first time I met Dan Joyner, ‘What an appropriate last name!’ He was always bringing people together, encouraging them to join his projects, including them in his conversations. He made everyone around him feel special, valued, and connected to our community.”
South Carolina’s former Lieutenant Governor Nick Theodore said, “I call a lot of people ‘buddy.’ Dan was the only one who could ‘out-buddy’ me.”
C. Dan Joyner truly was all things to all people. First and foremost, a family man, married to his wife Kat and father of Beth, Lynn, and Danny, grandfather of ten, great-grandfather of two.
In his professional life, “Prudential C. Dan Joyner” is now a catchphrase in Greenville because he made it so. Joyner built a real estate empire on his larger-than-life personality. He created the model of the small business that booms, due to the energy, dedication and community involvement of its owner.
He started in 1962 as a salesman in real estate. Barely two years later he started his own company. By 1966, Joyner moved his growing company to Pleasantburg Drive, and, skipping through several incarnations, by 2010, Prudential C. Dan Joyner could claim $1 billion in gross sales.
Joyner’s many fans believe that one of the keys to his success is that he was always deeply involved in all kinds of community projects, both with his church, where he was a deacon and taught Sunday school, as well as a large number of other community causes. Born in Greenville in 1937 and growing up in the Augusta Road area, Joyner’s interest in making his world a better place for everyone was readily apparent even from a young age.
C. Dan Joyner’s dedication to, and involvement with, his community began many years ago when he was the student body president in college. On a lighter note, Dan was also a cheerleader (he probably didn’t need that megaphone) at Furman University, a school that always remained dear to his heart, and was the recipient of his considerable fundraising efforts throughout his life.
“His enthusiasm was contagious, he had an infectious smile, and when I think about Dan, I realize that he was the kind of person who made us all want to be better human beings,” says David Wilkins.
Among many other charities and community projects, Joyner was also on the Greenville Hospital System University Medical Center Board of Trustees for many years, playing an integral part in the growth and advancement of the hospital system. GHS paid tribute to Joyner at its recent 100th anniversary celebration.
Joyner had suffered from heart disease for some time his friends say. The heart that was so large, so kind, and so giving, was in the end responsible for both his full life and his untimely death.