Richard Fields Obituary

Diane and Ricky: Your father was a man among men and I am sorry to learn of his passage. I am sure, however, that he has everyone in heaven smiling at not only his achievements, jokes, and demeanor but at the opportunity to have him with them.God bless you! from Pat Jacobs and family

So sorry to learn of Judge Field’s death. I had the pleasure of working with Judge Fields when I first became a Court Reporter for The State. He was just a great guy. Prayers for your family during this difficult time.

Our sincere prayers, and condolences, to the Fields family.

Our heartfelt prayers, and condolences, to the Fields family.

WOW! What a great service for such a fine gentleman!
Richard Fields was the best judge, a great mentor and a true friend to the Bench, Bar & City of Charleston. The words of comfort should be heard by All.
Thankyou Judge Fields.

My family and I are pleased to extend our condolences to the family and acknowledge the passing of Judge Fields. He was an amazing leader and friend.

To the Family of Judge Richard E. Fields,
Judge Fields was role model and mentor to me and a friend and supporter of my family for many years. He was there during some of the most challenging times. His kindness and generosity will always be remembered and appreciated.
As I look back over the years, I remember riding with Judge Fields to his beach pavilion property during the summer while I was a student at Burke High School. He provided me with one of my first job experiences. When I was a senior in high school working on my senior essay on Juvenile Delinquency, he opened his law office to me to conduct research and access legal resources. My decision to pursue law was made after speaking with and observing him over the years. He advised and guided me during my attendance at Howard University School of Law and after graduation. Judge Fields always responded favorably to my requests for assistance in whatever I was doing.
He paved the way for me and so many others. His achievements and contributions are unmatched in the Charleston, South Carolina community, the State of South Carolina and the nation.
Edwin LaMar Haynes, March 12, 2023
Friend

My sincere condolences to my dear friend Ricky and his sister Diane. May God bless you and your family in this time of sorrow. May your hearts soon be filled with wonderful memories of joyful times together as you celebrate a life well lived.

Dear Ricky & Diane...
I am so sorry to hear of the passing of your Father. He was a dear and close friend of my Mother, who supported her in many ways in her personal and business affairs. I pray that the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus," as you both reflect on the memories of a father that left a unique and remarkable impact on the world.

To the Family of Judge Richard E. Fields,

Judge Fields was role model and mentor to me and a friend and supporter of my family for many years. He was there during some of the most challenging times. His kindness and generosity will always be remembered and appreciated.

As I look back over the years, I remember riding with Judge Fields to his beach pavilion property during the summer while I was a student at Burke High School. He provided me with one of my first job experiences. When I was a senior in high school working on my senior essay on Juvenile Delinquency, he opened his law office to me to conduct research and access legal resources. My decision to pursue law was made after speaking with and observing him over the years. He advised and guided me during my attendance at Howard University School of Law and after graduation. Judge Fields always responded favorably to my requests for assistance in whatever I was doing.

He paved the way for me and so many others. His achievements and contributions are unmatched in the Charleston, South Carolina community, the State of South Carolina and the nation.

Edwin LaMar Haynes
March 12, 2023

As a mentor and friend Judge was very special to me. His wit, wisdom and sense of humor will always be remembered. I served with him on the Claflin Board and both of us cherished our commitment to faith and the Methodist Church. He will surely be missed and fondly remembered.

Judge Fields was a wonderful judge, mentor and friend when I was a very young lawyer. He will be missed indeed. What a fine person and a great judge!

Judge Richard E. Fields was a mentor to my father, Danny Sr., son, Daniel II and of course to me. He was a giant in the legal community and made us all proud to have him as part of our lives. I thank his family for sharing him with us and we wish them peace and love during during this difficult time.

Richard E Fields was a wonderful example of a community leader. A lion of a lawyer, with a ton of tales to tell about his career, he loved his fellow man. His courtesy to lawyers, litigants and Court personnel was exemplary and his rulings as a Judge exhibited not only legal acumen but also a common sense approach to the issues being resolved. His speech at Mayor Techlenberg´s inauguration was heard by the author David McCullough, who was so impressed that he asked me to set up a lunch with Richard. Those 2 hours , with these 2 storytellers vying to out do one another , will live in my memory forever. RIP Rutledge Young Senior

Deep condolences to the Fields family.
Sincerely,
Gloria Y. J. Elliott

From the Avery Normal Institute Class of 1940 to the family:

You have our sincere sympathies in the loss of our dear friend Richard. We experienced a closeness throughout the years starting at Avery Normal Institute. We pause to remember all the unforgettable times that we spent together and will always remember the impact that he has had on our lives as well as countless others. I recall my last visit with him in 2022 (Cinny). We had a great time reminiscing. In closing, Footprints in the sands of time for others to follow will be missed terribly.
Rest in Heavenly Peace!

Your Classmates,

Cynthia McCottry Smith (Cinny)
Julia Magwood Harris (Julie)

Judge Fields was a mentor to us all. He showed us that compassion, mercy, and kindness were justice, even when he ruled against you. He was that person who inspired us, as lawyers, to treat others with respect.

We are saddened to hear of the passing of Judge Fields. You have our deepest condolences. Our Mom Cynthia M. Smith recalls fondly her dear friend and the many years they had known each other. He was the President of their class at Avery. And in the years following they remained close. May God wrap his comforting arms around your family and give you Strength, Comfort and Peace.
Sincerely,

A champion of truth and justice, Judge Fields taught all of us how to be better human beings. I am blessed to have known him and will strive to honor his memory in my life.

Judge Fields always greeted you with a beautiful smile and a welcome handshake. He made you feel like you were his best friend. What a wonderful judicial temperament, and what a gentleman. His decency, kindness and Joie de Vivre will be missed by all of us who were lucky enough to have known him. Rest In Peace, your honor.
Bill Sharpe

Judge Fields was one finest men I have ever met. As an attorney, I had the privilege and honor of appearing before him many times. He was a giant in the legal community as well as the community at large. He made a positive impact on so many people and I'm grateful to have known him.

My favorite customer at Wachovia, Judge Fields! Your life was well lived. Sleep in Peace! May peace be upon the family during this time!

What a fine kind caring man. Had my first ticket before him at old police station on Vanderhorst St and St Philips St. He asked did I bring my toothbrush with me. I almost died right there. He then said calm down I´m just teasing! Driving school for you. Never forgot his kindness always. May he Rest in Peace! His wonderful life here has ended!

Judge Fields was a wonderful person he had a kind heart and truly cared about people. He had a way with words to always place a smile on your face. I am thankful to call him a friend. He reminded me of that when I attended his 100th Birthday Celebration. Everyone was laughing and having a great time. You will truly be missed but left a legacy that will always be remembered.

To The Family of the late Judge Richard E. Fields, c/o Diane and Rickey, I extend my sincere condolences upon hearing of the transition of your father. I appreciate how he'd kept up with my cousin(s) Judge Margaret Seymour (Shine) and the late Joseph D. Shine, Esq.
Do find consolation in knowing that Judge Fields is resting in the arms of our heavenly Father from whom all blessings flow.
I'll continue to pray for the family.
"When praises/prayers go up, blessings come down."

Prayerfully,

Judge Fields was a true legal giant. A wonderful man. I always enjoyed his dapper appearance, his sense of legal history, the respect he commanded and his wonderful personality. He was a consummate gentleman.

Thank you for all the kindness and years of your service to the people of Charleston. What a great man. We will miss you.

There is not enough room or enough words to properly express the accolades necessary to pay proper tribute to Judge Fields. The compliment I think he would appreciate most is that no one had a bigger heart than Judge Fields. He was a kind, gentle caring man. He was a great man. There will likely never be another Judge Fields.

My father, Ernest Hollings, practiced law in the same firm ( Major Myer, et. al. ) with Judge Fields and held his friend with the highest esteem. Michael Hollings

To Diane, Ricky and the Fields family.
My prayers for the peaceful soul of your father and the comforting grace of God for you.
Your father will never be forgotten as he did so much for this community and many others. I remember him as warm , friendly, always kind and welcoming to me. His accomplishments were great and numerous however you guys were his greatest achievements and contributions to this world.
What a wonderful life he had and how fortunate you were to be blessed with him for his long life. May God grant you peace and may your loving memories last forever and bring you peace

When I practiced in his court as a new attorney he made the most stressful cases seem like discussing problems with your favorite uncle in a comfortable den with a soothing hot beverage. Then he gently but firmly ruled decisively because he knew the law backwards and forwards. When I became a judge he became a recurring mentor in that role since he was the gold standard of the bench for so many of us who only achieved zinc. The local bar association unlike many professional organizations today only gives the Petigru award to the brightest of luminaries like Morris Rosen who first recommended Judge Fields to Mayor Gaillard for municipal judge and this most esteemed and beloved jurist.

A giant of a man, a public servant, a philanthropist, a humanitarian, a fellow alumnus, and my loyal companion has passed away. My wonderful memories of him warm my heart. I send my deepest condolences to his family.

May God have mercy on Judge Fields' soul and grant his family His peace and comfort! Thank you for your service!

He was one of the most understanding persons I've ever known.

To most humblest man I know I had a few moments with him and good advice sorry we have and will be missed

Rickey and Family,
Our sincere condolences in the loss of your Dad. Judge Fields was among the best, my father the late Peter Miller was very fond of him and always spoke very highly of Judge Fields. Your Dad´s legacy will long be remembered for the greatness he shared with the community at large. May the peace of God bring you all comfort as you journey through this difficult loss.
Marilyn Miller Dillon
Silver Spring, MD

Judge Fields was my Surrogate Father at the Bar~He was a trailblazer and an inspiration and mentor to many Lawyers over an outstanding and distinguished career as a Judge and Member of the Bar

To Rickey and Family:

My condolences to you and your family in the passing of your Father. Your family and your father has been a part of my family and my life for as long as I can remember. God allowed him to impact the lives of so many and for that I am eternally grateful having been impacted by his presence in my life and the lives of so many. God Bless! Karen Wright-Chisolm

To Diane and Rickey and the Fields family-So sorry to hear of your Dad's passing. Over the years he was a true and loyal friend to our family. He has made his place in history and his legacy as a lawyer for all people and a compassionate jurist for many more will never be forgotten. He will be missed by so many and his sharp legal mind up until the end will remain dear to all persons who had the honor of knowing him. Always in our hearts, always in our prayers, forever in our thoughts.
Mrs. Hazel L. Seaberry, Washington, DC
The Honorable N. Denise Wilson-Taylor, Washington, DC
Dr. & Mrs. Dennis Norman Wilson, Salisbury, North Carolina

Judge Fields was a giant. He was everything a judge should be and more, and I shall miss him very much.