The Reverend Christopher Mercer Huff, priest in the Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina, died peacefully on March 4, 2026 after a long, courageous battle with pancreatic cancer at the age of 69. Surrounded by his wife and his three children beside him, Chris continued to inspire family, friends and strangers with his steadfast faith in Christ, resilience and encouragement till the end.

Born on May 4, 1956 and raised on James Island, Chris was the son of the late William DeKalb Huff and the late Dorothy Jeannette Mercer Huff. Chris lived an idyllic childhood on the water’s edge of the Clark Sound. In later years, whether on his sailboat, the Blandenfeax or his Jon boat, the Water Bug, one of his greatest joys in life was to be leaving a dock somewhere and enjoying a day on the water.

Chris was a graduate of Porter Gaud High School in 1974 and the College of Charleston where he graduated with a B.A. in History in 1978. He joined Citizen’s and Southern National Bank of SC where he served as Branch Manager and Commercial Lending Officer in various offices in Charleston. Answering an obvious call to the ordained ministry, Chris later enrolled in Trinity Episcopal School for Ministry in the fall of 1985 where he received a Masters of Divinity in May 1988. He was ordained as transitional deacon in June 1988, ordained priest in June 1989. Chris served as priest in charge and later rector of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Bennettsville, SC from June 1988 until July 1993. He served as rector at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, Charleston, SC from July 1993 through June 1998, vicar of West Shore Episcopal Church July 1998 through September 2008. Chris was assistant rector at St. George’s Episcopal Church, Summerville, SC from December 2010 through May 2016. He later became rector at St. George’s from May 2016 until his retirement in March 2022. Retirement was in name only for Chris who continued to discern his ministry was not yet complete. He was named priest associate at St. John’s Episcopal Church, John’s Island, SC in April 2023 under the leadership of his dear friend and colleague, The Reverend Calhoun Walpole, until his death.

During his ministry, Chris served on the Board of Examining Chaplains from 1989 until 2005. He taught Systematic Theology and Ethics and Moral Theology as Adjunct Professor for Trinity and for the Diocesan Youth Ministry Training Course. He served as Dean of the West Charleston Deanery, Diocesan Council, the Standing Committee, Diocesan Finance Committee, and operated a blog at axtwosix.blogspot.com, the main feature of which was “Why I Stayed in the Episcopal Church.” One of Chris’s most recent joys in his ministry was to see the fulfillment of a vision he had of creating a Labyrinth. Built by church members in May 2024 on the grounds of St. John’s Episcopal Church on John’s Island, it became a feature story in the Post and Courier newspaper where it stated that the “labyrinth provides a metaphor for life’s twists and turns.”

Chris had the strength of a lion to battle his cancer, far exceeding the time of 9-12 months he was expected to live. In spite of his terminal diagnosis in September 2023, he continued to use his time as an opportunity to bring hope to those he met in the infusion centers at Roper St. Francis Cancer Center and later at Lowcountry Oncology Associates. He used his cancer as an opportunity to begin a conversation with strangers and engage in lively, often humorous, discussions about almost anything during his chemotherapy treatments. Whether talking about the trauma and pain of cancer, or his faith in Jesus Christ, theology, history, football or boating to his favorite spot, Sandy Point, people came to know that Chris was an engaging, listening ear to anyone he met. His greatest gift was simply his presence where he would light up the room just by walking in.

With the mind of a steel trap, he was a scholar gifted in languages having studied Latin, French, German, Greek and Hebrew. Only a few months before his death, he busied himself in his office at home by translating the Iliad of Homer from Greek to English just to explore the deeper richness of the language. He was a gifted pianist, a talented watercolor artist, an artisan skilled in wood crafts. He honed those skills into making and repairing clocks. On Christmas day in December 2002, Chris surprised Kim with her Christmas gift, a stunning Grandfather clock he created himself with mahogany, brazil nut and cherry woods, complete with a moon-faced dial and exquisite marquetry. During a sabbatical, he owned and operated Time Fades Away Clocks on James Island. But, with all of his many talents, at his heart, Chris was a priest, born to lead and counsel, a reconciler of the divided, a welcoming presence to the broken.

Chris was a devoted husband to his wife, Kim. If ever there was an eternal love story written, theirs was one of all time. Together for fifty-three years, married for forty-seven years, their love aged like a fine wine till the end and cancer only deepened their love for one another. Their mutual devotion was like no other, sharing all of life and ministry together for decades. Chris was also the proud father of three children and four grandchildren. He was the rock of the family, a patient, fun-time-dad. With his wealth of knowledge on many subjects, he was coined the “family encyclopedia.” Whether you called him Dad, Poppy, Mr. Chris, Father Chris or Rev, Chris leaves behind a legacy of love, integrity and service which is impossible to measure.

Chris is survived by his bride, Kim Diane Yeager Huff, his children, Christopher Mercer Huff, Jr., Jennifer Leigh Huff (James Christopher Sumner), Ashley Rebekah Umphlet (Dillard), four grandchildren, Matthew Dillard Umphlet, Donovan Mercer Huff, Dante Giovanni Huff, and Scarlett James Sumner, his brother William D. Huff, Jr.(Paula). He is predeceased by his parents, sister, Leah Huff Cooper and his grandson, Derek Kilian Huff.

Our family wishes to thank Dr. Mark Burbridge and his nurse Kelli for their extraordinary care for the last 30 months, the nurses at Lowcountry Oncology Associates, Roper Cancer Center, Crescent Hospice Care Center with special thanks to “KJ” and Cathy who became like family to us.

Memorial services will be at St. James Episcopal Church, 1880 Camp Road, James Island on March 15, 2026, at 2:00 pm with burial in the church cemetery. Arrangements by J. Henry Stuhr, Inc. West Ashley Chapel.

Memorials may be given to the Episcopal World Relief, St. John’s Episcopal Church, St. James Episcopal Church, St. George’s Episcopal or Pancreatic Cancer Action Network or a charity of your choice.

________________________________________