The Honorable Robert Roland "Bobby" Mallard, Sr.

The Honorable Robert Roland "Bobby" Mallard, Sr., 92, of Charleston, SC, husband of the late Ruth Hills Mallard, entered into eternal rest on Wednesday, February 19, 2025. His Mass of Christian Burial will be held Tuesday, February 25, 2025 in the Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist, 120 Broad St, Charleston, SC 29401 at 2:00 pm. Prayers of Final Commendation and Farewell will follow in St. Lawrence Cemetery. The family will receive friends Monday, February 24, 2025 in the J. Henry Stuhr, Inc. Mt. Pleasant Chapel, 1494 Mathis Ferry Rd., Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464 from 4:00 pm until 7:00 pm.

Bobby was born on January 8, 1933 to Alonzo and Sadie Mallard in Charleston, SC during the Depression Era, he grew up Downtown roustabouting from The Battery to Hampton Park, Meeting St. to Rutledge and beyond. His father left Charleston when he was 10 and his mother raised the remaining 5 (out of 11) children on her own. After moving into a house on Rutledge Avenue, with his mother and sisters, Sadie died when he was 13 and he became an orphan, times were often tough, he didn’t care much for school but he did fall in love with football. He met many new people at Charleston High School and the “Duck” played fullback and finally graduated when he was 21. His friends extended many invitations to supper and maybe a bed for the night, but none more than his best friend Charlie Darby who helped him with everything from a job at his father’s boat yard to the inspiration to become something bigger than his humble, poor beginnings.

After his high school football eligibility ran out, Bobby received his diploma from a prep school in NC and one week later was drafted into the Army and reported to Fort Jackson in Columbia, SC for basic training for the Korean Conflict. Before he was shipped out, the Armistice was signed and he was sent to Fort Eustis, VA and they had a football team which was his saving grace. Through the base football team, he met Al Davis who later contacted him when he was the offensive line coach at The Citadel, Bobby received a scholarship as a Veteran student and the rest is history.

Bobby started dating Ruthie Hills whom he had known from Charleston because of her friendships with Joyce Long and Shirley Altman. Ruthie told her father that Bobby was “nice to small animals” when asked why she was interested in marrying him. He had finally found someone to build a family together, he had direction and studied hard, he had yearned for the opportunity to have what he didn’t as child. Before graduating from the Citadel in 1959,he had married Ruthie and had one boy. He enrolled in Law School at the University of South Carolina, moving his growing family to Columbia, Ruthie remembers that they were poor but had much fun.

Bobby and his family of 5 moved back to Charleston after graduation and he started with a private law practice but Ruthie quickly realized they might not make it because he had a tough time collecting fees so she suggested he run for an open Family Court judge’s position because they needed a steady paycheck, especially with 2 more children joining the family by 1968. In 1970, he began a 35 year commitment to the citizens of Charleston and the state of SC, he was such a great judge because he had experienced many hardships in his life and could empathize with the people that came in front of his bench. “There but for the grace of God, go I” was a phrase he loved, lived and understood.

First and foremost, Bobby loved his Ruthie and his family and friends unconditionally, he taught his children that lesson every day, he didn’t have hobbies other than whatever his kids were into and was at every sports game for them, followed by attending every activity or game of his grandchildren. He was a member of the Optimist Club many years ago and a proud member of the South Carolina and Charleston Bar Associations. He was very involved with the James F Byrnes Foundation which awards college scholarships to students that have a deceased parent, his mission to provide these students with the family he never had drove him to love these children as a mentor and father figure. Also, integral to understanding Bobby was to know what a devoted Catholic he was, he currently attended Church of the Nativity and was a member of the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist for many years but was baptized into the faith at St Joseph’s where he raised his children to be faithful servants to Jesus Christ as he was.

The family wishes to express their deepest gratitude to Bobby’s caregiver Richard Ruby, as well as Catherine Irving, the wonderful staff and nurses at Kempton of Charleston, South Bay of Mount Pleasant, and Amedysis Hospice for their compassionate care of both Ruthie and Bobby.

Bobby is survived by his children, Robert Roland Mallard, Jr., Rose Elizabeth “Sissy” Mallard, and Patrick Joseph Mallard, all of Charleston; grandchildren, Julia Mallard Watkins (Mac), Robert Roland Mallard, III, and Grace Ann Mallard; one great-grandson, Thomas Weil Watkins; as well as several beloved nieces, nephews, and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Ruthie; and his sons, Christopher “Scott” Mallard and Timothy Seabrook Mallard.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to the James F. Byrnes Foundation, PO Box 6781, Columbia, SC 29260; or to The Citadel Foundation, 171 Moultrie St, Charleston, SC 29409.

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