Greenville Business Leader Dies After Illness

Upstate realtor, businessman and community leader C. Dan Joyner died on Sunday after a brief illness.

Shafter Huguley Public Relations, released the following statement from the Joyner family this evening:

A Message from the Joyner Family

To all Prudential C. Dan Joyner Company Agents, Brokers and Staff:

This evening, Sunday, January 8, 2012, our beloved Dan left us to be with our real Father. Now he’s home. No pain, no hurting, perfect in every way.

Dan was the essence of optimism. He was an encourager who cared deeply for each one of you. He brought us joy, laughter and hope. He had a clear perspective on what is truly important in life – faith, family, friends, and of course, Furman. We will miss him dearly.

Dan would want us to carry on, to fight the good fight. Yes, we are saddened. We hurt. We grieve. But let us be inspired. Let us celebrate a life, so incredibly well lived!

God Bless You All.

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”

2 Timothy 4:7

Born in 1937, Joyner was a lifelong resident of Greenville and 1959 graduate of Furman University, where he received a bachelor's degree in Business Administration with a minor in Political Science.

He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Katherine Poole "Kat" Joyner; three children: Danny Joyner, Lynn Freemon and Beth Crigler; eight grandchildren and two great grandchildren.

Joyner, who was known for his broad smile and firm handshake, opened his own real estate firm in 1964. As the firm grew from only three staff members to a well-established firm, Joyner sold the firm to Merrill Lynch in 1985, but continued to manage the firm for five years. Prudential bought out Merrill Lynch’s real estate holdings five years later, and Joyner worked with other realtors in the area to form Prudential-Carolinas Realty covering North and South Carolina.

According to the release, in 1997 Joyner bought out his partners and assumed 100 percent ownership of the business, which has grown under his leadership to 10 offices located throughout the Upstate with more than 300 independent agents.

Last year Joyner turned over management and operations duties to his son Danny who serves as president and his son-in-law David Crigler, who is executive vice president and chief operations officer, according to the company.

According to his biography provided by Shafer Huguley, Joyner has served as regional vice president and president of the South Carolina Association of REALTORS and as regional vice president and director of the National Association of REALTORS.

He was twice named Greenville REALTOR of the Year and also South Carolina REALTOR of the Year.

Joyner was a member and deacon at First Baptist Church of Greenville and served on numerous boards for local charities including the United Way, The Greenville Community Foundation, the March of Dimes, Muscular Dystrophy Association, Juvenile Diabetes Association and the Homeless Coalition.

Joyner was a past chairman of the Greenville Chamber of Commerce and Greenville Hospital System. He also served on the boards for the Peace Center and Greenville Convention and Visitors Bureau.

In 1998, Gov. David Beasley awarded him the Order of the Palmetto, the highest civilian honor bestowed by the Palmetto State for contributions to local and state communities.

Joyner was devoted to his alma mater, Furman University, having served several terms on the Furman Board of Trustees. He also was an active member of the Alumni Association and was a former president of the Paladin Club.

Funeral arrangements have not been made at this time.