Florence County road named for fallen trooper

The ceremony was held Friday, Jan. 26, at the Evergreen Baptist Church in Effingham with close relatives, friends, law enforcement and first responders in attendance.

The S.C. Department of Transportation formally unveiled highway signs designating the portion of SC-51, Pamplico Highway, between Flowers Road and Willard Henry Road in Florence County the Sergeant Robert A. Mobley Highway.

Mobley was on duty in Florence County when he was killed while conducting a traffic stop. During contact with the motorcyclist, a struggle took place and the driver took control of Mobley’s firearm, shooting Mobley six times. He died at the scene.

“Although Sgt. Mobley’s life was tragically lost while serving and protecting the state of South Carolina, we want to make sure his legacy lives on,” said Robert G. Woods IV, director of SCDPS. “These highway dedications serve as a solemn reminder to us all that life is precious. We must do everything we can to ensure these heroes, who gave the ultimate sacrifice, are never forgotten.”

Mobley was born on Nov. 12, 1928, in Alabama, but grew up in Greenwood. After being honorably discharged from the Marine Corps, Mobley joined the South Carolina Highway Patrol in 1958 and patrolled the roadways of Anderson County during the first 14 years of his service.

In 1972, Mobley was promoted to corporal and transferred to Florence County. He was promoted to sergeant in 1978 and continued to serve in Florence County until his death in 1979.

Throughout his 21 years with the Highway Patrol, he was well-known and well-liked, and he treated others he met with professionalism, respect and fairness.

“Although nearly 45 years have passed since Sgt. Mobley was laid to rest, we have not forgotten him,” said Colonel Christopher Williamson, commander of the SC Highway Patrol. “He spent much of his life wearing the Highway Patrol uniform and he will always be part of this family. These highway signs will serve as reminders to future generations of Sgt. Mobley’s sacrifice in the line of duty.”

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At the time of his death, Mobley was survived by his wife, Nell Grover; his three sons, Dwight, Ralph and Walter; his mother; his brother and sister; and two grandchildren. He was buried with full military honors at the Florence National Cemetery and was inducted into the South Carolina Law Enforcement Officer’s Hall of Fame in 1986.

Mobley’s son Ralph had been a SC Highway Patrol trooper for two years at the time of his father’s death in 1979. He went on to serve as colonel of the Highway Patrol in 1999 until his retirement in 2001. Colonel Ralph Mobley passed away in 2018.

The South Carolina Department of Public Safety includes the Highway Patrol, State Transport Police, Bureau of Protective Services, Office of Highway Safety and Justice Programs, and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Officers Hall of Fame.