Herbert U. Fielding papers

Herbert Ulysses G. Fielding was born on July 6, 1923 in Charleston, South Carolina, the son of Julius P. L. and Sadie E. Gaillard Fielding. He received his early education in Charleston and afterward served in the United States Army during World War II. In 1948, he received a B.S. from West Virginia State College. When he returned to Charleston from service in World War II, Fielding assumed part responsibility of his family's business, the Fielding Home for Funerals. The business was co-founded in 1912 by Fielding's father and is still operated by the Fielding family, with Herbert serving as a Director.

In 1965, Herbert Fielding founded the Political Action Committee of Charleston County. This organization worked to provide voter education and to promote the employment of African Americans on voter registration boards and school trustee boards.

In 1970, Fielding became one of the first African American legislators elected in South Carolina since Reconstruction when he won a seat in the South Carolina House of Representatives. He was elected for the House again in 1972 and 1982, then served in the South Carolina State Senate for District #42 (Charleston County) in 1984 and 1988. He was chairman of the South Carolina Senate Delegation from 1989 to 1992 and chairman of the South Carolina Legislative Black Caucus from 1990 to 1992. In the State Senate, he was a member of six standing committees, the General Committee; Banking and Insurance; Finance; Fish, Game, and Forestry; Invitations; and Labor, Commerce, and Industry. He also served on three special committees: the Human Resources Committee of the Southern Legislative Conference, the Joint Committee on Federal Aid to South Carolina, and the Joint Committee on Mental Health and Retardation.

In 1992, Fielding ran in the Democratic Primary for the United States Congress, seeking to represent South Carolina District 6, which had been newly reapportioned as a black majority district. After losing the race to Jim Clyburn, Herbert Fielding retired from his political career.

Fielding has been active in the Calvary Episcopal Church of Charleston, South Carolina Human Affairs Commission, South Carolina Coastal Council, South Carolina Commission for Vocational Rehabilitation, Trident Chamber of Commerce, Trident Council on Alcoholism, and Omega Psi Phi Fraternity. He has served on the Board of Directors of the Sea Island Comprehensive Health Care Corporation, as president of the Robert Gould Shaw Boys Club, as a member of the University of South Carolina Budget Board, and founder and co-chairman of the Charleston County Political Action Committee.

Fielding is married to Thelma Erenne Stent and they have three sons, Julius P. L. II, Herbert Stent, and Frederick Augustus.

SOURCES: (1) Professional Biography, Herbert U. Fielding Papers, Avery Research Center, College of Charleston, Charleston, SC, USA. (2) Fielding Home for Funerals: http://www.fieldingfuneral.com/contact.htm