C.M. "Sonny" Caraway

Middleburg, FL--C.M. “Sonny” Caraway, Jr., 81, of Middleburg, Florida, passed away on Saturday, November 15, 2014.Funeral service will be held at 12 noon, Wednesday, November 19, 2014 at Temples Halloran Funeral Home Chapel, 5400 Bush River Road, Columbia, SC 29212.Entombment will follow in Celestial Memorial Gardens Mausoleum, 3111 Delree Street, West Columbia, SC 29170. The family will greet friends from 11 a.m. -12 p.m. prior to the service at the funeral home. Born in Clinton, SC he was a son to the late Clarence Mahue and Mary Hickey Caraway, Sr. Sonny joined the Navy in 1954 and worked as an Engineman Second Class on the USS Glynn, running and repairing engines. Sonny separated from the Navy in 1955 went back to SC, where he met and married his sweet heart, Emilie Horton Caraway. He worked for Southern Bell as a lineman transitioning to an installer and then a yellow page salesman for 10 years. He also worked for Prentice Hall as a salesman. Sonny was the top salesman winning many company paid vacations throughout his career. Sonny and his family moved a few times throughout the state, eventually calling Wagener, SC their home. He opened Caraway Corporation as the sole owner/operator in Lexington, SC in 1971 and his company specialized in commercial fire equipment and dry ice. In his spare time he enjoyed being a private pilot. At one point in his life he was the private pilot for Senator Strom Thurmond and his wife Nancy. Sonny was a dedicated Shriner with the Jamil temple and flying fezzes; and he flew children in need of care to the Shriner hospitals around the country for treatments. He was also a 32 degree mason with Masonic Lodge 107 of Middleburg, FL with over 50 years of service. He always had a deep love for animals but especially dogs and could always be found with a poodle popping out of the top bib of his overalls just enjoying the ride. Sonny sold his business in 1995 and moved to Red Bug Alley in Middleburg, FL to retire in the sand and sun. Sonny was fondly known as the mayor of Red Bug Alley by his neighbors, due to his determination and ability to have the city pave the neighborhood road. Sonny leaves behind his wife, Emilie Horton Caraway of 58 years; daughters, Kim (Karl Zimmerman ) Caraway of Wagener, SC and Beth (Philip) Burnett of Aiken, SC; a sister, Lorraine (Rich) Abrahamson of Monks Corner, SC; 7 grandchildren; 9 great-grandchildren; and his feathered and fur babies. He was preceded in death by his parents; sons, Jeff and Andy Caraway; brothers, Jim Caraway, Bill Hickey and Bob Caraway. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Saint Jude's Children's Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.