Hunter R. Stokes, Sr., MD

          A gifted and beloved Legend of South Carolina and a native son of the Pee Dee has passed. Dr. Hunter Rhoad Stokes, Sr, affectionately known to loved ones as Dr. Hunter, Grandfather, and Sultan passed away on January 2, 2026, in Florence, SC, where he served as an extraordinarily patient focused surgeon for decades as well as a community and philanthropic leader for the past 40 plus years. Born on October 30, 1938, Dr. Hunter was the son of the late Dr. J. Howard Stokes, Sr, also a medical eye care and eye surgery pioneer, and the late Helen Rhoad Stokes. Educated in the public schools of Florence, Dr. Hunter graduated with distinction in 1960 from his prized Wofford College, which institution would later graduate both of his brothers and all three of his sons. Dr. Hunter would answer the clarion call of alumni service to Wofford in serving in multiple leadership positions including as a member of the prestigious Wofford Board of Trustees and the Wofford Alumni Board. Wofford reciprocated in part by naming Dr. Hunter its “Distinguished Young Alumnus of 1974.”  Dr. Hunter was subsequently joined by his brothers and family collectively in endowing a laboratory and study area at Wofford’s highly regarded pre-med science building.

          Following Wofford graduation Dr. Hunter matriculated at the Medical University of South Carolina (“MUSC”) where he would continue to demonstrate his charismatic leadership by serving as Class President all four years of his medical school class. He later returned to MUSC to teach in the Eye and Pediatric Departments of MUSC as well as serving as the highly visible President of the MUSC Alumni Association. After his graduation from MUSC, Dr. Hunter moved to Atlanta to complete his Internship in Internal Medicine at Emory University. That Medical Internship was followed by his Ophthalmology Residency at the world-famous Wills Eye Hospital in Philadelphia where he served as Chief Resident his final year. Dr. Hunter would continue to serve Wills Eye over the years as a Director of Medical Education and as President of the Wills Eye Alumni Association. From his impressive experiences, both of his brothers, J and Parker, as well as both of his physician sons, Hunter Jr. and Mark, would all complete their ophthalmology residencies at Wills Eye. After his Wills Eye residency, Dr. Hunter would serve our nation in uniform by becoming the Chief of Ophthalmology at the US Army Camp Zama, Japan, where he was honorably discharged with the officer rank of Major. During his tour of duty with the army in Japan, Dr. Hunter would develop a lifelong interest for artifacts from that country and region which he generously shared with the community.

          Following his military service, Dr. Hunter returned to Florence in 1969 where he joined his father in growing what would become the nationally known Stokes Regional Eye Center. Ophthalmologists from around the globe would come into Florence to observe the surgical methods and medical eye treatments utilized at the Stokes Eye Center which continues with its professional prominence by having both of Dr. Hunter’s sons, Hunter, Jr and Mark, and other well educated and well-trained ophthalmologists at the clinic serve its patients. Contemporaneously with serving his patient-focused medical and surgical practice, Dr. Hunter, consistent with his passion as a true community leader, began dedicated years of leadership with the YMCA, Florence Arts Council, Red Cross, Florence Symphony, SC State Musuem as well as a heartfelt involvement with his cherished Central United Methodist Church. With each of these regional organizations and many others, Dr. Hunter served as a dedicated Board Member and with most of them as its Board Chair.

          As the Stokes Regional Eye Center continued with its state and national visibility, Dr. Hunter brought his unequaled and passionate Leadership to the American Academy of Ophthalmology (“AAO”) and the then nascent South Carolina Society of Ophthalmology (“SCSO”). It was during this period starting in the 1970’s that the amazing leadership of Dr. Hunter was on full display as he helped create the AAO’s State Affairs Committee and led it by serving as its First National Chair. Almost simultaneously Dr. Hunter helped to create the AAO’s Secretariat for Governmental Relations (federal level) at which time he served as its first Chair/Secretariat. For his legendary leadership with the Academy,  Dr. Hunter was the first recipient from SC to be recognized with the AAO’s Honor Award which was soon followed by Dr. Hunter being a recipient of the AAO’s Senior Honor Award. Dr. Hunter would also serve as the South Carolina Society’s President where he would be selected by this now nationally known state ophthalmology group with its prestigious Honor Award. And as almost a superhuman act of community focus and medical talent, Dr. Hunter would serve as Chief of Staff at the frequently awarded McLeod Regional Medical Center. And as an inspiring example of his dedication to care for all eye care patients, Dr. Hunter would go on more than a dozen medical missions to both Haiti and Kenya over two decades while also delivering over 300 medical lectures during his distinguished medical career with approximately 50 of such lectures being of national and international in substance and scope for the AAO.

          After 23 years of private practice at the Stokes Regional Eye Center, Dr. Hunter retired in 1992 at which time he was immediately tasked with becoming Professor and Interim Chair of the Department of Ophthalmology at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine. In that setting, he led and inspired future ophthalmologists in his role of teaching and administration for USC. Over the many years of his philanthropic service and in appropriate recognition for his many years of dedicated service to the community and state, Dr. Hunter has been honored as the SC Jaycees Young Man of the Year, the recipient of Wills Eye Hospital Silver Tray Award, the recipient of Pennsylvania Ophthalmology President’s Award, Board Member of the South Carolina State Museum, Board Member of the Florence Symphony Orchestra, and the recipient of the YMCA Southeast Regional and International Distinguished Service Awards.

          In the words of the Apostle Paul who declared “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith”; the extraordinary life of Hunter Stokes, Sr, MD certainly encapsulates a most meaningful life of personal faith, service to others, and professional accomplishment in his fighting the good fight and his finishing the race.

          In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by his brother, Dr. J. Howard Stokes and J’s wife Peggy.

          His survivors include his wife, Patsy Lee Stokes, who provided many years of attention, devotion, and loving care for Hunter; his sons, Dr. Hunter Stokes, Jr, Dr. Mark Stokes (Sissy Smith) and Bryant Stokes (Laura Stephenson); one step-daughter, Amos Lee, and one step-son, Ben Lee (Audra); his beloved brother Parker Stokes MD (Jaime); eleven grandchildren, Laura Peace Stokes, Helen Stokes Harrell (Cole), Dr. Jennifer Stokes Johnston (Casey), Chandler Parker Stokes (Callie), Caroline Hunter Stokes (Zach Heaton), Lauren Elizabeth Stokes, Gracie Smith, Nate Lee, Benson Lee, Braxton Lee and Ellie Lee, in addition to five great-grandchildren, Harper, Amelia, Sawyer, James and Lola.

          Memorial Service will be 3:00 p.m., Sunday, January 4, 2026, at Central United Methodist Church with Rev. Thomas Smith and Rev. Tom Pietila officiating.

          In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Uncle B’s Outdoors, LLC, 622 Greenway Drive, Florence, SC  29501; Central United Methodist Church, 265 W. Cheves St., Florence, SC  29501; or Masterworks Choir, P. O. Box 4979, Florence, SC  29502-4979.

          Waters-Powell Funeral Home is assisting the family with the services.

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