Curtis B. Inabinett


Curtis Benjamin Inabinett Sr., was an American politician. He was a former member of the South Carolina House of Representatives from the 116th District, serving from 1991 to 1999. He was a member of the Democratic party.

Early life, education, military service and career

Inabinett grew up in Colleton County. With the death of his father, he helped run the family farm. Inabinett attended Deep Creek Elementary School and Colleton High School. He graduated from South Carolina State University in Orangeburg and served two years in the US Army during the Korean War, and in the reserves for six years.

Political career

Mayor

Inabinett served as mayor of Ravenel, South Carolina from 1982 to 1990. He was the town's first Black mayor and the first African American appointed to the Charleston County Election Commission.

South Carolina House of Representatives

In 1991, he was elected to the House of Representatives, serving until 1991.
In 2000, Inabinett introduced the bill ending South Carolina's constitutional ban on interracial marriage. He joined other lawmakers on the compromise that removed the Confederate battle flag from the State House dome.

Personal life

Inabinett was married to Ethel Joy. They had one son, Curtis Inabinett, Jr.

Death and funeral

Inabinett died on June 26, 2023 at age 91. On July 6th, Governor Henry McMaster issued an Executive Order to lower flags from sunrise to sunset on July 8th in his honor. His funeral was held at Charleston First Assembly in West Ashley, and one of the speakers was South Carolina State Representative Wendell Gilliard and Ravenel Mayor Stephen Tumbleston,

Honors and legacy

In 2022, the South Carolina General Assembly passed legislation to name a portion of U.S. Route 17 in South Carolina in Charleston County after Inabinett.
Inabinett received the Order of the Palmetto and in 2014 by a resolution from Congressman Jim Clyburn was also the namesake for a post office in Ravenel.Clyburn and State Representative McKinley Washington Jr. were present for the U.S. Postal Service ceremony.
In 2024, Inabinett was remembered in a ceremony preserving Wallace Creek Park.
Inabinett received an honorary degree from the College of Charleston.