The Honorable J. Ernest Kinard Jr. 75 of Camden died Tuesday May 19 2015 at home after a courageous battle with cancer. A family funeral service will be held at St. Timothys Lutheran Church followed by interment at Quaker Cemetery. Judge Kinards friends and colleagues are invited to a memorial service which will be held at 3:00 pm Friday May 22 at First Baptist Church of Camden 1201 Broad Street. The family will receive visitors immediately after the memorial service in the Historic Robert Mills Courthouse 607 Broad Street. Born October 18 1939 in Newberry SC he was the son of the late J. Ernest Kinard Sr. and Blanche Lominick Kinard. He attended Clemson University and graduated from the University of South Carolina in 1961. In 1964 he was awarded a law degree from the University of South Carolina School of Law. While in law school he was admitted to the Order of the Wig and Robe. Judge Kinard especially enjoyed spending time with his family traveling and reading. A lifelong athlete he played both offense and defense on the Newberry High School football team of 1956 and was voted best blocker. He was an avid golfer for over 40 years. In 2014 he won first place in his flight in the Myrtle Beach World Amateur and was awarded the Overall Winner of the 35th Annual Judicial Invitational Golf Classic. He joined the Savage Firm in Camden in January of 1964. As a general practitioner he handled all types of legal matters. He served as the firms managing partner until elected to the South Carolina Circuit Court in 1988. As a Circuit Judge he served as Chief Judge for Administrative Purposes in numerous circuits held court in all 46 counties and served as the first presiding judge of the State Grand Jury. Judge Kinard was named Trial Judge of the Year in 2006 by the SC Chapter of the American Bar of Trial Advocates and was awarded the Rhodes/McDonald Trophy by the ONeal Inn of Court in 2011. For the six years prior to his active retirement in October 2010 he was the most senior active Circuit Judge in South Carolina. He continued to serve a full assigned schedule as an active/retired Circuit Judge even while battling cancer never missing a day of holding court in twenty seven years. Active in local affairs Judge Kinard served as president of the Camden Sertoma Club the Kershaw County Chamber of Commerce and the Kershaw County Bar Association. He also supported the United Way of Kershaw County as Fund Drive Chairman served as a trustee of Louise C. Proctor Hall and was a member of the church council of St. Timothys Lutheran Church. Judge Kinard is survived by his wife of fifty two years Kay Davis Kinard his daughter Kami Kinard and her husband Shannon Mullen his daughter Audrey Kinard Smith and her husband Andrew M.G. Smith his son John E. Kinard III and his wife Amy L. Kinard and his grandchildren Justice and Corinne Mullen Eliza Livingston Smith and Vivian and Davis Kinard. He is also survived by his sister Dale Kinard Brown and her husband B.L. his brother James Ira Kinard and his wife Betsy his sister-in-law Gayle Davis Lindley and his nieces Donna Kacey Jenny and Marianna their spouses and children. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to St. Timothys Lutheran Church 1301 Mill Street Camden SC 29020 or the United Way of Kershaw County P.O. Box 737 Camden SC 29021. Kornegay Funeral Home Camden Chapel is assisting the family. www.kornegayfuneralhome.com