Dr. James P. Mahaffey

James P. Mahaffey, a career educator and native South Carolinian, passed away at the age of 90 on January 28, 2026, in Atlanta, Georgia. He was the husband of Nora Dean Padgett Mahaffey for 64 years. He is now with his Savior and has been reunited with many loved ones and especially his mother who passed away when he was 2 years old.

Born in Greenville, South Carolina on September 29, 1935, he was the son of the late Earl Perry Mahaffey and the late Flora Painter Mahaffey, as well as the late Mary L. Coker Mahaffey, his stepmother. He was also the foster son of the late Robert Hudson Monroe and the late Margaret Coker Monroe with whom he lived in Simpsonville, South Carolina, from his early teen years until his graduation from college.

In 1953, upon graduation from Simpsonville High School, he received a James F. Byrnes Scholarship, provided by S.C. Governor James F. Byrnes and Mrs. Maude B. Byrnes for orphaned students. He attended Furman University where he received a B.A. degree with honors in 1957 in preparation for a teaching career. He was awarded a fellowship from the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching to study at Peabody College (Vanderbilt University), where he received a M.A. degree in English and reading instruction. Through the years, Dr. Mahaffey received grants to study at the University of Tennessee, the University of Chicago, and the University of South Carolina where he was awarded a Ph.D. degree in the areas of reading instruction and learning disabilities. During his career, Dr. Mahaffey continued his studies in other leading universities to increase his effectiveness as an educator and consultant to many school districts.

Dr. Mahaffey held various positions over his 44 years in education, starting as a classroom teacher at Hillcrest High School in The School District of Greenville County and advancing to become the district’s first reading and English supervisor. Later, he became the first reading supervisor in the South Carolina Department of Education. He also served as the assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction in Anderson School District Five, associate professor of education at Furman University, and associate superintendent for instruction in the Horry County School District. Upon retirement from the Horry County School District in 1991, he received an appointment as professor of education and chair of the Education Department at Wofford College. When he retired from Wofford in 2000, he was awarded the title of professor of education emeritus.

During Dr. Mahaffey’s career, he served in various adjunct teaching positions in other colleges and universities in South Carolina and North Carolina. In addition, he served as a consultant and teacher staff development leader in reading education in many states. Believing that all schools can improve their programs for students, he became affiliated with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS), then the highest regional accreditation agency for all schools, colleges, and universities in the Southeast. He served in leadership accreditation positions in South Carolina SACS and was on the SACS Board of Trustees in Atlanta. Later, the accreditation organization expanded to become ADvancED, serving 30 states. The South Carolina affiliate presented him an award in 1995 for his achievements in education. As the first SC recipient of this award, it was later named the James P. Mahaffey Outstanding Education Award to be presented annually to a worthy educator.

Dr. Mahaffey was affiliated with many professional organizations and received numerous awards for his contributions to education, including his being named the Outstanding Administrator in 1991 by the South Carolina Association of School Administrators. An advocate for promoting literacy, he helped organize the South Carolina International Reading Association in 1972 and later served a term as president of the organization.

Along with his wife, he was always active and involved in teaching children and youth in churches in the cities where they lived and were members over the years. He was a longtime active member of the First Baptist Church in Conway, serving in teaching and leadership roles in the church. Both he and his wife were dedicated supporters of the South Carolina Baptist Connie Maxwell Children’s Ministries. After moving to Metro Atlanta in his later years to be near his daughter, he attended Oak Grove United Methodist Church with the family.

Dr. Mahaffey is survived by his devoted and loving wife Dean, his very special and caring daughter Janet M. Christenbury, and his wonderful twin grandsons Owen and Will Christenbury of Decatur, Georgia. He was predeceased by two sisters, Grace M. Walters and Norah M. Gunderson, two brothers, Lewis E. Mahaffey and Alvin J. Mahaffey, and two foster sisters Dottie M. Elletson and Susan M. Renfrow. He is survived by several very special nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held on Friday, February 6, 2026, at Mackey Funerals and Cremations at Woodlawn Memorial Park, 1 Pine Knoll Drive, Greenville, South Carolina, 29609. Visitation begins at 11 a.m. and the funeral service will be held at 12 noon in Mackey Funeral Home chapel. Interment will follow at 1 p.m. in Woodlawn Memorial Park.

In lieu of flowers, and in honor of Dr. Mahaffey, memorials may be made or sent to The James F. Byrnes Foundation, P.O. Box 6781, Columbia, SC 29260 or Connie Maxwell Children’s Ministries, 810 Maxwell Avenue, Greenwood, SC 29648. Links to these organizations can be found below. Both were very special in his life because these ministries served and cared for others.