“Please keep the Outlaw family in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time,” said South Congaree Mayor Cindy Campbell. “Mr. Tar Outlaw, the last remaining founder of the Town of South Congaree, will be greatly missed, but his legacy will endure.” Below is Mr. Outlaw’s obituary.

Paul David “Tar” Outlaw left his earthly life to be with the Lord on January 2nd, 2025. Mr. Outlaw (Pawpaw to his children and grandchildren) was born in Charlotte, North Carolina on March 24, 1931. Tar Outlaw was the son of George Earl Outlaw and Letha Ellen Crouch Outlaw. They nicknamed him “Tar Baby” because he was born in the Tar Heel State. In 1933, young Tar settled with his parents in the Styx area of Lexington County, South Carolina as one of the original families. With his guidance, Styx would become the Town of South Congaree in 1957.

Tar graduated from Brookland-Cayce High School in 1949 and joined the U.S. Air Force to serve his country in both Korea and stateside. While serving in the Air Force in California, he met the lovely Martha Nell Gipson (Babe) on a blind date. The young couple wed on May 18, 1954 and moved to Tar’s last Air Force station, in El Paso, Texas. In December 1954, he returned home to West Columbia with his new bride. That same month, he purchased their first family car known as “Old Yeller.” Tar returned to work with his brother-in-law, Ernest Vining, at Vining and Outlaw Garage, one of the original businesses in the Town of South Congaree. Customers and friends of the community were like family to him. Tar was a founding father for the town of South Congaree and he served the town for many years on various boards and committees. He also served his church, Dunn’s Chapel, where he was a steward for eight years and taught Sunday school for forty-five years. Tar had an uplifting personality and loved his children and family. He also enjoyed summers traveling out west to visit Babe’s family that he loved dearly. Tar enjoyed gardening, tinkering with anything mechanical and restored numerous old cars and tractors.

Tar was much-loved by many nieces, nephews, cousins, in-laws and outlaws across the globe. Tar was the loving, caring, and supportive caregiver of Babe until her death in 2007. Later, having renewed acquaintance with a former classmate, JoAnne Whitlock Neese, he married a second time, wedding JoAnne on June 23, 2009.

Tar is survived by his daughter, Pattie Beerman (John); son, Rex Outlaw (Michelle); son-in-law, Marion “Pedro” Spires; daughter-in-law, Robin Outlaw; grandchildren, Spike Smith (Felicia), Lisa Johnson (Kevin), Brad Marchant (Shelley), Matthew Spires, Ryan Outlaw, Chloe Woody (Layton), Cassie Outlaw, Chandler Outlaw (Ashlyn), and Martha Claire Outlaw; and eleven great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his stepchildren, Cindy Prather (Jim), Robert, Ruth and Andrew Neese.

Tar was preceded in death by his parents, George Earl and Letha Crouch Outlaw; his wife of 53 years, Martha “Babe” Outlaw; his wife, JoAnne Outlaw; daughter, Tara Outlaw Spires; son, David “Les” Outlaw; grandsons, Reed Outlaw and Mathew Spires; sister, Alice and her husband, Ernest Vining; brother, Earl, his wife, Margie Outlaw and wife Betty Outlaw; brother, Dick and his wife Patsy Outlaw.

The family would like to say a special thank you to Senator Katrina Shealy for her friendship and support over many years and everyone (the doctors, nurses, administrators and other staff loved him like family) at CM Tucker Stone for the care, peace and comfort given to the family in Mr. Outlaw’s final days. Visitation will be at 10:00 am on January 6th, 2025 at Dunn’s Chapel with a funeral service at 11:00 am. Entombment will follow at Southland Memorial Gardens Mausoleum. Funeral arrangements are being handled by Caughman-Harman at Southland Memorial Gardens, 700 Dunbar Rd, West Columbia, SC 29170.

Pallbearers are Spike Smith, Brad Marchant, Brycen Johnson, Chandler Outlaw, London Spires and Brodie Johnson.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Dunn’s Chapel, 281 Chapel Rd, West Columbia, SC 29172.