James John Raman

James John Raman, Attorney at Law, 91, of Spartanburg, died Wednesday, August 15, 2012, at Spartanburg Regional Medical Center, after a brief illness. Born May 17, 1921, in Spartanburg, he was the husband, for 55 years, of Mary Fagan Raman of Spartanburg, and son of the late John Ramantanin and Evantheia Macropoulos Ramantanin.

A graduate of Wofford College and the University of South Carolina School of Law, Class of 1950, he also did post graduate studies at Harvard Law School. He was the senior member and past president of the Spartanburg County Bar Association, a member of the South Carolina Federal and American Bar Associations, and also a member of the American Trial Lawyers Association. At the time of his death he was serving as an active member of the State Practice and Procedure Committee of the South Carolina Bar, as a member and former chairman of the Consumer Law Section, and was a member of the Spartanburg County Estate Planning Counsel. He served on many other committees, both State and local, including the Spartanburg County New Jail Committee, and was a member of the Spartanburg Municipal Election Commission for a number of terms. Until his illness, he was also actively engaged in the private practice of law in Spartanburg, South Carolina.

He was admitted to practice before the South Carolina Supreme Court, United States District Court for the District of South Carolina, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, the United States Court of Military Appeals, and the United States Supreme Court.

In 1990 he was a recipient of one of the South Carolina pro bono awards for participating in the South Carolina Bar's pro bono program for the indigent. He was an original member of the National Association of Consumer Advocates, an association committed to protecting the best interest of the American Consumer.

For the last 25 years, he has practiced primarily in the field of Consumer Law. During his legal career he handled over 30 appeals to the South Carolina and United States Appellate Courts. He was recognized statewide as an expert in the field of Consumer Law, having lectured on Consumer Law for the South Carolina Bar, the National Business Institute, and the South Carolina Court Administration.

A U. S. Army veteran of World War II, he achieved the rank of Major and retired from the Army National Guard with 29 years of service in the Judge Advocate General's Corps. His last assignment was Brigade Staff Judge Advocate in the South Carolina National Guard. He was also a past State Commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

Mr. Raman was a member of Covenant Presbyterian Church where he served on various committees. He was also a member of the Breakfast Optimist Club, an organization that helps children, which he loved very much.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by a sister, Areta R. Nolan of Long Island, NY. He was predeceased by brothers, Poly Ramantanin, and Alex Ramantanin; a sister, Olga Petras; and a number of nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be 6:00-8:00 Saturday, August 18, 2012 at Floyd's Greenlawn Chapel. Funeral services will be conducted at 2:00 PM Sunday, August 19, 2012, at Floyd's Greenlawn Chapel, by the Rev. Robert H. Brozina, the Honorable James F. Fraley, and Mr. Paul T. McChesney, Esq. Burial with military rites by Fort Jackson Honor Guard will follow in Greenlawn Memorial Gardens.

Honorary escort is members of Spartanburg County Bar Association.

Pallbearers are Ted Gurley, David Rice, Gary W. Poliakoff, the Honorable J. Mark Hayes II, Doug Brannon, Dwight Patterson, Albert V. Smith, and Gary Compton.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Children's Shelter of the Upstate, PO Box 2663, Spartanburg, SC 29304.

The family is at the home at 99 Pennell Drive (White's Mill), Spartanburg, SC.

Floyd's Greenlawn Chapel