Doing it the right way: Robert Moses, Sumter businessman, community servant, husband, father, loyal friend turns 100
Sumter native and lifelong resident Robert Moses turns 100 today, and his friends and family are celebrating the milestone by reflecting on his character, personality and accomplishments.
Associates use many adjectives to describe him, among them "honorable, honest, considerate, sincere, kind, modest, respectful and patient." Many know him as a successful Realtor with his brother Herbert, as owners and operators of the Henry P. Moses Co., a real estate and insurance firm, long located at 122 S. Main St. opposite the former post office. He was among the first in the state to obtain his MAI - Member of the Appraisal Institute - a trade organization that monitors appraisers and holds them to the highest standards.
Born in Sumter to Henry Phillips and Charlotte Emmanuel Moses in 1921, Moses was educated in the Sumter public school system and graduated with The Citadel's Class of 1942. He served as an Air Force pilot of a single-engine aircraft during World War II. Following the war, Moses and his new wife, Harriett Pace Moses, moved back to Sumter, where they raised five daughters - Natalie, Carol, Laura, Elizabeth and Katherine.
After Harriett's death in 2002, Moses married Clara Gayness Keilwert.
Laura describes Moses as a father as " loving, gentle and playful a great companion and an exceptional teacher. All our lives he has taught us by giving clear step-by-step instructions. He once talked me through changing a flat tire during which he never touched the tools or the tire. I have not changed a tire since, but knowing that I could if I had to gives me confidence."
An accomplished baker, famous for his scones, he "has overseen many baking sessions of us making (them)."
Laura said her father also teaches "by example with thoughtful conversations on many topics."
Carol noted that "he and my mother were very, very firm on being anti-prejudice and said there were good and bad people of all races and never permitted opinions otherwise. When we would hear prejudiced things other people said and ask our parents, they would take a strong stand and denounce racial prejudice. They also boycotted places that would not serve Black customers.
"Doing what was right, treating people politely, fairly, honestly; putting principles over financial gain."
Jay Schwartz, a longtime member of Temple Sinai, Sumter's only synagogue, who was instrumental in establishing the Temple Sinai Jewish History Center, has known Moses for many years. He said when he thinks of Moses, the first thing that comes to his mind is, "He is a gentleman. Secondly, it is just special to be in his company.
"Robert has meant so much to Temple Sinai over his lifetime. His service and caring for the temple cannot be matched. As the temple membership started to diminish, Robert was adamant that we could find new members and grow the congregation. While this is still a goal, he was instrumental in working with the Long Term Planning Committee, which over time put in place a plan to ensure that the temple will have purpose and meaning far into the future.
"At 100, he is still called on for guidance and input. We continue to welcome and value his opinion."
In addition to his service to the community and his career, Moses has many other active interests, including walking, cultivating daphnes, birdwatching, cooking, keeping up with family and friends and more.
His daughters said he loves the "natural world," spending time at the beach, in the mountains, state parks and other natural areas and teaching appropriate skills to his daughters.
Moses also watched his daughters' health.
"Long before it was an accepted mainstream idea, Daddy limited our sugar intake. We grew up drinking unsweetened iced tea and never were allowed any sweetened cereal. But in complete inconsistence, Daddy had a well-founded reputation for his taste for chocolate.
"As a parent," Carol said, "he was very involved in some (not all) aspects. He was at the office, and my mother was 'at home.'
"His personality is pretty steady, consistent, fair. Good at explaining things. He helped us do garden projects (grow vegetables, flowers, etc.), make cages for the various outdoor pets; we had turtles, baby chicks, mice, snakes."
Known for his storytelling talents, Laura said, "He is sociable and often relates stories of his childhood, his parents and siblings growing up in Sumter. It was hard for us to imagine having a horse, a cow, a goat and chickens in a backyard in town."
Allan Kaye, another longtime friend of the family, said Moses taught him the "facts of life" of living in a small town.
"My father was a New York City boy. He grew up on Manhattan and went to college and law school on Manhattan. In fact, he basically never left until he was 'invited' to join the Army before the USA was thrown into World War II," Kaye said. "So, it was Robert who took me fishing and taught me how to bait a hook and that he who catches the fish must also clean the fish.
"It was Robert's quiet, confident demeanor that gave me, a small boy with a fear of heights, the confidence to climb a tree. You always felt safe when Robert had your back. When he said he would be there to catch you if you slipped and fell, you knew you would be caught."
Kaye also benefited from Moses' generosity in other ways.
He said, "After Robert's third daughter was born, I think he read the writing on the wall and gave me things he must have been saving for his son. One of my prized possessions growing up was Robert's leather pilot's helmet from his time as pilot in the Air Force.
"Growing up in the '40s and '50s, at least in the South, there was a distinct line between which things men did and the things women did. Robert was the first man I knew who cooked and baked. He was well ahead of the times in breaking the social barriers that separated roles by sex."
Moses' niece, Ginger Mahon Mize, recalled a story her mother, Ta Mahon Mize, told her.
"I think of my Uncle Robert as one who embraces life playing tennis with his siblings in his 70s, traveling, hiking Mt. Leconte on a senior pass and sending detailed emails today," Mize said.
Mize saw her uncle's mischievous side in her mother's story.
"Uncle Robert tells of being a model child who wished to give his sister Ta a little surprise," she said. "One Christmas morning while all the family was asleep, he came down early and took all the presents out of Ta's stocking and filled it with switches. Waiting to see how surprised his sister would be, Uncle Robert was surprised at his parents' reaction!
"This wonderful sparkle in his eyes continues. Uncle Robert can nurture edible mushrooms to grow in the crawl space of his home and wild birds to feed out of his hand. Uncle Robert has always been a close uncle, gentle, loving and polite man with a strong connection to his family, synagogue and community."
While Robert Moses has many accomplishments for him and his family to be proud of on this day, his daughters agree, as Laura said, "To me, his greatest accomplishment is being a loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather and raising five independent daughters."