Wrongful death lawyer in Taylors, SC

Dennis Carroll Ballentine, age 79, of Taylors, SC, went to be with the Lord on February 26, 2026.

Born in Columbia, SC, he was the son of the late Ena Trussell Ballentine and the late Bernard Carroll Ballentine of Columbia, SC.

Dennis graduated from A. C. Flora High School in Columbia and received his bachelor's degree from the University of South Carolina. He served in Vietnam with the Mobile Riverine Force in the Mekong Delta where he received two Bronze Stars and the Navy Achievement Medal with Combat V. He received an honorable discharge after serving for four years with the United States Navy and later received the Quilt of Valor. He was a certified public accountant with S.D. Leidesdorf National CPA firm and then became Vice President of Finance with Hewitt Coleman and Associates. Later he owned his own CPA practice, Clarke and Ballentine, LLC, later renamed Ballentine and Hodges, LLC, before retiring in 2013. Since 1973 he was an active member of Taylors First Baptist Church, part of the church's security team, and an usher. He also served in various church ministries: he was a coach for a boys' basketball team, Royal Ambassador leader, marriage small group facilitator, Intercessory Prayer member, and Finance Committee member. He served on the Board for the Taylors Free Medical Clinic, served on the Board of the Paraclete Foundation, the Greenville Estate Planning Council, and the Finance Committee at the Poinsett Club. He supported World Vision and the North Greenville University Christian Ministry Scholarship Fund and served on the board of directors of the Christian Ministry Scholarship Fund. He also held membership in numerous professional and civic organizations.

He was predeceased by his brother, Doug Ballentine of Lilburn, GA.

Surviving are his wife of 56 years Mitsy Winburn Ballentine, of the home; his son, Representative Nathan Ballentine of Chapin, SC; his two precious grandchildren, JC and Emma of Chapin, SC; sister-in-law, Gail Ballentine of Auburn, GA; brother-in-law, John (Susan) Winburn of Greer, SC; brother-in-law, Rev. Bob (Kathy) Clarke of Alpharetta, GA; and several nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews.

The family will receive friends in the Welcome Center at the church at 1:00 p.m. prior to the services. Services will be at 2 p.m. on March 3, 2026, at Taylors First Baptist Church. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials may be made to Taylors First Baptist Church, 200 W. Main Street, Taylors, SC 29687, Taylors Free Medical Clinic, 400 W. Main Street, Taylors, SC 29687, or North Greenville University Christian Ministry Scholarship Fund, North Greenville University, P.O. Box 1892, Tigerville, South Carolina 29688.

Mackey Mortuary will be handling the arrangements.

State health officials are reporting 44 new cases of measles in the state since Tuesday, bringing the total number of cases in South Carolina related to the Upstate outbreak to 920.

The South Carolina Department of Public Health (DPH) said there are currently 277 people in quarantine and eight in isolation. The latest end of quarantine for these is March 2.

As of Feb. 6, 840 of those infected are unvaccinated; 20 are partially vaccinated; 24 are fully vaccinated and the vaccination status of 36 is unknown.

Spartanburg County has the highest number of cases, which is currently at 879.

DPH has identified numerous locations where exposures to infectious measles may have occurred. DPH has defined the times of potential exposure at the following locations:

The risk of exposure in the locations is limited to the specific dates and times announced. Once that time frame has passed, the location is not an ongoing risk for measles exposure. Exposures occurred only when an infectious person was present during the defined time. These locations are not a source of ongoing exposure, and businesses and locations identified are not responsible for a person with measles having been present.

People who were exposed at Rick Erwin’s Level 10 Restaurant, Boost Mobile and the Social Security Administration, especially those without immunity through vaccination or previous disease, should monitor for symptoms through Feb. 19. Those exposed at Target should monitor for symptoms through Feb. 20.

Vaccination continues to be the best way to prevent measles and stop this outbreak. Vaccines are available at many primary care provider offices and pharmacies, as well as DPH Health Departments.

In January 2026, there was a strong increase in measles vaccinations across the state and in Spartanburg, where the outbreak is centered. Over 16,800 doses of measles vaccine were administered statewide, an increase of more than 7,000 doses compared to January 2025, a 72% increase. In Spartanburg County, there was a 162% increase in doses administered in January 2026 as compared to January 2025. Almost 1,200 doses of MMR were administered statewide to infants aged 6-11 months in January. These doses given earlier than the routine schedule that begins at 12 months are recommended for infants in an outbreak setting and are essential to protecting the most vulnerable children.

“January was the best month for measles vaccination we’ve experienced during this outbreak,” said Dr. Linda Bell, state epidemiologist and DPH’s Health Programs Branch director and incident commander for the measles outbreak.

In response to the ongoing measles outbreak in the Upstate, DPH will activate its Mobile Health Unit to offer measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccination to the public at no cost on: