Serving Barnwell County and its neighbors since 1852
BLACKVILLE - Dr. Michael “Mike” Jack Sullivan, 81, died Nov. 5, 2026 in Denmark, S.C., after a battle with cancer and heart disease. Born on Aug. 11, 1945, in Goose Creek, Texas, he grew up in Crystal Falls, Texas, with his parents, the late Jack W. and Martha Sullivan.
Sullivan graduated from Breckenridge High School and received a bachelor’s degree from Texas Tech University, followed by a master’s and doctorate from North Carolina State University.
A longtime resident of Blackville, S.C., Sullivan was a retired entomologist from Clemson University’s Edisto Research and Education Center, where he worked for 32 years and briefly served as director. He conducted agricultural research and mentored countless high school, college and grad students over the years.
Sullivan frequently visited local schools to talk about his work as a “Bug Doctor,” and encourage students to study science. His work took him beyond the cotton and soybean fields of South Carolina to work on projects in Brazil, Indonesia and Puerto Rico. Throughout his professional career, he was honored by the South Carolina House of Representatives, South Carolina Soybean Board, South Carolina Entomological Society and the South Carolina Department of Education. Sullivan served as a commissioner of the Barnwell Soil and Water Conservation District for 15 years. He was well known in the local farming community for his consulting on fighting agricultural pests.
Sullivan was devoted to his family and community. He had a mischievous sense of humor and loved making people laugh. He was a deacon and long-time volunteer at First Baptist Church in Blackville. Happiest when outdoors, Sullivan loved hunting, fishing, grilling and gardening. He was a lifelong Dallas Cowboys, Clemson Tigers and Blackville-Hilda Hawks football fan.
Sullivan is survived by his wife of 61 years, Wynnell Ruth Belcher Sullivan of Blackville; three sons, Carl Sullivan of New York City, D.J. Sullivan (wife Margaret) of St. Helena Island, S.C., and Charles Sullivan of Honea Path, S.C. His surviving grandchildren are Chandler, Clayton and Carter Sullivan, all of Honea Path, Jerrell Rivers of Charlotte, Shayla Moultrie of Beaufort, and Sha’kaylia Morrell of Seattle; and one great-grandchild, Essence Antley of Seattle.
Visitation with the family will be held at Blackville First Baptist Church from 10 a.m. to noon on Thursday, Nov. 12, followed by a Celebration of Life Service at noon in the church sanctuary with the Reverend Ken Frederick and Dr. Thomas Terry officiating.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 11796, Charlotte, N.C. 28220 or First Baptist Church, Blackville, P.O. Box 217, Blackville, S.C. 29817.
Folk Funeral Home, Inc. and Crematory is assisting the family with arrangements. Visit the online registry at www.folkfuneralhome.com.
