Myrtle Beach: James Adelbert (Del) Merchant lost his long battle with cancer on January 19, 2013, at the Tidelands Community Hospice in Georgetown. He was born on January 9, 1946, in Greenville, the son of the Reverend James A. and Ruth J. Merchant. As the son of a Methodist minister, he lived in Greenville, Hickory Grove, Seneca, Dillon, Orangeburg and Greenwood. He was the grandson of Reverend James Ernest Merchant who was pastor of First United Methodist Church in Myrtle Beach in the 1950s. He was a graduate of Dillon High School and of Wofford College where he was a member of Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity. Following his graduation from college he lived for several years in Washington, DC, where he worked on the staff of Senator Strom Thurmond and then for W. R. Grace & Company before returning to South Carolina. He lived in Myrtle Beach from 1981 until the time of his death. He worked as a tennis professional at various tennis clubs and was the manager of the Ocean Creek Tennis Club until 2009. He loved tennis, golf and the University of South Carolina Gamecocks. Three safaris in Africa also inspired a passionate belief in the need to preserve wildlife. He is survived by his sister, Carol R. Merchant of 8923 Wesley Place, Knoxville, Tennessee. In lieu of flowers, it is requested that memorials be made to Tidelands Community Hospice, 2591 N. Fraser St., Georgetown, SC 29440 or to the World Wildlife Fund at worldwildlife.org. Services will be held at the chapel of First United Methodist Church, 901 N. Kings Hwy., Myrtle Beach, SC on Thursday, January 24, at 1:30 PM. Following the service, a reception will be held at the home of longtime friends Randy and Susan Battle, 160 Cabana Rd., Myrtle Beach, SC. Sign a guest book at www.mayerfuneralhome.com The Georgetown Chapel of Mayer Funeral Home is assisting the family. Funeral Home: Georgetown Chapel of Mayer Funeral Home 222 Saint James Street Georgetown, SC US 29440