Dedicated board member, dentist remembered for his wit, wisdom

Cotesworth “Coty” P. Fishburne IV, DDS, a member of MUSC Board of Trustees for 25 years, died April 10 at Piedmont Medical Center in Rock Hill, South Carolina. He was 82.

Board chairman Charles W. Schulze remembered Dr. Fishburne’s dedication and quarter century service to South Carolina’s premiere academic medical center. “It was a distinct honor to serve alongside Dr. Cody Fishburne for over twelve years on the MUSC Board of Trustees. Cody was not an alumnus of MUSC but his dedication to the school made it seem like he was. Cody wanted nothing but the best for MUSC and especially the dental school.  We will miss his it and wisdom and his love for his fellow board of trustee members.”

A general dentist, Dr. Fishburne joined MUSC’s Board of Trustees from 1988 to 2013 representing the Congressional District 5 during his work on the board. Originally from Walterboro, Dr. Fishburne was the son of the late Beryl Brawley and Cotesworth P. Fishburne III and was born July 20, 1937. 

He received his degree from Wofford College and completed dentistry at the Medical College of Virginia Dental School in 1963. After serving two years as a captain in the U.S. Army Dental Corps, he established a dental practice in Rock Hill in 1965 until his retirement in 2002. 

Dr. Fishburne contributed to the dental profession through several dental inventions. He served as a musician, philanthropist, leader and participant in local, regional and national dental professional organizations, community groups and clubs. 

He is survived by his wife, Shirley Herlong Fishburne; two daughters, Anne Fishburne Hamilton (Will) and Mary Fishburne Hayden (Geoffrey), two grandchildren, Cotesworth Fishburne Hayden and Anderson Libbey Hayden; and a sister, Mary Glenn Givens, and other family.

A memorial service was held April 14 at First Presbyterian Church in Rock Hill. Memorials may be sent to First Presbyterian Church, 234 E. Main Street, Rock Hill, S.C. 29730; Wofford College, 429 North Church Street, Spartanburg, S.C. 29303, Children’s Attention Home (P.O. Box 2912, Rock Hill, SC 29732, or MUSC James B. Edwards College of Dental Medicine, 29 Bee Street, MSC Code 182, Charleston, S.C. 29425.