Max Massey

Max Massey, 97, formerly of 119 Bellwood Lane, Spartanburg, and a New York City native, passed away in his home in Aventura, Florida, on Wednesday, April 11, 2018. He died peacefully after a long weekend spent with his daughter Terri, son Robert and three of his five beloved grandchildren, and one day before the 26th anniversary of his dear wife Sharon's death. The son of two Sephardic Jewish immigrants from Syria, Max exemplified the American experience and its ideals of loyalty and bravery. Max was a war hero and a remarkable person whose charming, charitable, affectionate nature left an indelible mark on everyone who knew him. He was the youngest and last surviving of his four siblings. Growing up in Manhattan and Brooklyn, Max had a passion and talent for athletics, and won many Golden Gloves boxing matches as well as a track gold medal at Madison Square Garden. Following the death of his father and older brother in the same year, Max was forced to quit school after the 8th grade to support his mother who owned an iconic Manhattan restaurant, the Egyptian Rose. Max's determination, ambition and strong morals more than made up for his lack of formal education. Starting a business in New York proved difficult so the ever-ambitious Max left Brooklyn in 1940 with his sister Esther Grosswald and brother-in-law Sam in search of new opportunities. That year they opened their first clothing store in Charlotte, NC. Soon thereafter America joined World War II and Max was sent off to the Pacific. He served in the Army Air Corps 5th Division from 1941 to 1945, and sent many letters home to his family about events in Australia, Japan, New Guinea and the Philippines. He received a Bronze Service Star for Philippine Liberation, a Good Conduct Medal, and two Bronze Service Stars for the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign, as well as several World War II Victory Medals. Max returned to the South after the war. He soon made a habit of traveling on the weekends to Joe Ruben's Osceola Lake Resort in Henderson, NC, where in 1948 he met the attractive Sharon Fox of Baltimore who quickly stole his heart. They soon married and became active members of Temple B'nai Israel in Spartanburg. (At the time there were only forty Jewish families in the Spartanburg community.) Max served as President of the Temple and was instrumental in the development of the sanctuary still standing today on Heywood Avenue. Max was President of The Kiddie Korner (est. 1947), a successful and beloved children's store located on 173 East Main Street. He and Sharon, always known as a handsome and generous couple, eventually adapted their business model to include the latest styles of womenswear and menswear along with their popular youth section. Max invested in downtown Spartanburg both financially and personally. Committed to the revitalization of downtown, he would not let the Spartanburg business district become vacant without a good fight. Max worked alongside his devoted wife Sharon, who passed away in 1992 after forty-two years of marriage. All knew them not just as business partners but best friends. He always credited the stylish Sharon as his inspiration for their new image of selling designer clothing at the Kiddie Korner and its Back Room. Customers that shopped with the Massey family were welcomed like guests in their home. Max's determination and subsequent success were highly praised and he was given the name, "Mr. Downtown Spartanburg." Max was a leader in many ways and always shared life lessons and advice, giving inspiration to many. He was generous to causes that were important to him, but never wanted recognition for his contributions. He was named Small Business Person of the Year in 1984 from the Spartanburg Chamber of Commerce, was a member of the Spartanburg Development Corporation, Temple B'nai Israel, Spartanburg Country Club and many other community organizations. He was an avid golfer and played on a regular basis until his mid-eighties. Max left Spartanburg several years ago to move to warmer weather near family in Miami, FL, but kept in good touch with his Spartanburg friends. He is survived by his daughter, Terri Brown and her husband Alan Rock of Aventura, FL, his son Dr. Robert Massey and his wife Ann of Bethesda, MD. Max was proud of his five grandchildren: Seth Brown (wife Elizabeth); Alyse Brown (husband Scott Charpentier); and Michael, Sharon "Sammi" (fiancé Max Carpenter) and Ryan Massey. He has two great-grandsons: the M&M boys, Mark and his namesake Max Brown. A graveside service will be conducted at 1:00 PM Sunday, April 15, 2016 in Greenlawn Memorial Gardens, 1300 Fernwood-Glendale Road, Spartanburg, SC 29307. Max's family will receive guests following the service at the Marriott Hotel, 299 North Church Street, Spartanburg, SC 29306. In lieu of flowers, Max has requested memorials be made to the Cemetery Fund of Temple B'Nai Israel, 146 Heywood Avenue, Spartanburg 29302, an institution close to his heart for its historic value to the Jewish community of Spartanburg. Floyd's North Church Street Chapel To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Max Massey please visit our Sympathy Store.