Forest Acres Dedicates Shell Suber Memorial Bridge at Gills Creek Memorial Park

The City of Forest Acres proudly dedicated The Shell Suber Memorial Bridge today at Gills Creek Memorial Park, honoring the extraordinary life and service of Mr. Walter Shell Suber, Jr. The bridge, which was damaged during the unprecedented “thousand-year flood,” was rebuilt through $1 million in state funding secured with the support of Forest Acres State Representatives Beth Bernstein and Heather Bauer.

The dedication ceremony was led by Mayor Thomas Andrews and in attendance were all members of the current City Council, FAPD Chief Don Robinson, former Chief Gene Sealy, former Mayor Frank Brunson, former Councilwoman Ginger Dukes, plus city administration and staff who all had the pleasure of working with Councilman Suber during his 47 years of service to Forest Acres. Also present were members of the Suber family, including his sons, W. Shell Suber III and J. Whitmire Suber, who joined the City in celebrating their father’s enduring legacy.

“Today we honor a man whose dedication to Forest Acres spanned nearly five decades,” said Mayor Andrews. “Shell Suber served on City Council from 1973 until 2020, including multiple terms as Mayor Pro Tem. He was a trusted advisor, a meticulous steward of the City’s budget, and a voice of wisdom and humor in our community.”

In addition to his service on City Council, Mr. Suber maintained a distinguished 53-year career in real estate law and occasionally taught at the University of South Carolina. His commitment extended beyond Forest Acres through his service in the United States Air Force and the Reserves, where he retired as a Colonel.

Mayor Andrews also shared personal reflections on Mr. Suber’s impact:
“His eye for detail was legendary, and his wit unmatched. I remember a council discussion about a purchase for the police department where Shell joked that we might as well buy a police helicopter. He was always three steps ahead—keeping us accountable while making us smile. On drives home after council meetings, he would share stories about how Forest Acres had grown, and I often felt privileged to learn from his perspective. Beyond his public service, he was generous—once leaving a box of law books on my doorstep just because we had talked about books weeks earlier. That was Shell: thoughtful, kind, and always engaged.”

Mr. Suber’s son, W. Shell Suber III, reflected on his father’s legacy of service:
“The span of time that he did this… I don’t have a living memory of him not being on Council,” he said. “He believed that if you’re going to be part of a community, you must do something. It would mean a lot to Dad if he were here.”

The Shell Suber Memorial Bridge, which extends over Gills Creek on Forest Lake Place, stands as a permanent tribute to his lifelong dedication to the City, its residents, and the principles of service and community leadership.

The inscription on the bridge’s plaque reads:
 The Walter Shell Suber, Jr. Memorial Bridge
 In tribute to a lifelong public servant, family man, distinguished lawyer, U.S. Air Force veteran, and dedicated Forest Acres City Councilman of 47 years.