Chad Satcher 
Landon Bodie
BLYTHEWOOD/FAIRFIELD COUNTY – At least 25 people have been reported killed in South Carolina as the result of Hurricane Helene’s destruction in the state.
The deaths of two of those people directly impacted Blythewood and Fairfield County families. Volunteer firefighters Landon Bodie, 18, and George (Chad) Satcher, 53, were killed Friday morning when a tree fell on the cab of their fire truck as they were answering a service call in Saluda County in connection with Hurricane Helene.
Bodie, who played football at Blythewood High School and graduated last May, had recently become a volunteer firefighter for the Circle Fire Station in Saluda.
Blythewood High School Principal Matt Sherman remembered Landon Bodie as a servant leader.
“He was always quick to offer help,” Sherman said. “He always brought a kind word to the conversation and definitely raised the bar of character for anyone nearby. He always went above and beyond to help others. I can see him as a volunteer fireman, ready to assist and help in the storm.
“While his death is a tragedy, I’m comforted to know that he died doing what he loved,” Sherman added, “helping others.
“As an officer in the FFA, Landon was one of our Bengal Ambassadors,” Sherman said. “He represented not only Blythewood High School but the Blythewood community when he went out to local or state FFA events. I remember him as being very proud to wear his FFA jacket.”
In an email to the BHS staff, Sherman wrote:
“If you had a chance to meet or teach Landon… you are one of the lucky ones. Landon lived a life of high morals and a call to serve. Such an amazing kiddo with an old soul.”
George (Chad) Satcher, 53, and a resident of Batesville-Leesburg, was a longtime volunteer firefighter for the Circle Fire Station of the Saluda County Fire Department, where he served as Chief.
Satcher is a first cousin of former Winnsboro Town Manager Jason Taylor.
“Chad and I grew up together and were very close,” Taylor said. “He was the kind of person who was committed to his community. His loss was a blow to our family, of course. But he lost his life doing something he was very committed to and very proud to do. He very much enjoyed serving his community as a firefighter.
“A lot of us define ourselves as far as the job we do,” Taylor said, “but Chad largely defined himself as a father, a husband, and a firefighter.”
In a Facebook post, the Saluda County Fire Service said the funeral for Satcher will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 5, at the Batesburg-Leesville High School Fine Arts Center, with internment to follow in Ridge Crest Memorial Park. The family will receive family and friends from 4 to 6 p.m., Friday, October 4 at the Milton Shealy Funeral Home of Batesburg.
Funeral service information for Bodie was still pending as of Tuesday.
