Convicted Colleton compound leader has died

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By HEATHER WALTERS 

Ralph G. Stair, commonly known as Brother Stair, died on April 4. 

Colleton County Coroner Richard Harvey confirms that Stair, 87, died at his Overcomer Ministry compound at about 12 a.m. on April 4. 

An official cause of death has not been formally released by the coroner’s office. However, there are unconfirmed media reports that Stair died while under hospice care at his compound residence. 

A convicted sex offender, Stair was also a self-proclaimed reverend and was the primary leader of a Cottageville-based religious compound, Overcomer Ministries. This more than 130-acre site is located near Cannadys, on the edge of Cottageville in rural Colleton County. 

To join this ministry, his followers were encouraged to give up their worldly goods to become a member of his religious group. 

Stair was also a nationally-syndicated radio evangelist. 

Stair was a convicted sex offender at the time of his death. He was also awaiting trial on additional criminal charges, including criminal sexual conduct, assault, kidnapping and burglary. These charges stem from a December 2017 arrest. 

This newspaper was unsuccessful in trying to reach someone at the compound for comment on Stair’s death.