Ramesh Chandra Shah

RAMESH CHANDRA SHAH, 84, passed away peacefully Thursday evening, October 23rd, 2025, surrounded by his family. 

Born in Zanzibar, Ramesh was the beloved son of the late Maganlal and Kamlaben Shah. 

In 1964 he left Africa and moved to Leicester, England where he worked in various fields until 1971 when he moved to Toronto, Canada. In 1979, he immigrated to the United States and continued his journey in Bamberg, South Carolina, where he started a small mom-and-pop motel. Through hard work and dedication, he expanded his ventures to own several Marriott and Holiday Inn hotels in Aiken and around the SouthEast, ultimately retiring from the hospitality business after a remarkable 50-year career. He was honored as Aiken’s Business Person of the Year in 2001. 

There is no doubt he left his mark in Aiken. 

Surviving is his loving wife of 56 years, Manjula; son, Neel Shah (Sapna), daughters, Mayuri Shah Williams (Shane) and Rajeshri Shah Patel (Aashay); grandchildren, Maya Shay Williams, Dillon and Deven Patel, and Saiyan Shah. He is also survived by the rest of his large loving family, including his three sisters, four brothers and dozens of nieces and nephews—all of whom he was very close with. 

The funeral service will be held Tuesday afternoon, October 28th at 2 o’clock at Shellhouse – Rivers Funeral Home.

SHELLHOUSE – RIVERS FUNERAL HOME, 715 EAST PINE LOG RD., AIKEN, SC