The sheriff of the county in which such convicted person is so sentenced, together with one deputy or more, if in his judgment it is necessary, shall convey such convicted person to the State Penitentiary at Columbia to deliver him to the Director of the Department of Corrections not more than twenty days nor less than two days prior to the time fixed in the judgment for the execution of such condemned person, unless otherwise directed by the Governor or unless a stay of execution has been caused by appeal or the granting of a new trial or other order of a court of competent jurisdiction.