Clarence Alfred Grooms, Jr.

Mr. Clarence Alfred Grooms, Jr., 92, of Aiken, entered into rest Tuesday morning, May 1, 2018, at Harbor Chase in Aiken.

Born January 3, 1926 in Charleston, he was a son of the late Clarence Alfred Grooms, Sr. and the late Ethel Fender Grooms.  He received his Bachelor of Arts degree from The Citadel.  Mr. Grooms served his country in the United States Navy during World War II having served as a Radioman aboard the USS DADE in the Pacific Flagship of Transport Squadron 24.  After his time in the military, Mr. Grooms made a career in Law Enforcement having been a Special Agent with the FBI from 1950-1977.   During his career with the FBI, he worked in Chicago, Illinois, Seattle, Washington, Tacoma, Washington, Washington, DC, New Haven, Connecticut, Stamford, Connecticut, and Aiken, South Carolina.  After his retirement, he served as the Director of Security for Graniteville Company in Graniteville, South Carolina; and also served as the Captain of Administration for the Aiken County Sheriff’s Department.  Mr. Grooms was a member of Cornerstone Baptist Church and was a lifetime member of the Association of Citadel Men.

Surviving are: his wife of fifty-two years, Mrs. Ettie “Ann” G rooms of Aiken; daughter, Clarissa Grooms of Aiken; son, Clarence A. Grooms, III of Walterboro; and a granddaughter, Michaela Grooms of Aiken.  He was preceded in death by a brother, G. Robert Grooms.

In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that memorial contributions be directed in his memory to: Cornerstone Baptist Church Building Fund, 100 Cornerstone Drive, Aiken, SC 29803.

Funeral services will be conducted 11 o’clock Friday morning, May 4, 2018, from The Brice W. Herndon and Sons Funeral Chapel, Walterboro.  The Reverend Darrell Engle officiating.  A private interment service will follow on the family plot in Live Oak Cemetery.

The family will receive friends during a time of visitation prior to his funeral ceremony beginning at 10 o’clock that morning at THE BRICE W. HERNDON AND SONS FUNERAL HOMES AND CREMATORY, WALTERBORO CHAPEL, 1193 Bells Highway, Walterboro, 843.538.5408.  Visit the registry online at: www.briceherndonfuneralhome.com.