Mr. Samuel Wade Thomas, affectionately known by many as Buddy, age 69, of Ruffin, entered into his state of eternal rest Saturday morning, December 26, 2009 at the Colleton Medical Center in Walterboro.
A celebration of the life he lived will be celebrated 6 oclock Tuesday evening, December 29, 2009, from The Brice W. Herndon and Sons Funeral Chapel, Walterboro with The Reverend James Grubb and The Reverend David Cox officiating.
Mr. Thomas was born November7, 1940, in Georgetown, and was a son of the late Reginald Wade Thomas and the late Sadie Hudson Thomas. For forty years he faithfully worked for the Charleston Naval Shipyard where he retired as a Branch Head of Quality Assurance at SPAWAR. He was a longtime member of Tabor Untied Methodist Church where he was a member of the United Methodist Men as well as was active in other various areas of the churchs work. Buddy enjoyed college football and was an avid fan of the South Carolina Gamecock College Football Team. His grandchildren where the true passion of his life, and attending their sporting events as well as assisting with there school projects and spending his time with them was his life. He loved people and was always willing and able to help all those he could. Buddy fought a long battle with his illness, doing so with grace and dignity and he always believed that God had a reason for everything he was facing, which showed the true character of his life.
Surviving are: his wife of thirty-seven years, Mrs. Annette Crosby Thomas; three sons, Roger Thomas of Ruffin, Lamar Maxey of Walterboro, and Mark Maxey and his wife Brandy of Walterboro; two daughters, Susan Lackey of Ruffin and Linda Jones and her husband Mickey of Lodge; a brother, Wayne Thomas and his wife Gloria of Ruffin; and a sister, Angela Crosby and her husband Howard of Summerville. There are seven grandchildren, Tanner Lackey, Shannon Lackey, Angela Taylor Maxey, Stacey Maxey, Jessica Maxey, Austin Hollis, and Christy Jones as well as two great grandchildren, Lexie Spooner and Kaylin Kooy that also survive.
In lieu of flowers, the family has respectfully requested that a memorial contribution be directed in his memory to: Tabor United Methodist Church, care of Mr. Pete Adams, 211 Peachtree Road, Walterboro, South Carolina 29488.
For those that so desire, memorial messages and thoughts of condolence may be left for the Thomas family by visiting: www.briceherndonfuneralhome.com.
The family will receive friends following the service on Tuesday evening until 8 oclock at THE BRICE W. HERNDON AND SONS FUNERAL HOMES, WALTERBORO CHAPEL, 1193 Bells Highway, Walterboro, 843.538.5408.