Bishopville, SC
Thomas Herbert Alexander, 78, husband of Mary Oeland Alexander, died Friday, November 6, 2009 at McLeod Regional Medical Center in Florence.
Born in Bishopville, he was a son of the late William Ray Alexander and the late Mary Richardson Kennedy Alexander. Mr. Alexander was a 1955 graduate of Presbyterian College where he was a member of the Kappa Alpha Order. He was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army and ordered to report to Fort Benning, GA. He then went on to graduate in Army Aviation and received his wings in 1956 at Fort Rucker, Alabama.
After serving three years on active duty in California, he returned to S.C. and joined the National Guard. He retired as a Brigadier General in 1989, completing his years of military service. During his years with the guard, he served as Commander of the 51st Aviation Assault Helicopter Company, Commander of the 51st M.P. Battalion, Commander of Troop Command, and Assistant Adjutant General. In 1989, he received the Order of Palmetto at the time of his retirement.
Mr. Alexander was a lifetime member of the Bethlehem United Methodist Church where he served through the years in different capacities. He was chairman of the Official Board, chairman of the Finance Committee, Lay Leader, and Sunday school teacher in the Joe Fanning Sunday School Class where he was a member. He was active in the Lions Club since joining in 1966 where he served as past president.
He served as president of Stuckey and Alexander Insurance Company in Bishopville. He was on the Bishopville City Council for 16 years and served as Mayor of Bishopville from 1991 until his death. He served on the Board of Directors of the S.C. Municipal Association, the Board of Directors of the S.C. Downtown Development Association, Chairman of the Santee Lynches Council of Governments, and Vice Chairman of the Board of the Wateree Community Action, Inc. In years previous to this he served as Lee County Chairman of the S.C. Tri-Centennial Committee, President of the Chamber of Commerce, Chairman of the Democratic Party, Chairman of the Library Board, Chairman of the Lee County Hospital Board, and was designated by the Jaycees in 1967 as “Outstanding Young Man of the Year” for Lee County.
Survivors besides his wife include three children, Edward M. Alexander (Donna R.), Martha Alexander Houser (Ronnie), and Mary Kay Alexander Kaufman (Tim); a grandson, Timothy Williams Kaufman; three granddaughters, Kaylen Elizabeth Houser, Caroline Elizabeth Alexander, and Martha Alexander Kaufman; two brothers, William Ray Alexander and James K. Alexander (Ida); a sister, Adria Alexander Belk; and fifteen nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by a son, Thomas H. Alexander, Jr.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday at Bethlehem United Methodist Church with the Rev. Dr. Paul Rogers officiating. Burial will be in the Bethlehem United Methodist Church Cemetery with full military honors.
The family will receive friends from 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday at Hancock-Elmore-Funeral Home and other times at the home.
Memorials may be made to the Bethlehem United Methodist Church Building Fund, PO Box 167, Bishopville, SC 29010.
Hancock-Elmore-Hill Funeral Home of Bishopville is in charge of the arrangements.
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