Samuel Ford Thrift
Mr. Samuel Thrift, Seneca SC, Samuel Ford Thrift, husband of Joellen Queen Thrift, of Seneca, SC passed away, Saturday, February 13, 2021.
Sam was one of the owners and co-founders along with his late twin brother, Tom, of their family business, Thrift Brothers, Inc.
Born in Long Creek, SC he was the son of Julius Berman and Maude Hamby Thrift.
Sam graduated from Long Creek Academy.
Along with his brothers, Sam learned the skills of logging at a young age alongside their father, JB. The twins, Sam and Tom, were drafted into the US Army, stationed in Japan and proudly served our country from 1951 – 1953.
As part of the military units assigned to cleaning up a devastated region by the bombing of Hiroshima. They served over the heavy equipment operations and large-scale earthmoving engineering. After returning to the states
Sam married his sweetheart, Joellen Queen Thrift in 1954.
After returning to the states Tom and Sam joined their brothers in launching successful businesses in lumber, pulpwood, hardware stores, road construction, residential and commercial building and development.
While the makeup of the family business partnerships evolved over the years, Sam remained with his twin brother Tom working as General Contractors building tracts of shopping centers, residential homes and commercial industry and miles of roads and interstates. Sam had a unique talent for building and developing commercial real estate and helping recruit many businesses to the Upstate of SC and NC.
Sam was a faithful member of Seneca Baptist Church for over 60 years. He was an active member of The Baracca Sunday School Class. He served as a Deacon and tirelessly on many committees including Finance, Nominating, Personnel, Pulpit and Building. Sam led his Building Committee to complete the beautiful present facilities and sanctuary. Sam was a member of the American Legion and Lion’s Club. He dedicated his life to much humanitarian work with numerous agencies including the South Carolina Baptist Foundation, Connie Maxwell Children’s Home, Collins Children’s Home, Back 9 Ministry, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Our Daily Rest, Oconee Hospital Foundation, Tri County Tech Foundation, and Anderson University. Samuel was instrumental in helping establish the South Carolina Betters Roads and Transportation of SC in the 1980’s.
Samuel served on the Board of Trustees and Board of Regents for Anderson University and was awarded the Lifetime Member of the Anderson University Board of Trustees in 2012. Sam and Tom worked diligently to help complete many projects for Anderson University; one of the largest on AU campus is the Thrift Library that was completed in 2007. He was on the Tri County Tech Foundation Board and most recently; Thrift Brothers, Inc. received the Tri-County Technical College Foundation Philanthropist of the year for 2017. Samuel and Joellen were inducted in 2008 to the Calhoun Society of Clemson University for their lifetime contributions. He was a lifetime member of IPTAY for Clemson and one of his most favorite pastimes was watching the Tigers play football.
Sam and Joellen had a special love for animals and were supporters of the Humane Society both locally and nationally. Their contributions were also utilized for animals at the University of Georgia Veterinary School.
Survived by Samuel are his wife Joellen Queen Thrift of the home for 67years. Also
His twin “niece” daughters of Seneca, Marcia Thrift Hydrick (Tim), Sherry Thrift Bradshaw; along with his twin “grand’s” Tucker Thrift Hydrick (Ashlyn) and Lauren Hydrick Koch (Clay), William Brewer Bradshaw (Cassidy), Thomas Samuel Bradshaw (Jamie-Keith), and Marcia “Collins” Bradshaw Cromie (Mike).
Mr. Thrift is the last surviving member of his immediate family. In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by brothers Wayne, Ralph, Roscoe, Thomas, and Glenn Thrift; and sisters Eula Smith, Eunice Derrick, Lois Thrift, and Helen Hare.
Mr. Thrift is survived by a host of beloved friends and family including his sister-in-law’s Lillian Thrift (the late Glenn) and Sharon Thrift (the late Roscoe); nieces and nephews, Gary Thrift (Cathy) and the late Shan Pate (Kirby), Alice Hare and Linda Bearden (the late Ken), Larry Derrick (Betty Ann), Suzanne Pierce (Charles), Peggy Patterson (Brett), Martha Janssen (John), Joyce Collins (the late Perry) and Dean Thrift (Mickie), Jimmy Thrift, Joel Thrift (Debbie), Roger Thrift (Linda) and Candace Thrift.
A private burial service was held at Oconee Memorial Park and a memorial service will be held at Seneca Baptist Church, Seneca, SC, 29678, at 2pm, Monday, February 15th, 2021.
Due to Covid-19 pandemic and concerns for health of family and friends, Sam’s family respectfully ask that all who attend the service please wear a mask and practice social distancing.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Back 9 Ministries, 628 Old Salem Road, Seneca, SC 29672 or Seneca Baptist Church, 1080 S. Oak St, Seneca, SC 29678