Thomas Carroll Grice

Thomas Carroll Grice, 98, beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and friend, passed away January 26, 2021. Thomas Carroll Grice was born March 16, 1922 in Lexington, South Carolina. He was one of 10 children born to Ernest and Marie Alewine Grice. A family of humble means, they worked hard as sharecroppers and mill workers. Tom was no exception and his life-long ethics of honesty and hard work, no doubt, started in his childhood. He worked many jobs growing up, but when time permitted, he also enjoyed music, fishing, and spending time with his siblings. In 1942 he left home and volunteered for the U.S. Army. He spent basic and advanced training in Georgia, Texas and Maryland. He was in the Infantry, 3rd ID, 7th Company and went overseas to Northern Africa and fought in liberating that area. Then they fought in the liberation of Sicily, moving into Italy. It was towards the end of the Sicily campaign that he was wounded by a "Bouncing Betty" mine, just outside of Massina, Sicily. He was in army hospitals for some time regaining the use of his legs and becoming stronger. He went back to active-duty state-side and served through the remainder of the war. He was awarded the Purple Heart. In 1945 he met and fell in love with Norma Lucille Jones of Henderson, North Carolina. They married later that year. They would have three daughters: Evelyn Gail "Kitty", Brenda Carol, and Toni Lynn. Tragically, their youngest daughter Toni died in 1966 at the tender age of 5. After the war, Tom worked in a variety of jobs, from working in a mill to managing a vertical blinds company in NC. The family moved in 1951 to SC where Tom began working in construction. He excelled in this field. He gradually went from running crews on houses to creating and owning his own construction company. His company, Custom Builders, was a top name in residential construction across South Carolina for decades. He later expanded and developed a commercial construction business, Blazer Construction. He built homes and businesses in almost every area of the Midlands of SC and other places across the state. Many got their first job with Tom, working and learning their trade. He was known for his honesty, integrity, commitment, hard work, and superior product. His reputation, character and word were trusted by many. After retiring, he decided to go back to work with his daughter, Brenda, and worked for 20 more years building homes with Grice Construction in the Columbia area. Tom was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He and Norma joined the church in 1951, and when they moved to Columbia, SC were very active in the church the rest of their lives and raised their family in the church. Tom served in many leadership positions and roles over the decades and always found ways to serve and help others. His greatest affection was for teaching the gospel of Jesus Christ to others and to share the message of the gospel with everyone he knew. He was one of the greatest missionaries in this area. He and his wife, Norma, served a Family History mission in Salt Lake City, UT. Above all, Tom loved his family. He spent as much time as he could with his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. His son in laws were as close as children to him, as were each person that married into his family. They were all his family. He became known very affectionately by his grandchildren and great-grandchildren as "Papa". In addition to his parents and siblings, Tom is predeceased by his wife of almost 70 years, Norma Lucille Grice, his daughter Toni, and his son-in-law, John Thomas Carter, Sr. He is survived by his daughter Kitty Warren (James), and Brenda Carter all of Columbia, SC, sister-in-law Faye Johnson brother-in-law Cecil Johnson of Winnsboro, SC, nieces and nephews, 7 grandchildren (spouses), and 21 great-grandchildren (spouses). Funeral services will be held Friday, February 5th at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at 4400 Ft. Jackson Blvd, Columbia, SC 29209. If you are unable to attend but would like to view this service remotely, please contact the family at gricefamily2021@gmail.com for the meeting ID. Interment will follow at Greenlawn Memorial Park. The family will receive friends from 5-8 pm on Thursday, February 4th, 2021 at Thompson Funeral Home at Greenlawn Memorial Park. 845 Leesburg Rd, Columbia, SC 29209. Pall bearers will be Wes Warren, Kevin Warren, Brent Carter, David Frost, Freddie Campbell and Brandon Carter. Honorary pall bearers will be John Carter Jr, Jason Hope, William Medlin, Steve Heiner, Buddy Sanders, Jeff Grice and Cecil Johnson. The family sincerely wishes to thank the staff at The Community Living Center, Veterans Hospital, Columbia, SC for the love and care they have given during his stay. We love you Papa. Until we see you again... "His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord." (Matt 25:23)