Thomas Walter Quattlebaum Sr.

MONETTA - Thomas Walter Nixon Quattlebaum, Sr., 94, of Monetta, South Carolina, passed away peacefully on December 30, 2011, at his home. He was the youngest child and only son of Andrew Ernest and Carrie Mae Nixon Quattlebaum and was born May 28, 1917, in Williston, South Carolina. He spent his childhood in Asheville, North Carolina, and then moved with his family back to Batesburg, not far from the Dutch Fork area where the Quattlebaum family first settled around 1765. He graduated from Batesburg Leesville High School in the class of 1935. In 1938, he met Eleanor Sims in his parents' café in Batesburg. He bought a coke (6 cents) for the late Johnny Cumbee of Ridge Spring to tell him who she was and learned she was "one of three beautiful Sims girls of Monetta." He knew and said then he would marry her. They were married in 1941 and spent 70 happy, devoted years together.

Mr. Quattlebaum was a veteran of World War II, serving as a midshipman in the U. S. Navy where he was stationed in Pearl Harbor. After the war, he returned to Monetta where he farmed, raised cattle, and, in 1961, began Quattlebaum Farm Supply, serving much of South Carolina for many decades.

He was a 70 year member of Bethel Baptist Church, serving as chairman of the board of deacons. For more than 30 years he headed a group of church members who collected and sold cans for recycling, using the proceeds as an emergency fund for Monetta families in need.

He was active in the local community as a Mason, Jaycee, supporter of Little League, head of the local Democratic Party, member of the Aiken and Saluda Cattleman's Association, and was named the Conservation Farmer of the Year for Aiken County in 1961. He is an advisory board member of the local Farmers' Home Administration.

Mr. Quattlebaum was a friend to all, a devoted family man, a good father and a good son, a supportive uncle, grandfather, and great grandfather. Everyone loved Papa.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his three sisters, Elizabeth Cato, Catherine Cann, and Ernestine Simmons.

He is survived by his wife, Eleanor; a daughter, Ann Quattlebaum Curry and her husband Jim of Atlanta; a son, Thomas Walter Nixon Quattlebaum, Jr., of Monetta; five grandchildren: Kelley Curry (Josh Weiss), of Boston, Massachusetts; Dr. Nixon Curry (Dr. Cara Tasher), of Jacksonville, Florida; Andrew Quattlebaum (April) and Michael Quattlebaum, both of Columbia; and Marion Quattlebaum of Raleigh, North Carolina; and two great grandchildren, Julia and Chloe Weiss-Curry of Boston.

The family wishes to express its deep gratitude to Ms. Christine Samuels, caregiver extraordinaire, and to the staff members of Hospice Care of South Carolina for their excellent service of compassion.

The funeral will be held at 11 AM on Monday, January 2, at Bethel Baptist Church, Hwy. 23, in Monetta, with interment afterwards at the Ridge Spring Cemetery. The family will receive visitors at the family home from 5 to 8 PM Sunday afternoon.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made to the Connie Maxwell Children's Home, 810 Maxwell Avenue, Greenwood, South Carolina 29646, or to a charity of your choice.

Bland Funeral Home, Johnston, is assisting the family with arrangements. Please sign guest book and send condolences to www.blandfh.com