Thomas "Tommy" G. Rivers

Cheraw, SC

Mr. Thomas "Tommy" G. Rivers, age 76, entered into rest on Friday morning, May 9, 2025 at Cheraw Healthcare with his wife by his side. A celebration of life funeral service will be held at 2:00 PM on Thursday, May 15, 2025 at Miller-Rivers-Caulder Funeral Home Chapel by Brent Taylor. The family will receive visitors from 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM on Thursday, prior to the service at the funeral home with burial to follow in the Chatham Hill Memorial Gardens with military honors.

Born on August 25, 1948, in Bennettsville, SC, Mr. Tommy was the son of the late Grear and Bertha Rivers. He obtained his GED prior to enlisting in the US Army in 1965. Mr. Rivers was a part of the 82nd Airborne infantry division, having served his country with one tour in Vietnam. He was also a part of the 502-infantry regiment. Tommy was the recipient of numerous recognitions including a two-time National defense service medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Combat Infantryman’s Badge, Purple Heart, and also the Bronze Star-OLC Parachutists badge. He believed wholeheartedly in the life motto of putting others before self, due in large part to the selfless sacrifices that he witnessed firsthand by his brave Army comrades during his time of service.

After he was honorably discharged from the Army, Mr. Rivers began his professional career as a welder with Daniel Construction and later taught the trade of welding at the St. Johns High School and Florence – Darlington Technical College before retiring from South Florence High School. During his time as an instructor, Mr. Rivers was instrumental in shaping the minds of many young people. In his younger years, Tommy could often be found riding motorcycles and helping his father to repair them and also was talented at sighting in guns. Family beach trips were always time well spent and Tommy cherished every opportunity with his family, especially riding his grandchildren around on his four-wheeler. He was a member of Windsor Park Freewill Baptist Church and also liked to watch the television ministry “Tomorrow’s World”. Tommy was known for working in his yard and tinkering in his shop.

In addition to his parents, Mr. Rivers was preceded in death by his maternal and paternal grandparents, father-in-law, JW “Boot” Dixon, brother-in-law, Johnny Dixon and also numerous aunts, uncles, cousins.

He is survived by his wife of 43 years, Laticia “Pig” Rivers; daughters, Susan L. Rivers of the home, Gail (Jeffrey) Crawford of Junction, CO; grandchildren, Nathan “Gage” (Charlotte) Crawford of Wilmington, NC; Ethan “Tom” Gerar Crawford of Junction, CO; Sydney “Baba” Alana Crawford also of Junction, CO; mother-in-law Janie Brock of Chesterfield, SC; brother, Johnny (Olinda) Rivers of Laredo, TX; sisters-in-law, Judy (Randy) Turner of Cheraw, SC; Rose Gainey of Chesterfield, SC; brothers-in-law, Joe (Hannah) Dixon; Dennis (Crystal) Dixon, both of Chesterfield, SC; niece and nephew, Jesse (Will) Tyson of Cheraw, SC; RJ (Delaney) Turner of Chesterfield, SC; great nieces, Wrenley Turner and Blair Tyson; four-legged companion, “Sassy”, in addition to his special friends, Jimmy and Kathy Teal of Wallace, SC.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Windsor Park Freewill Baptist Church’s “Building Fund”, 421 Newsome Dr, Cheraw, SC 29520.

The family would like to express their appreciation to Cheraw Healthcare and a special “thank you” to the staff and nurses of Agape Hospice.

Miller-Rivers-Caulder Funeral Home (www.mrcfuneralhome.com) of Chesterfield, SC is serving the Rivers family.