Tim Rankin

Timothy Bruce Rankin, 53, of Greenville, South Carolina, passed away peacefully on December 6th surrounded by those who loved him most. Diagnosed with cholangiocarcinoma in August of last year, he fought every single day with the most positive outlook, and those by his side during this battle always drew inspiration from him.
Tim is survived by his wife, Jessie, his three children, William Shives, Avery MacLean, and Maggie Wenz Rankin; his parents, Bruce and Karen Rankin; a grandson, William Grey Rankin; sister, Karinda Barrett (Mike); brother and sister-in-law, Blake and Channing Rice; two nieces; two nephews; and a wonderful extended family. He is also survived by the many friends that he considered family.
To know Tim is to love Tim. Never a door he walked through did he meet a stranger; you were going to be his friend. Everywhere he went he knew someone. His smile lit up a room. He loved BIG and he loved HARD! To watch him with each one of his children was truly something special. He continues to be their hero, best friend, and now, guardian angel. His spirit and the best of him will continue to shine through Shives, Avery, and Maggie. By the grace of God, each of those children inherited his sense of humor and love of a good time. There will never be a dull moment to darken the doorstep of the Rankin household.
A graduate of Lander University, (where Tim would tell you he should be a brain surgeon for how long it took him to graduate), Tim was beloved in every job and career he had. If you were around back in the mid-90s - early 2000s, Tim most likely served you a drink at some place either in Greenville or Greenwood. He was loved by all the firefighters he worked with through his years with North Greenville Fitness and as proof, nothing ever burned down in his presence. He took the entire Greenville Swamp Rabbit crew under his wing while serving as Director of Business Development. Over the last two years, and despite battling his illness, Tim found his forever job in residential real estate. A people person through and through, he was made for the job and quickly made his mark on the industry. Despite all his corporate success, his greatest job was being a father--It was his absolute favorite part of life, and he was darn good at it. Regularly, other parents confided in him their parenting struggles, and often walked away with a new perspective and solid advice.
Tim loved Gamecock football, and the Atlanta Braves. A perfect weekend was an afternoon stroll through Publix, a Braves game on a Friday night while firing up his grill, College Gameday and football on Saturday, a little CBS Sunday Morning followed by a good Sunday spent with those he loved the most. If you knew Tim, you knew that he and Jessie were going to be packing bags and going somewhere at any given moment or on any given weekend; they loved traveling together. Tim loved visiting New York City, where he and Jessie were married. He loved Litchfield Beach. He loved nothing more than sitting on the beach and getting up every hour to make someone a sandwich, bring a drink, grab a football; he was the ultimate pleaser, and he did it with sincerity and pleasure. He truly had a gift for making you comfortable anywhere you might find yourself with him.
Though his time here on earth was too short, Tim's relationship with God prevailed and his faith guided his life. He went to his heavenly home and was no doubt welcomed with open arms. While Tim enjoys the spoils of heaven, he would want all of us to carry on enjoying life. Be sure to think of him every time the Braves hit a home run, you hear a funny joke, or you are having an easy Sunday morning.
A memorial service will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday, December 10, 2024, at John Knox Presbyterian Church, conducted by Pastor Gordon Turnbull. Visitation will be held from 1:30- 2:45 p.m. prior to the memorial service.
In lieu of flowers, the family welcomes donations made in Tim's honor to Houston Haven, PO Box 102, Bellaire, TX 77402.
Online condolences may be made at www.thewoodmortuary.com.