James Carlisle Thrailkill

CHERAW — James Carlisle Thrailkill, M.D., died early Wednesday morning in Chesterfield General Hospital where he served for many years as chief of staff.
 
“Dr. Jim” Thrailkill was the second son of J. Carl and Lida Lewis Thrailkill of Saluda, S.C. He was educated in the Saluda schools and graduated from Clemson College in 1948 where he was a member of the Pershing Rifles. He served in the Pacific with the U.S. Navy aboard the USS Turandot (AKA 47) from 1944-1946. He graduated from the Medical University of South Carolina with a Doctor of Medicine degree in 1952 and served a one-year internship in General Practice at McLeod Infirmary in Florence, S.C. It was there that he met and married his beloved Betty Jane Turner who was on the nursing staff of Obstetrics. Together they assisted at the delivery of a physician’s wife from Cheraw, S.C. This doctor had been recalled to the Navy for service in Korea, and so Dr. Jim and Betty filled his shoes and took over his practice in Cheraw where they served for 47 years in family practice.
 
They had three sons and a daughter. The Rev. Phillip C. Thrailkill (United Methodist) and his wife, Lori, reside in Hartsville, SC. Son, James A. Thrailkill resides in Las Vegas, NV. Son, Christopher T. Thrailkill and his wife, Beth, live in Columbia, S.C. His daughter, Elizabeth T. Tetsch and her husband, Christian, live in Greenville, SC. Dr. and Mrs. Thrailkill have seven grandchildren.
 
Dr. Thrailkill held membership in county, state and national medical societies and was a Fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians and a Diplomate of the Board of Family Practice. He served a term on the Board of Visitors of MUSC and did clinical interviews for 12 years as a member of the Admissions Committee of MUSC.
 
Dr. Jim loved the Lord, his Sunday School class, his family, medicine, quail hunting, golf, his wide circle of friends and medical colleagues, dinner parties, dancing, Stan Kenton jazz and Clemson football. It pained him dearly to hear of the ethical misbehavior of a colleague. To him the practice of medicine was an immense privilege and a high calling of service. He was a lifelong learner in both his profession and in the liberal arts. As he often said, they helped him “read and appreciate the human document.” He was a lifelong member of the Methodist Church saying that Lida, his mother, had enrolled him in the church about 30 minutes after she knew he was on the way!
 
He served on the school board, the Cheraw Inter-Racial Council during the 1960s, was a member of Kiwanis, and served in various capacities at Cheraw First United Methodist Church and the Chesterfield County Hospital. He was instrumental in the formation of the Cheraw Rescue Squad. His debut as a local actor came in “The Man Who Came To Dinner” where he played the roll of a British actor and writer who was haughty and all-knowing. He was serious about his medicine, had an affable personality, and was quite good as a Toastmaster and Master of Ceremonies. His stand-up comedy routine was appreciated locally by those who already loved him! He was affectionately know to his patients as “Dr. Jim.” He is survived by his beloved wife, Betty, his children, and grandchildren, Daniel Thrailkill, Ellen Thrailkill, Anthony Thrailkill, Katherine Thrailkill, Medelene Tetsch, Iris Tetsch and Jackson Thrailkill.
 
The visitation will be Friday evening, January 15 from 6-8:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall of First United Methodist Church in Cheraw. The funeral service will be Saturday morning, January 16 at 11:00 a.m. at the same church where Dr. Paul Wood is pastor. The family is especially grateful to the physicians, nurses and other medical staff who offered such great care to “Dr. Jim,” especially Dr. Michael Pavy of Florence, and Dr. Travis Novinger of Cheraw. Memorials should be sent to either First UMC of Cheraw, 117 Third Street Cheraw, SC 29520 or to the American Red Cross. “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick” (Mark 2:17a).
 
Norton Funeral Home of Cheraw is serving the Thrailkill family.
 
www.nortonfuneralofcheraw.com