Arthur McElveen Obituary

Mr. Arthur Thomas "Tommy" McElveen, Jr., 85, of Graniteville, SC, beloved husband of sixty-six years to Patricia Grealish McElveen, entered into rest on Thursday morning, July 10, 2025, while in the comfort of his home. Born in Hall County, GA, the son of the late Arthur Thomas, Sr, and Olivia Autry McElveen, he came to the CSRA as a young boy. During his senior year at the Academy of Richmond County, he enlisted in the United States Army, where he was honorably discharged as an E-2. He was a communicant of Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Church, Gloverville, SC. Coming from a "textile family", it was only natural that Tommy enter the world of textiles. He began his forty-three-year career with the Graniteville Company at Enterprise Mill under the guidance of his friend and mentor, Tony Purvis. His career with the company took him to various divisions, while he served in multiple capacities. He had formerly served as Plant Manager and later retired from the Human Resources department. Tommy loved his people at the company, and they, in turn, loved him. Tommy enjoyed a variety of different things such as fishing, hunting, and a round of golf. However, he wanted nothing more than spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He loved his community and was a servant leader throughout his life-active in the Graniteville Exchange Club, Graniteville Jaycees, was a Junior Achievement Counselor, a board member of Gregg-Graniteville Foundation and Community Services, and served on committee at the New Hope Library and Welfare to Work Community Program. Uniquely, Tommy was both a Carolina Gamecocks and a Clemson Tigers fan. He went to games that both teams played. He figured that after sending his children to both schools, the only choice was to wear both garnet and orange. Along with his wife Pat, Tommy is loved, missed and his memory will remain eternal in the hearts of his children, Edward P. (Carol) Grealish, Sharon G. (Geoff) Reynolds, Patricia M. "Patti" (Morey) Weinstein and Heather M. (Tom Watson, III) Johnson, Mark Strom, grandchildren, Chris Cushman, Casey (Jennifer) Cushman, Thomas (Alex) Reynolds, Olivia (Henry) Hall, Sarah (Cody) Harris, Savannah (Evan) Barron, Sydney Strom, Sinclaire Strom, Shelby Johnson and great-grandchildren, Haley Cushman, Cainan Cushman, Kylie Cushman, Grayson Cushman, Holden Cushman, Skylar Cushman, Laney Hall, Lily Hall, Lawson Hall, Mercedes, Bella, Kit Barron, and Liam Brown. Along with his parents, he was preceded in death by his sisters, Eleanor Hardwick and Dorothy Pixley. Tommy's family is eternally grateful for the care provided by Enhabit Hospice. A Holy Rosary will be recited on Sunday, July 13, 2025, at 6 o'clock in the chapel of Hatcher Funeral Home and Cremation Service, 3464 Jefferson Davis Highway, Graniteville, SC. Friends will be greeted until 8 o'clock on Sunday, following the Rosary. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday, July 14, 2025, at 11 o'clock at Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Church, Gloverville, SC. Interment with final prayers and farewell commendations will follow in Calvary Cemetery, Aiken, SC. Honored to serve as pallbearers are: Chase Harris, Evan Barron, Henry Hall, Kenny Harris, Thomas Edward Reynolds and Mark Strom. Honorary pallbearers will be Dent Johnson, Glenn Sanders, Roger Boyd, Edwin Brown, and Arthur Lynn McDaniel. Memorials in memory of Tommy may be given to Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Church. ( www.olvchurchsc.org) To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Mr. Arthur, please visit our floral store.