Thomas Myers Obituary

MYERS, Thomas THE LIFE OF REVEREND DR. THOMAS LEE MYERS Funeral services for Reverend Dr. Thomas Lee Myers will be held on Wednesday, October 12, 2005 at 11:00 a.m. at Moncks Corner A.M.E. Church, 306 West Main Street, Moncks Corner, South Carolina. Interment will be at St. Stephen Baptist Cemetery, 208 Hood Street, St. Stephen, S.C. Reverend Dr. Thomas Lee Myers was born on January 5, 1928, to the late Joseph and Lucinda Myers of St. Stephen, South Carolina. He departed this life on Friday, October 7, 2005, at Trident Medical Center, North Charleston, South Carolina. Inspired by the Christian values instilled in him by his parents, Reverend Myers became an active member of Allen African Methodist Episcopal Church at an early age. He served as Secretary of the Trustee Board. He was educated in the public schools of St. Stephen, South Carolina and received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Social Studies from Morris College, Sumter, South Carolina. Reverend Myers taught at St. Stephen High School for eighteen years. On December 29, 1953, Reverend Myers was united in holy matrimony to Almena Lucas. This union was blessed with one daughter, Thomasena Denise Myers. God called Reverend Myers to the ministry thirty-five years ago. While in pursuit of his Theology Degree, he attended Morris Theological Institute, Sumter, South Carolina and Cummins Theological Institute, Summerville, South Carolina. Cummins Theological Institute bestowed an honorary Doctor of Divinity Degree upon Reverend Myers, May 13, 2000. His pastorates included Ebenezer AME Church, Aiken, South Carolina, Mount Zion AME Church, Graniteville, South Carolina and St. Andrews AME Church, Andrews, South Carolina. His work at St. Andrews AME Church extended into the community where he worked tirelessly to improve the spiritual and economic development of people. Under his leadership, the church grew spiritually, the administrative operation improved tremendously, significant remodeling and beautification were implemented, an outreach effort was exerted to include the community surrounding the church, as a whole, not just St. Andrews AME Church Family, but, people, regardless of race and religious affiliations. Reverend Myers was faithful to studying, teaching and preaching God's Word. He was a man of wisdom and a man with a vision. He served as the undershepherd, with Christ as the Head, to the members and families of the St. Andrews AME Church. He spearheaded the construction of the church's first educational building, which was named in his honor. He retired in August 2004, after serving the congregation of St. Andrews AME Church for thirty-two years and became an active member of Allen AME Church, St. Stephen, SC. Reverend Myers, a civil rights activist, began his career advocating equality and justice for African Americans. For over thirty-five years he served economically disadvantaged people of all ethnicity at the Berkeley-Dorchester Counties Economic Development Corporation, where he served as Executive Director since 1972. While serving in that capacity he made many noteworthy contributions. Among them were: coordinated voter registration for over 3,000 persons; organized five precincts; one of the first African American to represent Berkeley County at a State Democratic Convention; coordinated efforts to elect the first African American to the Berkeley County Board of Education; founded and operated the first anti-poverty program agency in Berkeley County; initiated and operated the first mental retarded program for youth and adults in Berkeley County; instrumental in having the first African American employed at local banks in Moncks Corner, SC; wrote the first application for a public transportation program in Berkeley County; started the movement for the first African American to serve on Berkeley Electric Cooperative Board; started the movement for the first African American to obtain employment with the SC Wildlife Department in Berkeley County as a Game Warden; started the movement for the first African American to obtain employment with the County Department of Social Services; initiated and operated the first Food and Housing Cooperative in Berkeley, Colleton and Dorchester Counties; initiated and operated the first nursing care program now operated by the Health Department; built the facility in which the Berkeley County Federal Credit Union is now housed; initiated and operated the first Head Start Program in Berkeley County, which became one of the largest Head Start Program in the State, operating in Berkeley, Charleston and Dorchester Counties; two Head Start Centers, serving over 100 children each, were named in his honor-Thomas Myers I, located in Berkeley County and Thomas Myers II, located in Charleston, SC; started the movement for the first African American to become a Constable in Berkeley County; started the movement for the first African American to become employed as a Deputy Sheriff in Berkeley County; initiated and operated the first Summer Feeding Program in Berkeley and Dorchester Counties; initiated the movement for the first African American to obtain employment at the Post Office in St. Stephen, SC; initiated and operated the first employment program for youthful and older ex-offenders in Berkeley and Dorchester Counties; initiated and operated the first Transitional Housing Program for the homeless in Berkeley and Dorchester Counties; initiated and operated the first Weatherization Program in Berkeley and Dorchester Counties; assisted in writing the first HOME Repair Program application for Berkeley and Dorchester Counties; initiated and operated the first Food Pantry in Berkeley and Dorchester Counties; initiated and operated the first Community Gardens Program in Berkeley and Dorchester Counties; implemented the first Berkeley and Dorchester Counties Operated JTPA Program (These programs were always operated out of Charleston County); founded the Upper Berkeley Branch of the NAACP and served as President; founded the Berkeley County Concerned Organization and served. Reverend Myers served the people in the Town of St. Stephen, as a Council Member from April 3, 1985 April 1989 and May 5, 1993 unto his death. He was a servant to the people and an advocate for all the people, not just for the Town of St. Stephen, but, also the economically disadvantaged of Berkeley and Dorchester Counties. In honor of his dedicated service, the Town Council dedicated and named a street in his name (TL Myers Drive). Reverend Myers held offices and membership in many organizations: Delegate to National African Methodist Episcopal Conference; Member of Cities and Town Municipal Association for South Carolina Palmetto Conference Social Action Committee Chairman of the African Methodist Episcopal Church; Town Councilman, Chairman of Streets and Sanitation Committee, St. Stephen, SC; Member, Imperial Council, Ancient Egyptian Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine of North and South America Jurisdiction, Inc.; Member, National Community Action Agencies Executive Directors Association; Charter Member, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Kingstree Alumni and Moncks Corner Alumni Chapters; Member, Masonic Lodge, Prince Hall Free and Accepted Masons; Member, Upper Berkeley Branch of the NAACP; Life Member, NAACP; Chairperson of the Tri-Churches Cemetery Committee (formerly St. Stephen Baptist Cemetery Committee).In addition, Reverend Myers received many honors and awards, including: Certificate of Honor, Outstanding Achievement in Religious Education; Certificate of Recognition, Specific Action Laboratory in Precision Management; Certificate of Achievement, Southeastern Province, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity; Certificate of Excellence, Notary Public; Honorary Doctor of Divinity, Cummins Theological Seminary; Humanitarian Award, June 11, 2005, Ridgeville Branch of the NAACP; Devoted Service A