Thomas B. Elkins

He graduated from Spring Valley High School in 1977 and attended Newberry College, where he was a member of the Theta Chi fraternity.

He spent several decades in the trucking and freight industry while also owning a small pest control company before joining Terminix in 2010, where he worked until his death. The connections he made with his customers and coworkers at Terminix became like a second family to him. Those who had the opportunity to spend time with him appreciated what a genuinely caring person he was and knew that if he said he was going to do something, they could consider it already done.

He spent most weekends throughout the year doing landscaping in Columbia and Forest Acres with his son, Hunter, both to stay active and, most importantly, because he enjoyed lending a helping hand in a way that made him feel useful. He enjoyed getting Sunday lunch every week with his granddaughter, Eden, and she was always just as excited to see her “Pap.” Tom was proud of his son Edward’s growing music career and never missed an opportunity to talk about what was currently going on with “Big Ed” and what he was working on at any given time.

He had a passion for Carolina Gamecock football and baseball and listened to 107.5 The Game religiously. He loved to call in and voice his opinions on Carolina and Clemson athletics under the alias “O-Line.” The nickname came from his time playing offensive line for Spring Valley High School.

He was a member of Shandon Baptist Church for 36 years.

He was predeceased by his parents, Lex Edward Elkins Sr. and Margaret Lois Faulkner Elkins, and his brother, Lex Elkins Jr.

Surviving are his wife, Pamela; his two sons, Edward and Hunter (Lakyn); his granddaughter, Eden; his sister, Debby McIntyre; his niece, Gabrielle Stalnaker; and his nephews, Cody McIlroy (Louisa) and Lex Elkins III (Chelsea).

A funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Monday, September 28, 2026, at Dunbar Funeral Home, Devine Street Chapel, with burial to follow at Greenlawn Memorial Park. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the funeral home.