Grace Joanne Culpepper Thrift

Grace Joanne Culpepper Thrift, 84, of Anderson, died peacefully Saturday, Feb. 18, at Rainey Hospice House after a brief hospitalization. Born in Gaffney on May 20, 1927, the day Lindbergh flew across the Atlantic, she was the oldest daughter of the late Annie Lou Brown and Charles Hoyt Culpepper. She graduated from Belton High School, where she met her future husband, Charles L. “Blackie” Thrift. After a brief separation for Thrift's service in the U.S. Navy during World War II, they married on Dec. 21, 1947. She was preceded in death by her parents and sister, Mary Catherine Hunter, who died in 1968. She is survived by her husband of 64 years, three children and their spouses, Rick and Debbie Thrift of Anderson, Cathy and Bob Sams of Anderson, and Ken and Wendy Thrift of Dewy Rose, Ga., and her sister's three children, who were raised in the home after their mother's death -- Robert C. Hunter of Mountain Home, Tenn., Diane Hunter Bobo, wife of Gene Bobo, of Anderson, and Anthony Michael Hunter of East Sussex, England. Also surviving are 10 grandchildren - Jason Thrift of Anderson, Will Sams of Raleigh, N.C., Anna Sams Nowell of Beaufort, Joshua Thrift of Atlanta, Dustin Thrift of Atlanta, Crystal Dwelly of Booneville, Ark., Summer Thrift of Dewy Rose, Ga., Katie Bobo of James Island, Lori Bobo of Charleston, and Gracie Bobo of Anderson - and seven great-grandchildren - Christian Thrift, Kallie Thrift, Cameron, Anslee and Hunter Dwelly, Abby and Charlie Thrift. Mrs. Thrift enjoyed a long and successful career in journalism, breaking glass ceilings and garnering recognition along the way. She was the first woman managing editor of a daily newspaper in South Carolina - the Anderson Daily Mail - and was named the S.C. Newspaper Woman of the Year in 1975 by the S.C. Press Association. In her 40-year career with the Independent-Mail and other local newspapers, she interviewed politicians, movie stars, a U.S. President, and thousands of ordinary citizens with interesting and important stories to tell. She was the founding editor of the Anderson Independent's Hometowner section and helped launch the annual Brighter Christmas Fund, contributing the heartwarming daily narratives of real people in need that made it one of the area's most successful fund-raising programs. In retirement, her penchant for writing found an outlet in original bedtime stories, poems and songs -- usually starring grandchildren and featuring their favorite toys and pastimes - and often the centerpiece of family birthday and holiday gatherings. She was an active member of North Anderson Baptist Church, where she continued to teach Sunday School classes each week. She was fluent in American Sign Language and served for many years as a church interpreter and ASL teacher. She also had taught courses in journalism at Clemson University. Funeral services will be held at 3 p.m. Tuesday at Sullivan-King's Northeast Chapel on Highway 81 North. Visitation will be from 1:30 to 2:45 p.m. prior to the service. Pastor Bill Rigsby of North Anderson Baptist Church and Pastor Jackie Arnold of Nell Townsend Presbyterian Church will officiate. Burial will be at Forest Lawn Memorial Park. Pallbearers will be grandsons, Bill Davis and Gene Holland. Flowers are optional; memorials may be made to the North Anderson Baptist Church Building Fund. The family is at the home of Rick, Debbie and Charles Thrift on Bellview Road in Anderson. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.sullivanking.com. Sullivan-King Mortuary's Northeast Chapel on Highway 81 North in Anderson is in charge of arrangements. Announcement courtesy of Berry Funeral Home & Crematory, Elberton, on behalf of Rev. & Mrs. Ken Thrift.