Reverend Thomas Lamar McJunkin

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Reverend Thomas Lamar McJunkin

Brice Herndon Funeral Home

The Reverend Thomas Lamar McJunkin, Retired Chief of Police for the City of Walterboro, age 87, entered into eternal rest Tuesday, May 19, 2020 at Pruitt Health Care in Walterboro.

Born November 2, 1932 in Easley, he was a son of the late Reuben Leonard McJunkin and Molly Leona Howell McJunkin. He graduated with a Master’s Degree in Criminal Justice from the University of South Carolina and then went on to Quantico, Virginia, where he graduated from the Federal Bureau of Investigations Academy. He also attended Luther Rice Seminary.  Tom served his country honorably and faithfully in the United States Air Force for ten years, serving as a Special Agent to the Office of Special Investigations.  He was discharged from Shaw Air Force Base in Sumter, South Carolina.

Reverend McJunkin served as Chief Deputy at the Sumter County Sheriff’s Department, where he started their Detective Division, from 1961 until 1980. He left Sumter in 1980 to take the position of Chief of Police for the City of Walterboro, retiring in 1994.

After retiring from law enforcement, Reverend McJunkin answered the call of his Lord and became a Southern Baptist Minister. As a minister of the faith, he was a guest speaker at many churches throughout Colleton County.  He was the pastor of Marion Baptist Church in Williams and Peniel Baptist Church in Islandton. 

Tom, as he was affectionately known to many, possessed a strong work ethic and unwavering devotion to his Lord and family. He was a friend to all and helped countless individuals in their law enforcement careers. He gave great attention to detail.  If you knew him, you knew of his cracker jack wit.  He was still active in his retirement, enjoying weekly trips to their lake home, loved the outdoors and was an avid hunter and fisherman.  Tom was an influence on others, both spiritually and professionally.  He saw things in people that others did not and always gave them an opportunity to succeed. 

Surviving are: his wife of sixty-seven years, Mrs. Peggy Holden McJunkin of Walterboro; five children, Gwendolyn McJunkin Parnell and her husband Ira of Irmo, Jeffrey Lamar McJunkin and his wife Portia of Timmonsville, Cynthia McJunkin Cochran and her husband Michael of Conway, Randal Thomas McJunkin and his wife Donna of Irmo, and Jean McJunkin Nettles and her husband Dennis of Walterboro; two sisters, Gladys McJunkin Gillispie of Easley and Clara McJunkin Crowe of Anderson; ten grandchildren, Ira B. Parnell (Michelle), Thomas Parnell (Ande), Janie Parnell McNair (Matt), Benjamin McJunkin (Ellisa), Christopher McJunkin (Rebecca), Christiana Cochran Neal (Aaron), James Cochran, Randal T. McJunkin, Tech Sergeant Adam McJunkin, Dennis Billy Nettles, Jr.; and thirteen great grandchildren as well as many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his siblings, Louis McJunkin, Lloyd McJunkin, Allene McJunkin Garrett, and Lucille McJunkin.

In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that memorial contributions be directed in his memory to: Peniel Baptist Church, 37 Forks Road, Islandton, South Carolina 29929.

In consideration of the extraordinary circumstances associated with the Coronavirus, the funeral service for Tom will be held privately at Greenlawn Memorial Gardens, 2 o’clock, Friday afternoon, May 22, 2020, with Police Honors. The funeral service will be live streamed from The Brice Herndon Funeral Chapels and Crematory Facebook page and website. 

ARRANGEMENTS BY: THE BRICE W. HERNDON AND SONS FUNERAL HOME, WALTERBORO CHAPEL, 1193 Bells Highway, Walterboro; 843.538.5408.  Visit the registry online at: www.briceherndonfuneralhome.com.