Obituary of John Lucas

John Thomas "Johnny" Lucas WITH PHOTO WEST COLUMBIA-Services for John Thomas "Johnny" Lucas, 68, of West Columbia, will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday, February 10, 2011, at the Chapel of Thompson Funeral Home of Lexington. Officiating will be Rev. Leroy Dodson and Rev. Brett DeYoung. Burial will follow in Celestial Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends from 7-9 Wednesday evening at the funeral home, and all other times at the residence. Pallbearers will be Tommy Backman, Mich Moore, Ben Temples, Brad Boone, Ernie Boykin, Phil Amick, and Russell Frazier. Honorary pallbearers will be Michael Cooper, Ronald "Bud" Birchmore, Timothy Boone, Leon Smalley, William Brock, Jack Stogner, Pete McGhee, James Taylor, Charles Taylor, Jonathan Gill, Steven Kirkland, David Knopff, and Ronnie Pound. Memorials may be made to Heartstrings Hospice, 115 Blarney Drive, Columbia, SC 29223. Johnny ran his race well and received his checkered flag on Tuesday, February 8, 2011. Mr. Lucas graduated from BC-High School. At the time of his disability retirement he was employed by TCM Mfg. of West Columbia as a welder. He was very involved with dirt track racing and was well known and respected for his knowledge and helpfulness to fellow racers. Mr. Lucas was a very loving, caring, thoughtful husband, father, grandfather, uncle, brother-in-law and friend. He will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him, Surviving are his loving wife of 47 years, Joyce T. Lucas; his loving son, Jeffery T. Lucas; and his loving daughter, Janet T. Lucas all of West Columbia. In addition are his loving granddaughters, Nicole Kirkland, Leslie Wrenn, Whitney Lucas and Kayla Boykin; and one step-great-grandson, Hayden Kirkland; and his precious aunts, Joyce Backman, Minnie Strickland, and Hilda Taylor. He was predeceased by his father, Johnnie Eugene Lucas, his mother, Dorothy Pound Sharpe, step-father, O.B. Sharpe and his granddaughter, Lindsay Wrenn. The family would like to express their great appreciation for all the great caregivers and nurses from Heartstings Hospice. Family and friends may sign online guest book at www.thompsonsfuneral.com