Leland Carson Thrash, better known to his friends as "Slick", 71, passed away Thursday afternoon, June 12, 2014, at Tara Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Thunderbolt, GA.
He was born in Jackson, Michigan to the late Frank Patillo Thrash and Ruth Miriam McIntosh Thrash and grew up in Moncks Corner, South Carolina where he was a proud "Berkeley Stag", excelling in track, football, baseball, and basketball, and later an LSU Tiger. After moving with his family to Bristol, Virginia, he worked with his father at the Bristol Boys Club and briefly served as Director before starting a 41 year career with Graybar Electric. It was in Bristol that he met and married his wife of 47 years, Susan Gillenwater Thrash. He was a member of Wilmington Island Presbyterian Church where he served as an Elder and a Deacon.
Slick was an active man, participating in organizations such as the Bristol Jaycees, serving as President, the Southside Savannah Jaycees, serving as President, the Sertoma Club, Islands Exchange Club, a member of the St. Patrick's Day Committee Adjutant Staff, Captain of the Patrol Unit of the Alee Shriners, a volunteer with the Legends of Golf tournament, and a volunteer with the Southside Fire Department, to name a few. He greatly enjoyed all the time he spent helping his dear friend Wilma Weaver with chores around Cheers To You, a local island bar and restaurant.
Slick is survived by his wife Susan; two sons, Leland Shawn Thrash, wife Lee, grandson Alex and granddaughter Katelyn; and Shane MacDonald Thrash, wife Suzanna, and granddaughter Hailey. He is also survived by two sisters, Mary T. Gustafson (Gus) of Haiku, Maui, Hawaii, and Sharon T. Salisbury (Rembert) of Moncks Corner, SC; nephews, Connor Salisbury (Tracy) and children Dillon and Katie Grace; Chad Salisbury (Mandy) and children Emily and Mason; Carey Salisbury (Tonya) and Redick; and Courtney Salisbury, all of Moncks Corner, SC; his mother-in-law, Mrs. Bernice Gillenwater of Bristol, VA; and his sister-in-law, Mrs. Jane G. Camp of Clifton, VA.
The visitation will be at Fox & Weeks, Islands Chapel from 5pm until 7pm on Monday, June 16.
The funeral service will be held at 11am on Tuesday, June 17, at Wilmington Island Presbyterian Church with Rev. Andy Meeker officiating. Burial will be in the Greenwich section of Bonaventure Cemetery.
Active pallbearers will be Connor Salisbury, Dillon Salisbury, Chad Salisbury, Carey Salisbury, Walter Thompson, and Steve Napier.
Honorary pallbearers: longtime best friend and buddy, Richard Leech; "chauffeurs" and special friends, Glenn "Hoot" Gibson, David Durden, Bert Hubbard, and Tommy Sanderlin, as well as the Patrol Unit and Directors Staff of the Alee Temple, members of the Coastal Sports Club, and the Southside Fire Department.
The family would like to gratefully thank the nurses and staff of Tara Nursing and Rehabilitation Center who went above and beyond the call of duty for their professional and loving care of Leland over the last four months. He was happy there in his second home.
Remembrances may be made to the Alee Shriners' Morris Slotin Fund, P.O. Box 14147, Savannah, GA 31416 or a charity of your choice.