Obituary of Tommy Altman

Tommy Altman, 81, of Georgetown Country Club Estates, Georgetown, South Carolina, died Monday, September 1, 2014 at Tidelands Community Hospice House. Born on May 30, 1933, in Georgetown County, Tommy was a son of the late Annie Mariah Carraway Altman and the late John Gordon Altman. He resided in Pawleys Island, South Carolina, until 1961 when he and the former Miss Mary Louise Cooper were married and made their home in Georgetown, South Carolina. Tommy was a member of Screven Baptist Church in Georgetown for many years. Prior to marriage, he was a member of Pawleys Island Presbyterian Church. Tommy attended Waverly Mills School, a two-room public school at Pawleys Island, which was the only school in Pawleys Island. Two teachers taught the entire school, which consisted of approximately 30 students in the first through seventh grades. He entered the eighth grade at Winyah High School in Georgetown. He was a graduate of the Provost Marshall General’s School as a Military Police Officer with the Disciplinary Guard Technical Service Unit, Camp Gordon, Georgia. He served in the South Carolina Army National Guard. He was an Army veteran of the Korean War where he served as a Military Policeman at the Big 8 Stockade in Nakato, Japan. Tommy completed several in-state and out-of state courses, sponsored by International Paper Company’s Staff Development Program and worked in various positions and departments from February, 1952 until his medical retirement in March, 1980 as a Maintenance Planning Analyst/Supervisor in the Maintenance Planning Department. Tommy was a member of the Quarter Century Club and the Pine Tree Club of International Paper. He had served on several local boards and committees and was a charter member of the City of Georgetown Police Department’s Police Community Advisory Board, serving since his appointment by the 1997 City Council members. He was a member of American Legion Post 172, a Life Member of AMVETS, was a Master Mason, and a Life Member of Murrells Inlet Lodge 368. He was a former member of Moose Lodge 6444. Since 1976, Tommy became a member of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry of the Southern District of the United States and was an Omar Shriner. He had been in the Clowns Unit and helped establish the Jokers Unit and was a member of the G&W Shrine Club. He was an active member of the Georgetown Country Club Community Association. Tommy was a true southern gentleman who epitomized a loving and caring spirit. He was an avid recreational fisherman, shrimper, hunter and was skilled in woodworking. His favorite hobby was working with flowers and gardening. He and Louise were nominated several times and were recipients in 1992 and 2007 of the Yard of Excellence Beautification Award from the Keep Georgetown Beautiful Committee, an affiliate of Keep America Beautiful. He enjoyed many motor coach trips throughout the United States and Canada with Louise and their many friends with the Holiday Tours group, directed by Vivian and Oscar Richburg. He was also a charter member of the Ocean Waves Square Dance Club. Tommy and Louise were owners and developers of Whispering Pines Subdivision on State Highway 4 in Georgetown County. They were also co-owners and operators of Andy’s Hillbilly Chicken Restaurant on Highway 17 in the City of Georgetown for several years. Most of all, Tommy was a devoted husband, daddy, G-Daddy, father-in-law, brother, uncle, brother-in-law, cousin and friend to all. In addition to his wife, Louise, of 53 years, he is survived by his only child, Stella Louise Altman Jernigan and her husband, Daniel Charles “Danny” Jernigan, Jr. and their son, Alexander John “Alex” Jernigan, who was Tommy’s only grandchild and the joy of his life. Surviving siblings are his three sisters, Josephine A. Heath of Midlothian, Texas, Edline A. Hucks of Manning and Lorena A. “Tootsie” Watkins of Pawleys Island; two brothers, John Lawrence Altman and his wife Carol of Georgetown and Albert Sidney Altman and his wife Linda of Mt. Pleasant; several brothers-in-law, nieces, nephews, cousins, and many dear friends and extended family members. Tommy was preceded in death by five brothers, Reggie, Claude and Mackie Altman, Sr. of Pawleys Island, Theodore Altman of St. Cloud, Florida and Harry Altman of Slidell, Louisiana. Funeral services will be held at 4 PM Saturday, September 6, 2014 at Screven Baptist Church with Pastor Jason Williams officiating. Entombment with military honors and Masonic Rites will follow in the Pennyroyal Memorial Gardens Mausoleum. The family will receive friends at the church from 3 – 4 PM prior to the service. The family would like to thank the many health care providers for their loving and compassionate care they provided to Tommy for many years. Memorials may be made to Screven Baptist Church Fellowship Hall Fund, PO Box 2776 Georgetown, SC 29442 or to Omar Shrine Temple, for the Greenville Shriner’s Children’s Hospital, 176 Patriots Point Rd., Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464 Graham Funeral Home of Georgetown is in charge of the arrangements. www.grahamfuneralhome.org