The South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) Deputy Secretary for Engineering, John Walsh, (left), presented the “Outstanding Chesterfield County Group of the Year Award” to members of the “In Memory of Thomas Creech Adopt-A-Highway” group during the annual Adopt-A-Highway Awards Ceremony on April 29, 2010 in Columbia. Pictured left-to-right is John Walsh, Thomas Creech’s mother, Debbie McLain, Cindy Creech (sister), Betty Shaw, Pagen Freeman, Charles Freeman Jr. and Aleshia McLain.
The annual SCDOT awards event is hosted by SCDOT to recognize the volunteer-citizen groups, coordinators and SCDOT employees for their participation in the Adopt-A-Highway program.
It was in the month of May 2008 that Thomas Creech, then 17, died in a traffic accident on S.C. 52.
Since Creech’s death, Creech’s mother, Debbie McLain and other family members have been participating in the “Adopt-A-Highway” program. Their priority is making sure the portion of the road that was assigned to them by the SCDOT, stays clean of litter, helping to keep the highway safe for others. In addition, the family also created a small memorial where her son’s accident occurred.
“We thought this is a good way to remember Thomas. This is something ongoing that we desire to do in Thomas’s memory,” said his mother.
McLain, his two sisters, Cindy and Candice, three brothers Jackie III, Tyler, and Jordan, his father Jackie Creech and Henry, will always remember the wonderful son, brother, cousin, uncle and friend that he was to those who knew him.
Creech, your typical, outgoing teenager, loved life and gave love back in return. McLain said that she and her family would always love and remember him.
“There is not a day or a second that goes by that he is not in our hearts and minds,” She continued, “It is a given that he could fix just about anything that he wanted to. He was always friendly and was happy to help others in need. Thomas was a very fun, outgoing, and talented young man. He loved hanging out with his friends, four-wheeling, fishing, hunting, motorcycles, and his S-15 pick-up truck, which he called his “dream truck.” His favorite color was red.”
Standing at six-foot, two inches tall and weighing around 260 pounds, Creech loved lifting weights and was also a member of the Cheraw Parks and Recreation Baseball Team. Loving sports and with much determination, Creech was a hard worker. He could accomplish anything he set his mind to, according to his mother.
Creech was also a student at Robert Smalls Family Center in Cheraw where he earned his GED, and was also a student of Cheraw High School.
His family said that they do not know why he was called to Heaven so soon, but he is still and always will be at home with them, living in their hearts and memories.
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