Thelma Meetze Rawls

Thelma Elizabeth Meetze Rawls, widow of George Benjamin Rawls, of Columbia, South Carolina, died Saturday, January 16, 2021. Born July 23, 1926, near Ballentine, to the late Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Samuel Meetze (Martha Azilee Younginer), she and her family were displaced by the construction of Lake Murray and made their home in the Spring Hill Community, near White Rock. Mrs. Rawls was graduated from Irmo High School and went to work for the Richland County Office of the Department of Agriculture, Stabilization, and Conservation in bookkeeping and payroll. It was there she met her future husband whose father’s contracting firm was working on her office building. They married in 1953, and she remained employed with this office until their first child was born. Afterward, Mrs. Rawls was a homemaker and supported her husband’s general contracting business with office work for the next 45 years. Mrs. Rawls was a good southern cook well known for her macaroni and cheese, fried chicken, pound cakes, and cookies. Also, she was known for bringing home-cooked meals to family, neighbors, and friends in their time of need. Mrs. Rawls was a member of Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church (now known as Heyward Street UMC) of which her mother-in-law was a charter member. She was a member of the Circle # 5 and was the last living member of the Friendship Sunday School Class. She received an Honorary Life Membership in the United Methodist Women.

Mrs. Rawls is survived by her daughter, Gail Rawls Jeter (Edwin Russell Jeter, Jr.) of Columbia and her son, George Benjamin Rawls, Jr. (Angella Drafts Rawls) of Aiken, as well as three grandsons. They are Edwin Russell Jeter, III (Julia Rhines Jeter) of Charlotte, North Carolina, William Rawls Jeter of Columbia, and George Benjamin Rawls, III of Aiken. She is also survived by her sister, Mrs. Waid Sidney Toy (Vannie) and brother, John Calvin Meetze (Vicki Gray Meetze). In addition to her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by her brother, Herbert Cecil Meetze, her brother-in-law, Waid Sidney Toy, and Mr. Rawls’s four siblings and their spouses.

A private graveside service will be held for immediate family only. There will be a livestream of the service starting at 11:00 a.m. Thursday, January 21, 2021, on Dunbar Funeral Home – Devine’s Facebook page: www.facebook.com/DunbarDevine

The family is most appreciative of many years of loving care by Marie Washington.

Memorials may be made to Heyward Street United Methodist Church, 2501 Heyward Street, Columbia, South Carolina 29205.

Memories may be shared at www.dunbarfunerals.com