Michael A Till

LEXINGTON - Michael Albert Till, 50, beloved son, husband, father, friend to all, and church and community leader, stepped into the presence of our Lord and Savior on Thursday, July 28, 2011.

Born August 29, 1960, in Reno, Nevada, Mike was the son of Solomon Irvin Till III, of Sumter, and Maxine Slimp Thompson, now married to Howard Barnes Thompson, of Sun City Center Florida. Surviving Mike are his loving wife, Linda Gehrke Till; and three beautiful children, eldest child Daniel Michael Till and his wife Katherine, of Charleston, Angela Till Klosterman and her husband Matthew and their young son, Andrew, of Lexington, and Lauren Elizabeth Till, of the home.

Mike is additionally survived by two brothers, Steve Irving Till and his wife, Wendi, and their children Justin and Ashley; Craig Alan Till and his wife, June, and Craig’s sons, Craig Jr. and Jonathan; and a sister, Melissa Whitfield and her husband Mark and their children Adam, Marissa and Niclaus, of Fort Mill, SC.

Survivors also include his father-in-law, Julius H. Gehrke, now of Greenville; and three sisters-in-law, Donna Marie Mathis and her husband Barry, of Dallas, Texas, Donna’s son, Travis, and Barry’s daughter, Cassy; Judy Ann Porter and her husband Chris, of Greenville, and their children Matthew and Amanda; and Debra Lynn Cumming and her husband, Alan, and Debbie’s children Ryan, Brent, and Sophia, and Alan’s children Mike and Leah.

Mike graduated from Sumter High School in Sumter, and the University of South Carolina, 1982, with a BS Degree in Accounting. He played baseball for P15 American Legion and college baseball for USC Salkehatchie. Mike was a committed supporter of his University and his Gamecocks, and several notable athletes from the baseball and football teams visited him in recent weeks.

After college graduation, Mike worked his way up through the Bojangles restaurant organization, becoming a valued member of the management team. He later became co-owner/manager of several Sub Station II restaurants in Lexington, Swansea, Red Bank and Newberry. Mike made the operation of these stores, along with their catering business, a true family affair, with him, his wife, and children becoming fixtures in the area’s food service industry.

In recent years, Mike branched out and became co-owner of ProServe Business Solutions with his eldest son Daniel and two other partners.

Mike was Chairman of the Board of the Lexington Chamber of Commerce and an active member of the Lexington Rotary Club. He was extremely well respected in the business community for his keen business sense, his endless optimism, and a refreshing level of integrity that fostered trust and teamwork among diverse groups and interests.

Mike never let his business success divert his commitment to a value system that put serving God at the top of his priority list, followed closely by his commitment to his wife and family. Mike loved the Lord, and he loved talking to others about the joy a life spent serving the Lord can bring. Mike was a prominent lay leader at Mt. Horeb United Methodist Church in Lexington, where he was recently honored with a plaque citing his accomplishments and devotion to God and his Church. He was a long time Sunday school teacher, most recently leading the Joy Sunday School class. Mike also was an active member of the “Focused Living” Monday morning men’s group.

Mike served as a mentor and surrogate parent for many a youth in the community, freely giving of his time, money, and other resources in helping others in need.

None was more inspired by Mike through the years than his immediate and extended family. To his wife, Linda, he was a faithful, supportive life partner who fully embraced her family as his own from a young age. Mike and Linda forged the strongest of marriages and raised three children who are following in their Christ-loving footsteps, committed to continuing to live by the ideals Mike instilled in them. Mike’s willingness to give of himself to family and friends was legendary, and he leaves a void that cannot be filled.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, July 30, at 1:00 at Mt. Horeb United Methodist Church, 1205 Old Cherokee Road, Lexington, 29072, with burial to follow at Mt. Horeb. Visitation will be Friday, July 29, from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. at Caughman-Harman Funeral Home, 503 N Lake Drive, Lexington, SC, 29072. There will be an open casket.

Serving as pallbearers will be: Chuck Hudson, Chris Porter, Baxter Donaldson, James Carter, Barry Mathis, and Mark Whitfield.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Mt. Horeb Building Fund. 1205 Old Cherokee Rd, PO Box 131, Lexington, SC 29072