Thomas Wendell Dameron

Thomas Wendell Dameron, Jr was born on February 9, 1959 in El Paso, Texas to the late Thomas Wendell Dameron Sr. and late Annie Louise (Wragg) Dameron. He died in Columbia, South Carolina on September 14, 2018.

Born into a military family, Thomas was the middle of three children born to his parents. After being stationed in El Paso, Texas, the family moved overseas to Nuremberg, Germany and later Pisa, Italy, settling in 1966 in Charleston, South Carolina, where Thomas claimed as his home. His sister Olive S. Dameron (1956) and brother Griffin E. Dameron (1960) preceded him in death.

A graduate of Middleton High School, Thomas received academic honors and was recognized for his athleticism in football and basketball. He would later go on to take courses at Trident Technical College and the University of South Carolina. He married his wife Lavoris Rena’ (Melvin) Dameron (1962) on August 11, 1979. Together they had two daughters.

He leaves to cherish his memories children Tressa Torea’ Louise Dameron (1980) and DéLana Rachel Ann Dameron-John (1985), a son-in-law Curtis John of Brooklyn, New York; a sister Jenneise B. Carr of Savannah, GA; nieces Nadia and Taylor; nephews Quincy, Sean, DaShawn, Tyler and Nushawn; goddaughters Lauren, Sharon, and Tiffany, and countless cousins, friends, and co-workers.

After serving in the US military in strategic microwave systems repair and field radio repair from 1979--1986, which included station time in South Korea, Thomas worked for over 30 years at South Carolina Educational Television (SCETV), as Manager of Satellite Operations. His tenacity and ingenuity were integral to transitioning SCETV to new technologies in the 80’s and 90’s and provided the conduit for educational content from ETV to its customers for 15 years until internet-based streaming was ready to take over, and was integral to the transition to its operations today.

In 1987, with his late brother Griffin, Thomas served the community of Charleston, South Carolina every February for the Southeastern Wildlife Exposition. When Griffin passed in 2008, Thomas took the lead and continued to ensure that the lighting and technology for the exposition continued for artists, exhibitors, and community members for more than 30 years.

As a business owner, Thomas founded Dameron Communications & Services in the early 90’s building and servicing computers at a time when at-home computer technology was not the norm, and computer networked-based systems operations were not readily accessible to churches and small business owners. Thomas brought the first personal desktop computer into the homes of many residents across the state, and kept families current with PC technologies for almost three decades.

With his wife Rena’, Thomas supported the educational technology programs for Tressa’s Learning Funhouse, a pre-school and daycare center which served Columbia’s youth for over two decades, and Touching Lives Forever Here, a community outreach ministry.

Thomas’ impact in the areas of technological access and service stretches across the country, and will continue to impact  for generations to come. But moreso, his boundless generosity will live in our hearts forever.

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