Life Story Metalsmith served church, friends

By Barbara D. Jones - For The Sun News

Tributes paid to Thomas "Tommy" H. Springfield describe him as a special person, always with a smile and ready laugh, an amazing man, a man of integrity, and a wonderful, giving Christian.

Springfield was born Nov. 21, 1940, in Greenville. He retired from the Celanese Corp. after 25 years. He also was a silversmith and a goldsmith, and in 1980 he moved to Murrells Inlet and opened Art of Gold Jewelry Store in Surfside Beach.

He and his wife, Patti R. Springfield, met and were married in Surfside Beach in 1984 and ran the store together for 24 years.

He had two daughters, Debi Lynn Cole of Charleston and Karin Denyse Springfield of Columbia; a son, Thomas C. Springfield of Columbia; a step-son, Chad A. Cockrell of Surfside Beach; and two grandchildren.

Springfield died Feb. 24, 2008, at age 67.

Springfield was an active member of First Baptist Church of Murrells Inlet, where he served as chairman of the Deacons, taught an adult Sunday school class and sang in the choir.

"He was dedicated to his church, and, more importantly, he was dedicated to his Lord," his pastor, the Rev. Chris Spires, said.

Springfield was a Gideon and a member of the South Strand Beach Camp, which recently presented a Gideon Bible to Patti Springfield. She said the members told her it was only the second Bible presented to anyone in 19 years. She said she thought the presentation was because so many people bought Gideon Bibles in memory of her husband.

Springfield was also a member of Pawleys Island Masonic Lodge 409, where he served as Master for one term. He was a member of the Scottish Rite in the Valley of Charleston Orient.

His hobbies were many and varied. He was an amateur radio operator and a member of Grand Strand Amateur Radio Club. He enjoyed working on his computer, and in earlier years spent a great deal of time boating and fishing.

Rick Meyers met Springfield seven years ago.

"We developed a very strong friendship basically through the church and served together as deacons," Meyers said. "He was a true friend. He helped me through a bad time. "

Dewey Corbin knew Springfield for more more than a dozen years. They served together on the Board of Deacons and often attended church conferences together.

"He was just the kind of fellow you'd want to be around all the time," Corbin said. "If there were more people in this world like him, it would be a lot better off. He was a person we're going to miss dearly."