Captain Thomas B. Presley, 75, husband of Betty Carolina Presley, son of the late Sammie Lee and Mary Presley Dunham was born on February 25, 1945 in Sumter, South Carolina. He departed this life on Thursday, July 16, 2020 at the Prisma Health Tuomey, Sumter, SC

Captain Presley received his education in the public schools of Sumter County and was a 1964 graduate of Lincoln High School, where he was a dedicated high school bus driver for three (3) school years. Captain Presley furthered his education by graduating from the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy and Central Carolina Technical College.

Captain Presley employment history includes Town and Country Mobile Homes as an Assistant Superintendent, and a production associate at the Becton Dickinson Sumter Manufacturing Plant for several years. His greatest joy and love was his service to the Sumter City Police Department for 27 years, 4 months, and 15 days. His awards and decorations, include China-Gillard Officer of the Year, Mayor's Special Commendation, Palmetto Rotary Club, Strom Thurmond Award for Excellence in Law Enforcement, Eleventh Annual Freedom Fund, Vehicle Behavior, Employee of the Month, Hazardous Materials, Homicide Scene Investigations, Post Traumatic Stress, Search and Seizure and Legal Update. Captain Presley retired in June 2000 and became an entrepreneur by establishing his own businesses--Presley & Son's Construction, a catering business and becoming a farmer extraordinaire. With the gift of planting, he became known as "a community giver". As he worked in his garden, he would say, "I just love to see things grow".

Captain Presley was a committed member of the Beulah AME Church family, where he faithfully and actively served on the Trustee Board, Sons of Allen/ Men's Club, Lay Organization, Budget Committee, Cemetery Committee, Finance Committee, Food Service Committee, and a member of the Church School Department. He was well known for his cooking abilities and everyone looked forward to the church Annual Homecoming for his ole fashioned pit-cooked barbecue and dessert specialty "peach cobbler". Captain Presley was also a devoted member to the brotherhood of Masons.

Captain Presley leaves to cherish his precious memories: his wife of 55 years, Betty Carolina Presley: one daughter, Tiffany Danita Presley of Columbia, SC; two sons: Thomas Lavern Presley (Linda) of Dumfries, VA and Darren L. Harris (Celeste) of Roxboro, NC; two grandsons: Teyon Jeremiah Presley (Melissa) and Tavian Ibra Presley, both of Dumfries, VA; one granddaughter, Tasja Harris of Roxboro, NC; one great-granddaughter, Teagan Harris of Roxboro, NC; two aunts, Loretta Presley of Brooklyn, NY and Loretta Dunham of Sumter, SC; one very special niece, "Uncle" Brittany Washington of Sumter, SC; two adopted granddaughters, Jakell Ealey and India Shaw of Sumter, SC; one adopted great-grandson, Jayden Pugh of Sumter, SC; seven sisters-in-law: Linda (Charles) Ludd of Los Angeles, CA, Geraldine (James) McFadden, Annie Mae Benjamin, Shirley (Harold) Coleman, Lillie Mae (William) Gibson, Brenda (Reno) Isaac, and Sandra (David) Hinnant of Sumter, SC; two brothers-in-law, Willie Washington, Jr. and William Washington of Sumter, SC; nieces, nephews, and a host of other relatives and friends.

Captain Presley was preceded in death by his parents and brother, James Earl Dunham

Public Viewing will be held on Tuesday, July 21, 2020 from 2-6pm at Job's Mortuary.

Captain Presley will be placed in the church on Wednesday, July 22, 2020 at 10am for viewing until the hour of service.

Funeral Services will be held at 11am on Wednesday, July 22, 2020 at Salem Chapel & Heritage Center, 101 South Salem Avenue, Sumter, SC 29150, with Dr. Robert Galloway, Presiding and Rev. Gerald Richardson, Eulogist.

Interment will follow in Hillside Memorial Park.

Family will receive friends at the home, 1281 East Calhoun Street Ext, Sumter, SC 29153. Face mask will be require.

Job's Mortuary, Inc., 312 S. Main Street is in charge of arrangements.

Online memorials may be sent to the family at: jobsmortuary@sc.rr.com or visit us on the web at: www.jobsmortuary.net.