Obituary of Tumpy Creech

Lillian “Tumpy” Payne Creech, 90, widow of John Seaborn Creech, died Thursday, April 11, 2024, at Prisma Health Tuomey. Tumpy was born in Kingstree, South Carolina to William LeRoy and Lillian Woodham Payne. She was the youngest of four girls, Frances, Eloise, Lina May, and Lillian. The girls were permitted to give each other nicknames, and as a result, the Payne girls were ever since known as Frances, Weise, Peepsie, and Tumpy. Tumpy was educated in the Williamsburg County school system and graduated from Columbia College in 1956. She maintained many close college friends who continued to gather frequently to this day. Also during college, Tumpy met the love of her life, John Creech. They were happily married for over 61 years. In addition to being a wonderful mother to four children, Tumpy worked for several years as a teacher at Wilson Hall and touched the lives of many children in Sumter. Tumpy was well known as a generous, loving, cheerful and outgoing person who always was selfless in her efforts to uplift others. Tumpy was a member of First Presbyterian Church of Sumter, where she was an honorary life member of Presbyterian Women. She was a member of the Bethany Sunday school class, and served on various committees. She was a member of the Daughters of American Colonists, the Daughters of the American Revolution, the American Legion Auxiliary, the Magnolia Chapter of Eastern Star, the Sumter Garden Club, was a Master Gardener, and a life member of the Women’s Society of Christian Service. Surviving Tumpy are two sons, John S. “Johnny” Creech Jr. of Florence and LeRoy Payne Creech (Meg) of Sumter; two daughters, Miriam Creech Brice (James) of Greenville and Susan Creech Johnson of Chapin; seven grandchildren, Lillian Carlisle Brice Allen (Jacob), William Payne Creech, James Clowney Brice IV, Chapell Francis Johnson (Eden), Chandler Booth Johnson, Layton Richardson Creech and Thomas Fulton Creech. She was predeceased by a son-in-law, Eric Johnson. In addition to children and grandchildren, Tumpy is survived by many beloved nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, April 16, 2024, at First Presbyterian Church with the Rev. Dr. Stewart Rawson and the Rev. Brian Peake officiating. The family will receive friends from 12:30 to 2 p.m. Tuesday, April 16, 2024, at the First Presbyterian Church Fellowship Hall. Burial will be in the Sumter Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Covenant Place Hourly Employee Gift Fund; the Mission Funds at First Presbyterian Church or Mayesville Presbyterian Church. Grandsons will serve as pallbearers. Online condolences may be sent to www.sumterfunerals.com Elmore Hill McCreight Funeral Home & Crematory, 221 Broad St., Sumter, is in charge of the arrangements (803) 775-9386.