Community Obituaries

Thomas Allison Hipp, Sr., aged 93, died peacefully on December 29^th 2023. Born May 26th, 1930, in Charlotte, North Carolina, he was the fourth child of David Elliot Hipp and Bessie Tevepaugh Hipp. Tom was preceded in death by his wife of over 60 years, Langhorne Cooke Hipp, and his siblings, David Elliot Hipp, Jr., Alieen Hipp Thomason, and John Rae Hipp. He is survived by his son Thomas Allison Hipp, Jr. (wife Karen Bruning Hipp), his daughter Virginia Hipp Phillippi (husband E. Paul Phillippi, Jr.), his grandsons Thomas Hipp, Jackson Hipp, Samuel Hipp, and his granddaughter Langhorne Phillippi.

Tom earned his Eagle Scout in 1945 and started playing football soon after. He played for Mars Hill University and then transferred to Wofford College where he became a lifelong Terrier. He met Langhorne Cooke, a Converse girl, while at Wofford and they married in 1957. Tom was a “Cotton Man,” learning the trade with Anderson Clayton in Greensboro, North Carolina. He then moved over to Burlington Industries and moved the family to Greenville, South Carolina in 1972.  After 30 years with Burlington Industries and a few more years with I.L. Donkle Cotton Company, Tom retired and became involved with the Christ Church Episcopal School Learning Service Program at John Wesley United Methodist Church assisting with breakfast service three mornings a week and distributing donated shoes to the homeless.

Depending on who you talked to, he was Tom, Tommy, Hipp, the Mayor, the Shoe Man, the Governor. As the “Mayor of Fairview” he enjoyed spending hours and hours “doing yard work,” which really meant greeting everyone who walked or drove by the corner of Fairview Avenue and McIver Street and catching up on all the latest news and hearsay of the day. When not working on the yard, he could be found searching for “treasure” at flea markets, thrift stores, or just sitting on the side of the road, which he would bring home to refurbish ─ filling the garage and the basement workshop with all manner of assorted projects in various stages of completion. But, by far, Tom’s favorite project was the old family cabin just outside of Rockbridge Baths, Virginia where he could be found on vacation fixing holes in the tin roof, replacing screens and shingles, and devising some clever way to take a shower, as there was no indoor plumbing.

Tom loved meeting new people and getting involved in new activities. His friend circle grew each time he moved and he truly valued each connection he made ─ from the Fairview neighborhood to the Cascades, to The Palmettos (where he was the Governor), and finally to National Healthcare, Mauldin where he was lovingly cared for until his death.

Above all, Tom was a loving husband, father, grandfather, brother, and uncle who was always present in the lives of his family. He was ready to drop everything when needed and he thrived on being needed. Tom wanted to know everything everyone was up to and couldn’t wait to share his children’s, grandchildren’s, nieces', and nephews’ projects and accomplishments with other family and friends.

The family wishes to express their sincerest gratitude to all who cared for him and especially to Charlene, Angel Heart Caregiver Services, and Annette Cook, Director of Senior Adult Ministries for Christ Church Episcopal, for their loving and long-term devotion.

A memorial service will be held at the Christ Church Episcopal Chapel on Saturday, January 13, 2024 at 11:00 am.

Donations in Tom’s honor may be made to Christ Church Episcopal, Senior Adult Ministries, 10 N Church St, Greenville, SC 29601, or to Caris Hospice, 111 Smith Hines Road, Suite D, Greenville, South Carolina, 29607.