Thaddeus "Thad" Graham McCullough, Jr.

Thaddeus "Thad" Graham McCullough, Jr., 87, born in Columbia, SC. on July 22, 1937, passed away on April 09, 2025, in Mount Pleasant, SC. His Funeral Service will be held Monday, April 14, 2025, in the J. Henry Stuhr Inc., Mount Pleasant Chapel, 1494 Mathis Ferry Road at 2:00 pm. The family will receive friends an hour before the service.

Thad was born and raised in Columbia, SC with his parents Thad Sr. and Helen, and two younger brothers Johnny and Andy. After graduating from Dreher High School, he joined the U.S. Marine Corps in 1956. He proudly served for four years in various locations, including Parris Island, Camp Lejeune, Okinawa, and Lebanon. After leaving the Marines in 1960, he met Gayle Padgett McCullough. They were married in 1962 in Columbia and enjoyed 62 years of marriage before his passing.

Thad briefly attended the University of South Carolina but left college for work in Raleigh, NC, where he and Gayle moved to in 1962. He and Gayle moved from Raleigh to Sullivan’s Island, SC, in 1965, and finally settled in Mount Pleasant, SC, where he was a resident for 56 years. Thad and Gayle had three sons, Graham, Joel, and Drew, and one daughter, Mandy who all graduated from Wando High School in Mount Pleasant, SC. Thad held many jobs throughout his life, including industrial sales to the Navy, tire sales, paint sales, caretaker at Boone Hall Plantation, and caretaker at Ravens Run neighborhood.

Thad was passionate about many activities. He was a very good athlete and passed that trait down to his children. Baseball was his main sport where he played in high school and was on the Marine Corps baseball team. As a father, Thad coached his children in many of the Mount Pleasant sports leagues and continued to play men’s league softball. Thad also had a love of nature. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, gardening, bird watching, all types of animals, and anything outdoors. Thad was also a hardcore USC Gamecock and Atlanta Braves fan and loved to watch and listen to their games wherever he was. Above all, Thad loved and cherished his wife Gayle and their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, taking great pride in his family.

Thad was preceded in death by his parents, Thad Sr. and Helen McCullough; and brother, Andy McCullough. He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Gayle McCullough; children, Graham McCullough (Barbara), Joel McCullough (Teri), Drew McCullough (Julie), and Mandy McCullough Soffera (Billy); ten grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and his brother, Johnny McCullough.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to Marine Toys for Tots Foundation, Attn: Gift Processing Administrator, 18251 Quantico Gateway Drive, Triangle, VA 22172-1776.

A memorial message may be sent to the family on our website at www.jhenrystuhr.com.