Thomas Fant Steele Jr.

Thomas Fant Steele Jr., 88 of Rock Hill died on September 26, 2016. He was a proud Bearcat, graduating from Rock Hill High School in 1945. Mr. Steele graduated from Wofford College and Duke Divinity School. He was a retired Methodist Minister serving many churches in North & South Carolina. Mr. Steele was also the first director of the Jaycee Boys Home in Rock Hill, SC. He also served the Childrens Home in Lancaster, SC as director. Fant and his wife, Mary were foster parents to over 160 children during this time. They were fondly referred to as "Mom and Pop Steele" and continued to have contact with some of these children as well as their children. He was preceded in death by his wife Mary Ellen Moon Steele, parents Thomas Fant Steele Sr. and Blanche Quinn Steele. He is survived by his son Thomas Fant Steele III (Lorraine Campbell Steele) of Rochester, MN and daughter Lin Steele Garrison (Bill Garrison) of Fort Mill SC. Sisters Cornelia Troublefield and Catherine McCullam of Rock Hill, SC and May Crocker (Charles Crocker) of Asheville, NC. Mr. Steele is also survived by 5 grandchildren: Mary Elizabeth McQuaig of Raleigh, NC; William Rudder of San Antonio, TX; Thomas Steele, IV of Byron, MN; Jennifer Rudder of Rock Hill, SC and Brandon Steele of Rochester, MN. A memorial service will be held on Friday September 30, 2016 at 4pm at Bass Cauthen Funeral Home. The family will receive friends after the service. In lieu of flowers the family ask that donations be made to Saint Jude's Children's Research Hospital or University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. Online condolences may be registered at www.basscares.com.