Col. Lloyd Meekins, Sr. passed away Saturday, August 25, 2012 at his residence.
Born in Dillon County, SC, September 21, 1928, he was the son of the late Mr. & Mrs. Frank Meekins, Sr.
Mr. Meekins was an Auctioneer for 48 years of Lloyd Meekins & Sons Realty & Auction Company specializing in real estate, farm & construction equipment sales. He was also the owner of the Dillon Red Legs Baseball Team who won the 1962 Border Belt League Championship. He was a self-made entrepreneur. At the young age of thirteen, he began his career as the owner of a small log-cabin store between Lake View and Dillon. He also farmed with his brothers during this time. He later opened a restaurant on Main Street in Dillon and operated a car business. He then drove a Blenheim Ginger Ale route and opened this country store between Dillon and Lake View, known today as “Koon’s Store. Mr. Meekins had a dream of becoming an auctioneer. He attended and graduated from the Nashville Auction School in 1964. Upon becoming an auctioneer, he opened and conducted his first auction at the Auction Barn. He was the founder and owner of Lloyd Meekins & Sons Auction Company, an auction company that conducted auctions of farm and construction equipment and real estate. Mr. Meekins was a member of First Baptist Church of Dillon.
Survivors include his wife of 61 years, Cora Lee Owens Meekins of Dillon; two sons, Lloyd “Mickey” Meekins, Jr. (Debbie) of Lumberton, NC and Roger Corbett Meekins (Sandy) of Dillon; three daughters, Flora Lee “Sister” Smith of Dillon, Debra “Debbie” Miller (Doug) of Dillon, and Patricia Smith (Jerry) of Dillon; three sisters, Mrs. Virgie Hayes of Dillon, Mrs. Bettie Jean Evans (Robert) of Dillon, and Mrs. Margaret McKenzie (JR) of Dillon; three brothers, Mr. Frank “Beet” Meekins, Jr. (Vashtie), Mr. Leroy “Koon” Meekins, Mr. James “Jim” Meekins (Bernice) of Lake View, and a sister-in-law, Virginia Meekins; 11 grandchildren, Nichole Smith Lewis (Danny Ray), Lloyd “Trey” Meekins, III (Brandy), Jerrilea Smith Davison (Chris), Erica Meekins Johnson, Stephen Ivey (Christina), Joseph Smith, Jerry Timothy Smith, II, Leah Ivey, Garrett Meekins (Brittany), Blair Smith (Lindsey) and Mitch Meekins; 6 great-grandchildren, Lily and Quinn Meekins, Preston Johnson, Raylin & Brylee Lewis, and Jase Meekins; a special family member, Judy Edwards (Bill) Bailey of Boone, NC.
Mr. Meekins was preceded in death by his brothers, Herbert “Monk” Meekins, and Edgar Meekins; and his sisters, Lottie Price, and Virginia Thigpen.
Services will be held Tuesday, August 28th at 4:00 p.m. at First Baptist Church, Dillon, SC with entombment in Evergreen Cemetery Mausoleum. Visitation will be held 6-8 p.m. Monday at Cooper Funeral Home.
Memorials may be made to First Baptist Church, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, or Lupus Foundation of America.
The family would like to say a special thanks to Ginger Berry for her love and dedication to the family.
