William Michael "Mike" Tolson

WILLIAM MICHAEL “MIKE” TOLSON FLORENCE, SC Mike Tolson went home to be with his Lord and Savior Monday, December 30, 2013, at McLeod Regional Medical Center after a long and courageous battle with Lou Gehrig’s disease.Mike “fought the good fight” and “finished the race” with his family by his side. Visitation will be Thursday, January 2, from 5 to 7 pm at Stoudenmire-Dowling Funeral Home in Florence. A Celebration of Life will be held at 2:00 pm Friday, January 3, at North Hartsville Baptist Church; a burial service will follow at the Cedar Creek Baptist Church Cemetery. Mike was born in Chesterfield County, son of the late W.M. Tolson and the late Betty Tolson Howle.He was the devoted and loving husband of Lois Ann Thomas Tolson of Florence and the adoring father of daughters Alana Kathryn and Ashton Kinsley. Mike was raised in the Cedar Creek Community of Chesterfield County, where he accepted Jesus as his Lord and Savior as a child and continued to model his life after Christ even through his illness. His love for the Lord was evident in every aspect of his life. Mike and his family are members of Hoffmeyer Road Baptist Church in Florence. Mike was a standout athlete at McBee High School in both baseball and football.He went on to play college baseball andlater enjoyed church softball and league tennis.He was an avid hunter and fisherman and served as a committee member of the Black Creek Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation.Mike was employed for 25 years with Sonoco Products Company. Mike is survived by a brother, Gregg Tolson, and sisters, Gwen (Paul) Starling and Louise (AJ) Talbert; Kenny (Wendy) Howle, Boyce (Donna) Howle, Jacquelyn (Mickey) Mixon all of Hartsville;Zak VanGundy of Alabama; a beloved sister-in-law Kate Thomas Miccichi of Charleston; nieces and nephews Adam, Logan, London, Zack, Evan, and Olivia; anda host of treasured friends. The family would like to extend deep appreciation for the love and care given to Mike by Carolyn Brown, Billie Ann Williams, and Jean Martin. Memorials may be made to the Alexa R. Good ALS Foundation, PO Box 12248, Rock Hill, SC 29731 or to the Hoffmeyer Road Baptist Church Building Fund in Florence, SC.