Willie James Rhinehart

“My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry” James 1:19 The son of Amanda Simmons & Willie Rhinehart, WJ graduated from the historic Saluda Rosenwald High School in 1951. He Graduated from Midland Technical College with an Associate Degree in Criminal Justice. He often recounts his admiration for how his father, a brick mason and sharecropper amassed land of his own and somehow bought a car, to insure he and his sister, Annie Ruth, were able to get to school when the segregation laws denied them public school transportation. Although he grew up in the small town of Saluda, it soon became his point of departure from which he would see the world. Drafted into the Army on November 30, 1951, WJ would go on to complete 8 weeks of basic training In Missouri, and then enrolled at paratroopers jump school at Ft. Benning Georgia in 1952. He was assigned to the iconic 82nd Airborne Division from 1952-53 (the first Black integrated airborne division). Though he would leave the Army in 1953, a year later he had the fortuitous change of mind and re-enlisted in February 1954. WJ was assigned to the 1st Army Unit in New Rochelle, NY, until August 1954 when he decided to further his military status and entered Advanced Military Police School, at Ft Gordon, Georgia. After his graduation, He returned to New Rochelle, NY. In December of 1954 WJ was deployed to Korea where he would complete a 16-month tour of duty. His second discharge from the army came in 1957, yet he re-enlisted 3 days after his discharge! That same year, while home on leave with a shiny new car, he met the love of his life; a young teacher from Sumter SC on her first teaching assignment in Saluda, Maggie Lee. Their family lived for 3 years in Germany before returning to Ft Campbell Kentucky. in 1964 The family moved to Columbia SC, only to have WJ reassigned to Germany once again until his final return to the United States in 1968. WJ thrived in Germany for a collective 6 years even though he never spoke the language fluently! WJ remained a standout drill sergeant on the United States largest Army Basic training base, Fort Jackson, until his retirement as Staff Sergeant in 1972. Leaving no grass under his feet and no time to mark a formal retirement, WJ joined the Columbia Police Department 3 days after military retirement! He remained a distinguished police officer for 20 years FINALLY retiring (once again) in May, 1992. In his retirement he remained an avid listener of music, a wickedly good (and underestimated) pool player, fellowshipping with friends and meeting with Mr. Holt at the VFW, coffee club meetings at McDonald’s with Senator Patterson and his crew, and attending Francis Burns Methodist Church. Willie James Rhinehart, the loving husband, father and son, was predeceased by his parents Amanda Simmons Rhinehart and Willie Rhinehart; and his wife, Maggie Lee Rhinehart. He is survived by his children Jacqueline Rhinehart, William Rhinehart , & James Rhinehart, sister Annie Ruth Williams, niece, Betty Anne Willams, granddaughter, Brianna Rhinehart, and great aunts Bennie Ruth Harp, Dorothy Patterson, and Jessie Chapman and a host of extended family and friends

Willie James Rhinehart

June 20, 1932 - February 9, 2025