Billy Glenn Hoover

Billy Glenn Hoover was born February 16, 1963 in North, South Carolina, son of Shirley Mae Cook and the late George B Hoover.

Glenn was a healthy, bright-eyed boy who excelled in Head Start, then 1st grade at Goodland Elementary School in Springfield, SC.  After moving to Columbia, SC he attended 2nd through 4th grade at Seminole Elementary, 5th and 6th grades at Wardlaw Annex, and then St. Andrews Jr. High, before graduating from Columbia High School in 1981.

Glenn was a natural-born worker.  Since the age of 7, he was handy around the house and enjoyed helping his heart-father, the late Bradford Cook, with keeping things neat around the yard and planting vegetables in the backyard garden.  Later, along with his brother Reggie and friends Merellis and Clarke, he would pump diesel fuel for tips at the Union 76 truck stop around the corner from his home in the Piney Grove Community.  The four boys would also mow neighborhood lawns, deliver groceries, and do odd jobs for elders in the community.  Once Glenn grew old enough to hold a part-time job, he bussed tables at the first Lizard’s Thicket restaurant in the Columbia area.

Early on, Glenn gave his life to Jesus.  At the age of 12, Glenn was baptized at the Chapel Hill Baptist Church where he learned the fundamentals of being a Christian, which he built upon for the rest of his life.  Glenn knew his Bible backwards and forward; and he carried the same one with him for almost 45 years.

Glenn was left-handed with a classic southern sense of humor.  He loved re-telling the humorous stories told to him by his beloved late father and dear Uncle James, who both taught him the value of finishing a job.  Likewise, Glenn patterned his work ethic after Fred “Snapper” Foust, whom he also looked up to with enormous respect.

As a youth Glenn enjoyed roller skating at the Red Wing Roller rink, and riding bicycles all over the Piney Grove and Harbison area with his friends.

Though Glenn had several serious setbacks early in life, he persevered.  After a traffic accident left his dominant arm paralyzed and his face badly scarred, Glenn drove himself hard, regaining his physical strength, and eventually owning his own business.  His winning personality and easy-going spirit won him many friends as well as loyal customers.

After high school, for several years Glenn lived in Fort Walton Beach, Florida where he started his landscaping operation.  Once he moved back to Columbia, Glenn started Hoover’s Tree Service, a business well-suited for his love of the outdoors and fearlessness in climbing tall trees.

Glenn leaves to cherish fond memories his mother, Shirley M Cook, 5 siblings: Byron K Huffman, Stephonie H Mack, Reginold D Hoover, Georgia H Miller, Jennifer Y Cook; a host of aunts, cousins, and two special uncles, Tharold H Huffman & Carl Heyward Huffman; a goddaughter, Sequoya, and 2 god-grands, Averiona & Makayla.

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