Obituary of David Roger Lai

David Roger Lai, Pharm D, of Columbia, South Carolina entered immortality on Tuesday, June 25, 2013. David was born on November 20, 1977 in Tacoma Washington to Roger Lai and the late Elena Ann Rose Lai. Also, cherishing his beautiful memories are his loving and devoted wife Kit Chun “Alice” Lou, his brother Timothy Lai, Uncle Earl, Aunt Tommy, a special aunt and uncle (Aunt Dora and Uncle Jarnail), his extended Tennessee family, and a host of other relatives and friends. David was raised in Hong Kong and moved back to the US to further his education after the passing of his mother in 1991. David never met a stranger, and made friends everywhere he lived, including Hong Kong, Tennessee, Florida, North Carolina, and South Carolina. A gentleman and scholar, David graduated from Airport High School, SC. He spent the first part of his collegiate career at the University of South Carolina with a scholarship from the James F. Byrnes Foundation. David was a Residents Assistant in the dormitory and spent four consecutive semesters on the Dean’s List. With early admission based on academic merits, he moved to Boston to pursue his post-graduate study in pharmacy. He earned his Doctorate of Pharmacy at the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy. David had the heart of a servant, and was driven to provide excellent care to each of his patients. He served as a pharmacist for Fawcett Memorial Hospital in Port Charlotte, FL; Sam’s Club Pharmacy in Ft. Myers, FL; Self Regional Medical Center in Greenwood, SC; K-mart Pharmacies in Greenwood and Orangeburg , SC; and earned numerous awards for his professionalism. In 2012, David and his beloved wife Alice, opened Sandhill Family Pharmacy in Columbia, SC so that they could provide personalized service to their customers. David dispensed smiles and many kind words along with prescriptions, and his patients loved doing business with him. David was the light of the world, and he loved sharing his laughter and his amazing sense of humor with everyone he met. He loved to travel with Alice and the two of them had many wonderful adventures throughout the years. He honed his intellect by playing chess and reading, especially histories and biographies. David was a member of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Columbia, SC, which he joined when he was a student at the University of South Carolina. There will be a Memorial Service on Saturday, July 13, 2013 11AM at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, located at 2200 Lee Street, Columbia, SC 29205. There will be a private burial in his family cemetery in Chattanooga, Tennessee at a later date. In lieu of flowers, we ask that you emulate David’s beautiful example of gentleness, kindness and caring by paying his kindness forward with a good deed. Take some time each day to enjoy life, and spread some of that joy to others. We ask all memorial donations be sent to the James F. Byrnes Foundation in remembrance of David. The foundation assists South Carolina students who have lost one or both parents by providing financial assistance to their college education. [The James F. Byrnes Foundation, PO Box 6781, Columbia, SC 29260] Arrangements are by Simplicity Lowcountry Cremation & Burial Services.