A South Carolina family is remembering the final words of a father who was killed in a devastating fireworks accident during a 4th of July celebration.

Allen Ray McGrew died in July 2024 after a firework exploded while he was celebrating at a neighborhood block party in Summerville, located in Dorchester County.

The 41-year-old had spent the evening celebrating what his family described as his favorite holiday. Videos later shared online showed him dancing, smoking a cigarette, and wearing an Uncle Sam costume while friends and relatives laughed nearby.

In one video, someone can be heard saying, “He’s dancing to his own tune,” while another person joked that the “big show” would be starting soon.

Moments later, the celebration turned tragic.

Allen Ray McGrew died during 4th of July celebration
Speaking to The Post and Courier, Allen’s wife Paige said he appeared to be preparing to place a large firework on the ground after holding it above his top hat.

“I thought he was just showboating before he set it on the ground. I didn’t realize he had already lit it,” she told the publication.

She later shared that shortly before the tragedy, her husband hugged her and their son and told them: “You are my rock, and you are my heart,” explaining afterward: “Me being his rock and his son being his heart.”

Allen Ray McGrew
Credit: X
A South Carolina family is remembering the final words of a father who was killed in a devastating fireworks accident during a 4th of July celebration.

Allen Ray McGrew died in July 2024 after a firework exploded while he was celebrating at a neighborhood block party in Summerville, located in Dorchester County.

The 41-year-old had spent the evening celebrating what his family described as his favorite holiday. Videos later shared online showed him dancing, smoking a cigarette, and wearing an Uncle Sam costume while friends and relatives laughed nearby.

In one video, someone can be heard saying, “He’s dancing to his own tune,” while another person joked that the “big show” would be starting soon.

Moments later, the celebration turned tragic.

Allen Ray McGrew died during 4th of July celebration
Speaking to The Post and Courier, Allen’s wife Paige said he appeared to be preparing to place a large firework on the ground after holding it above his top hat.

“I thought he was just showboating before he set it on the ground. I didn’t realize he had already lit it,” she told the publication.

She later shared that shortly before the tragedy, her husband hugged her and their son and told them: “You are my rock, and you are my heart,” explaining afterward: “Me being his rock and his son being his heart.”

According to a police report obtained by WCBD, Paige yelled for her husband to stop, but the firework detonated before he could react. He collapsed immediately after suffering catastrophic head injuries, according to VT. Authorities said the injuries likely killed him instantly, and he was pronounced dead at the scene at 11:10 p.m. The incident happened at around 10:30 p.m.

“He was a patriot”
Allen’s son, Hunter McGrew, who was 20 at the time, later told The New York Post: “We’re traumatized.”

The family also pushed back against online criticism following the accident, saying Allen should not be remembered as a “drunken fool.” They explained that while he rarely drank alcohol, he had been drinking that day to celebrate both Independence Day and his son’s recent engagement.

“He was a patriot, he was proud of his son and he was excited to have a new daughter-in-law, he was living his best life last night,” Paige said, per The Post.

“He loved this country and looked forward to celebrating every year.”

In a separate interview with The Post and Courier, Paige reflected on how much Allen loved the holiday. She said he fully embraced the celebration by dressing as Uncle Sam and even wearing a fake white beard.

She recalled him unexpectedly showing up at her office in the costume.

“I was on the phone with a client and I just lost it, I was laughing so hard.

“I had to tell her what was going on. That was Allen. He was a genuine, good person and he loved life. He worked hard and he played hard,” she said.