They say the hardest thing in life is losing someone you love. Well… my world turned up side down and inside out on November 19, 2020. You find yourself struggling to breathe… you feel like all hope is lost. In that moment I realize that Jen and Roy were there also. For a moment I told myself to be strong and then I just kept saying to myself this to shall pass.

I know we will have lots of memories and stories to share because it’s Tom. He never met a stranger or a person that he would not help in need. That was one of the things I loved most about him.

If you knew him, you knew he loved Alabama football like his dad.  He shared it with his buddies Jim White and Jimmy Tester. Before his dad died they would call each other every ten to fifteen minutest talking about every play or screaming at the tv. I kept telling Tom - Alabama needed a good field goal kicker - finally they got one this year!

He was always so proud to get to play doubles tennis with his daughter and truly enjoyed the fun of playing with Roy and Jeff.  He was my biggest cheerleader on and off the court and helped me with my game even if I didn’t want to hear it. :) 

The words that comes to mind about golf… Tom was in heaven on the golf course. He was a very lucky man to have played at some of the most sought after courses: Teeth of the Dog (twice), Pebble Beach, Cypress Point, TPC Sawgrass, Pinehurst, Torrey Pines, PGA National, Stream Song, The Ocean Course at Kiawah and he got to go to the Master’s twice to mention a few.

He loved playing at Bradshaw with the guys on Monday.  He had so much fun with the neighborhood guys - Bryan, Jamie , Bernie, Jim and Rich.

Roy - I know you thought you were going to be left out… I told you earlier this week Tom was talking about you not using the golf lessons. He was going to have a light a fire under you. Well now its me kicking your butt.

Roy - I want you to know how Tom felt about you.  He trusted you, he knew you have the highest integrity, values, and are the hardest worker out there. Most importantly, you were present - you would show up without question. Your love for Jen and the kiddos made us both feel you truly our son.

I know he was the most content being with Nolan and Eme. We would lay in bed at night and say this is why we moved back to Atlanta.  What breaks my heart is they did not have enough time with their Popi,

We all make mistakes in our lives but thank goodness for redos.. If you didn’t know us we were married for 25 years, divorced for 7 years and back at it for 16 years.  We were lucky enough to find our way back to each other - that is definitely a bottle of wine story.

I’m going to miss all his little notes that he would leave me and he sweet sweet smile. He would walk by me while I was cooking dinner and just give me a sweet kiss on the back of my neck.

He would always shake his head at the music being so loud when he would come into the house after being out but he knew I loved music and dancing.

I also think of our true family - FRAMILY. The trips and the fun he would have with this amazing group of people. Robert, Melanie, Jeff, Geannette, Jimmy, Suzi and of course Roy and Jen. He was truly happy. And our trips with Jim and Liz White.

My FaceTime with him was on November 7th before they put him on a ventilator. He was more concerned about us. He kept saying he just wanted to see my face, that he loved his family and that he was trying to get better.

Tom brought so much joy, love and laughter to our family.  It doesn’t seem real…

What I truly have learned most of all if there is any lesson is life is short and you better live and love everyday like its your last.

As Tom would say… NEVER regret a day in your life.  There will be good days that will give you happiness and bad days that will give you life experiences to grow. Lastly there will be worst days that will give you character but the best of days that will give us our memories.