Thomas Gary Edwards passed away from respiratory issues Monday, July 13 at Southern Regional Medical Center in Riverdale, GA.
He is survived by daughters Amber Michelle Edwards of Stockbridge, GA, Kimberly Anne Pylant of Decatur, AL, and Buffie Fitzgerald of Huntsville, AL; father Paul Robert Edwards of Hanceville, AL; sisters Peggy Phillips of Hartselle, AL and Beth Brock of Hanceville, AL; grandchildren Kaylie Marie Edwards, Kerra Nicole Edwards, Kyler James Lanford, Nathan Kyle Pylant, Mary Catherine Pylant, Jodie Alisha Edwards, and Bailey Lynn Katz; great-grandchildren; other nieces and nephews; and other grandchildren.
Mr. Edwards was preceded in death by his daughter Chella Lynn Edwards; his son Thomas Gary Edwards, Jr.; his mother Millinea Trousdale Edwards; and brothers Jack Collins and Bobby Hames.
Tommy was born in Moulton, AL in 1948 and lived in the Decatur, AL and Hanceville, AL areas most of his life. After school, he served in the U.S. Army and then after a few years began his career with the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers as a welder working for companies like Pittsburg-Des Moines Steel. Unfortunately, after a number of years, he had an accident and fell off a three-story scaffold at work in which he sustained serious injuries. This left him disabled for the rest of his life after multiple back surgeries. Tommy had a heart attack in November 2019; afterward he was living in a nursing home near his daughter in Georgia at the time of his death.
Tommy was a huge Alabama football fan and would be seen every game in front of the TV cheering the Crimson Tide on to victory. As a collector, he had a large collection of Tide memorabilia including over 100 ball caps. He was also a gun enthusiast and at one time had a large gun collection. He was also a keen coin collector.
Services will be held at Hanceville Funeral Home, 100 Michelle St., Hanceville AL 35077 Friday, July 17 at 2 p.m. Visitation will be prior to the service at the funeral home from noon-2 p.m.
Pallbearers will be Kyler Lanford, Nathan Pylant, James Reed, Ricky Phillips, Brian Weeks, and Hiram Vasquez.
