Thomas Hammond, 81, passed away Oct. 31, 2014.
He was born Oct. 30, 1933 in Stockton to John Hammond and Ethel Davis Hammond.
In 1955, at 15 years of age, Elizabeth Peaden saw a man walk across the road in front of her school bus, went home and told her mom that she’d seen the man that she was going to marry. The 18th of this month, Tom Hammond and Elizabeth would have been married 59 years.
When Tom was in high school, he was asked to join the minor league baseball association, but because of having health problems at a young age had to decline. He continued to be athletic, playing basketball, tennis, golf and softball with his children and various church softball teams.
Working in a veneer mill in his 20s, he collapsed and was told that he needed to go back to school and get an education because he’d never be able to do manual labor. With a wife and child, Tom started college at Troy, working at a small rural elementary school outside Robertsdale and going to Troy State University during the summer. He graduated TSU in 1966.
After graduation, with a list of available jobs, he interviewed in several towns, choosing Paxton in 1967. Now with three children, they moved to Paxton with their fourth child born soon after. Tom retired from teaching in 1995 after 36 years.
With all four children grown and nothing to do, Tom and Elizabeth bought a chicken farm in the country and ran it until 2009, then moved back to their former house in Paxton.
Starting dialysis almost three years ago, he fought kidney failure. Several weeks ago, after 24 years in remission from lymphoma, Tom was diagnosed with cancer again.
Last Thursday, Tom was 81 years old. He had all children, most grandchildren and most great-grandchildren with him to eat cake and ice cream.
Last Friday at 6:45 p.m., Tom went to see his Lord and Savior.
He was preceded in death by father, John Luther Hammond; mother, Ethel Davis Hammond; and brother, Gerald Hammond.
He is survived by his wife, Elizabeth Peaden Hammond of Paxton, three daughters, Janie Russell and husband Wyman and Jeanie Hammond, both of Paxton, and Jennifer Cosby and husband Dale of Opp; son, Steve Hammond and wife Malissia of Samson; nine grandchildren, Amanda Sconiers and husband Josh, TW Russell and wife Julie, Tiffany Clabaugh and husband Jacob, Cody Hammond, Brittany Lennard and husband Nick, and Christopher Cosby and wife Jordan, Chance and Dylan Haslip and Megan Lucas. He cherished being their “Paw Paw.” He is also survived by six great-grandchildren, Madison, Addison, Lakyn, Gracelyn, Asher and Sydney, and he was so looking forward to more who were on the way; and two sisters, Ruby Chancey and Levette Jenks.
Funeral services for Thomas Hammond will be held Monday, Nov. 3, 2014, at 2 p.m., from Evans Funeral Home, with John Bryan officiating.
Visitation will be from 4-6 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 2, 2014 at Evans Funeral Home.
Interment will be in Paxton Cemetery.
Please join us in remembering Thomas Hammond by visiting our memorial at www.evansfuneralhomeal.com. Through this site, we invite you to share your thoughts and fond memories with our family.
