Thomas Perkins Obituary (1949 - 2023)

Born May 16, 1949, Thomas Perkins attended Andrew Jackson High School in Jacksonville, FL. View the obituary, post a memory, or share a photo about Thomas Perkins.

Graduation Year	Class of 1967
Date of Birth	May 16, 1949
Date of Passing	Oct 19, 2023
About	Buried in the Georgia National Cemetery Canton, Georgia Thomas Perkins, Jr., 74, of White, GA passed away on Thursday, October 19, 2023, after a brief illness and hospital stay. Tom was born on May 16, 1949, in Barbourville, Kentucky to Thomas Perkins and Lorene Violet Perkins. The family moved to Jacksonville, Florida when he was a baby. Tom graduated from Andrew Jackson High School where he met his true love, Jennifer Susan “Sue” Kelly. Wasting no time and just after graduation, he and Sue married that summer, in July 1967. Tom joined United States Army Signal Corps (USASC) in July 1968 where he served for 3 years, one year of which was in Vietnam. After his tour of duty, he returned to Jacksonville, Florida with his beloved wife and two-year-old son, Tommy. Determined to provide a loving stable family life, Tom convinced AT&T to hire him as a Communications Technician in October of 1971 at a starting salary of $107 per week. He went on to work for AT&T as an Operations Supervisor for 33 years before retiring in 2004. Tom, with the loving support of Sue, created a fifty-six-year marriage that not only withstood the test of time, but the barrage of life’s challenges bringing them closer together. Their love created a rock-solid foundation for the family to stand. A true example of the strength of love. Throughout his life, Tom enjoyed traveling, music, sports, Broadway plays, and reading. His favorite past time, spending time with his family and friends. While Tom is predeceased by his parents, Thomas and Lorene Perkins, he leaves behind a large family to carry on his legacy. Tom is survived by his wife, Jennifer Susan Perkins, his two sons, Thomas Perkins III and David Scott Perkins, his eight (8) grandchildren, Tamara Perkins Gro?mann, (husband Tobias Gro?mann), Mason Perkins, Tyler Perkins, Nicholas Perkins, Evabella Perkins, Kellia Perkins, Jessie McCawley, and Michael McCawley, his four (4) greatgrandchildren, Damian Perkins, Silas Gro?mann, Nino Gro?mann and Jonah Gro?mann, and three (3) daughters-in-law Nicki Perkins, Emily Perkins, and Krista Perkins, all of whom love and cherish this man they call, “Papa”. Additionally, Tom is survived by his two beloved brothers, Michael Ray Perkins and Gary Perkins (Deborah Perkins) along with nieces (Kim Ramsay, Amy Perkins, Cindy Perkins), nephews (Jimmy Carter, Dwaine Perkins), and many cousins. Tom “Papa” Perkins will forever live in the hearts and minds of his family. Interment will be held at Georgia National Cemetery (Veterans Cemetery) in Canton, Georgia, followed by a Celebration of Life.