Thomas Wayne “Tom” Conner, Jr., 47, of Lenox passed away Monday, November 19, 2018, at his residence. His funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m. Sunday, November 25, 2018, in the Sanctuary of Tifton’s First Baptist Church with the Rev. Dr. Wayne Roe officiating. The Rev. Marty Mullis and Coach Tim Maloney will give eulogies. Tom will be laid to rest at the Rutland Family Cemetery in Tifton. The family will receive friends Saturday, November 24, 2018, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. in the Chapel of Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals.
Warren Jones, Andrew Jones, Ryan Edmonds, Jeremy Goulet, Scott Stinnett, Jason Beardsley, Charles Porter, Steve Spangler and Chris Beckham will serve as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be employees of Ag Georgia Farm Credit; members of the Drew and Debbie Chestnutt Sunday School Class of Tifton’s First Baptist Church; and Tom’s teammates on the Men’s Basketball Team at Georgia College.
Born April 13, 1971 in Clewiston, Florida, Tom was the son of Thomas Wayne Conner, Sr. and Joyce Kennedy Jones Conner of LaBelle, Florida. He was an Information Systems Specialist at Ag Georgia Farm Credit and a member of Tifton’s First Baptist Church. He graduated from LaBelle High School and Georgia College, where he played basketball. He was a member of the Tifton Exchange Club and served on the Board of Directors for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
Tom was very active in community activities and enjoyed all sports and coaching all sports at LaBelle High School and the local YMCA. He was very involved and compassionate about Bible study and was involved in Bible study groups and playing the guitar in music sessions with friends. He also taught for several years at LaBelle High School and at Moultrie Technical College in Tifton, where he received the Rick Perkins Award for teaching excellence. He also enjoyed working at Stafford and at AG Georgia Farm Credit.
In addition to his parents, Tom is survived by his wife, Julie Rutland Conner of Lenox; one son, Thomas “Tye” Conner of Lenox; one daughter, Catherine “Cali” Conner of Lenox; one brother and sister-in-law, Joel and Stephanie Conner of LaBelle, Florida; one sister and brother-in-law, Kristen and Jesse Kroll of LaBelle, Florida, his mother-in-law and father-in-law, Johnny and Freida Rutland of Tifton; one brother-in-law, Josh Rutland of Lenox; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Jimmy and Joy Rutland Ballenger of Tifton; and his loving nieces and nephews, Carson and Carlie Ballenger, Trinia and Joyahlin Kroll, and Eli, Madeline, Gideon and Meizi Conner.
Flowers will be accepted or memorial gifts may be made to Hospice of Tift Area, P. O. Box 747, Tifton, GA 31793; or the First Baptist Church of Tifton Central to Love Building Fund, 404 Love Avenue, Tifton, GA 31794.