Thomas Harold Hand, 73, of Tifton passed away Friday, July 22, 2005, at his residence. His funeral service was held at 2:00 p.m. Sunday, July 24, 2005, in the Chapel of Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals with the Rev. Terrell Roberts officiating. Mr. Hand was laid to rest at Oak Ridge Cemetery with Masonic rites.
Mr. Hand's nephews, Douglas Hand, David Hand, Mark Hand, Marion Padgett, Randy Blanchett, Terrell Blanchett, Rex Blanchett, Roger Blanchett, Joel Blanchett and DeWayne Padgett served as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers were members of the Masonic and Shrine orders, Jay Short, Gordon Burgess, larry Stinson, Bobby Stinson, Mark Owens, Rick Carrington, Harold Tawzer, Joe Braynt, Don Copeland, Lee Whittle, Vickers Stone, Earl Copeland and Bruce Copeland.
Born October 23, 1931, in Tift County, Mr. Hand was the son of the late Ploomer Seymour "P. S." Hand and Susan Gibbs Hand. He was also preceded in death by one brother, James Hand. He was a building contractor; and he was a member of Tift Avenue Missionary Baptist Church. He was also a member of the Tifton Masonic Lodge #47 and the Hasan Shrine Temple. He had lived in Tift County all of his life.
Mr. Hand is survived by his wife, Joyce D. Turner Hand of Tifton; two sons and one daughter-in-law, Thomas Harold Jr. and Nikki Hand of Trenton and Phil Turner of Tifton; three daughters and two sons-in-law, Phyllis Ann Cason of Greenville, South Carolina, Kathy Sue and Tom Kelley of Tallahassee, Florida and Lynn and Keith Osborne of Tifton; one brother, W.D. Hand of Ty Ty; one sister, Ruby Lee Hand Blanchett of Brookfield; nine grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.