Thomas Crews

Thomas Crews

Jackson

Thomas Raymond Crews died Saturday, March 30th, 2013, at St. Dominic's Hospital at the age of 87. He was born May 2, 1925, in Banks, Miss., to the late Myrtle Pentecost Crews and Oscar Raymond Crews and was predeceased by his sister, Peggy Crews Wellford.

After graduating from Tunica High School where he was valedictorian, he served in the United States Army Air Corps during World War II. He graduated from the University of Illinois in 1949 as class valedictorian where he studied chemistry and mathematics. He was president of the Student Senate, president of Alpha Tau Omega, and winner of the Thomas Arkle Clark award for the nation's most outstanding ATO member in 1948. In 1951, he received his law degree at Ole Miss where he was editor of the Mississippi Law Journal. He was then called to duty to serve as an Air Force Captain in Korea, after which he returned to farming in Banks, Miss. In 1960, he began his law career at Alexander & Crews, subsequently with Thompson, Alexander & Crews, and was currently practicing at Watkins & Eager. He was the former president of the Hinds County Bar Association, the Mississippi Oil and Gas Lawyers Association, and the Jackson Central Lions Club. He was a charter member and former president of the River Hills Tennis Club, and played tennis regularly until recently. A member of Galloway Memorial United Methodist Church since 1960, he served as financial commissioner, trustees chairman, and delegate to the annual conference.

He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Gloria Stuart Crews, and son, Thomas Raymond Crews, Jr., and nephews Bryan Hornsby (Gena) of Jackson, Stuart Hornsby (Alayna) of Charlottesville, Virginia, Scott Wellford (Donna) of Memphis, and nieces Beth Hinton (Jimmy) of Madison, Gail Kater, and many great nephews and nieces. Tom will be remembered as a loving, kind, faithful friend.

A memorial service will be held at Galloway United Methodist Church on Wednesday, April 3rd, 2013, at 11:00am with visitation from 9:30am to 11:00am. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) in Jackson or to the charity of your choice.