Thomas Britton

Thomas H. Britton VIRGINIA BEACH - The Rev. Thomas Hutton Britton died Feb. 9, 2008. He was born Aug. 24, 1922, in Charleston, S.C., to Richard Francis Britton and Carrie Middleton Britton. He attended the College of Charleston and graduated from the University of South Carolina with a Bachelor of Arts degree, majoring in English. He earned his Master's of Divinity degree from Vanderbilt University. In 1942, at the age of 19, he enlisted in the Navy. Tom Britton reached the rank of petty officer (yeoman) first class serving on LST 1110 in World War II (Pacific Theater). The Rev. Britton was honorably discharged in 1946. The Rev. Britton's pastorates include Shelton Memorial Congregational Church, United Church of Christ (1952-1959), Portsmouth, First Congregational Church, UCC (1959-1964), Ashtabula, Ohio, and Lynnhaven Colony Congregational Church, UCC (1964-1988), Virginia Beach. After his retirement Jan. 1, 1988, the Rev. Britton served several interim pastorates, two in Virginia Beach and two in Suffolk. The Rev. Britton also served and substituted in churches of various denominations in the Hampton Roads area, including Franklin, Hampton and Norfolk. Tom Britton's religious devotion began at an early age while attending the oldest Congregational church outside of New England, Circular Congregational Church in Charleston, S.C. During his tenure as a minister, he worked to develop the merger of the churches that formed the United Church of Christ. He held various committee positions not just only in his own denomination (Association and Conference levels), but in the Virginia Council of Churches. For many years, he was the chairman of a committee supervising ministries in state parks in Virginia. He also participated in ministries to migrant farm workers and their families (including day care centers on Virginia's eastern shore and in the western part of the state.) The Rev. Britton was a published author with articles appearing in several professional publications. A tireless worker, the Rev. Britton championed causes for social justice and civil rights. He served as a member of the Mayor's Committee for the Disabled and as a member of the Virginia Beach Human Rights Commission (appointed by the City Council). Tom was a member of the Virginia Beach Democratic City Committee and Americans United for the Separation of Church and State. Tom Britton was a Paul Harris Fellow at the Cape Henry Rotary Club. As a mason, he was a lifetime member of Solomon Lodge No. 1 in Charleston. He served as an appointee to the Medical Review Board of Virginia Beach General Hospital. The Rev. Britton is survived by his wife, Colleen Anne Harder Britton; their son, William Johnson Britton and daughter-in-law Marsha Chandler Britton; daughter, Anne Middleton Britton Hicock and son-in-law Harry Nelson Hicock; grandchildren, Koren Francis Britton Perrin, Benjamin Saul Britton, Kathryn Anne Hicock, Harry Thomas Hicock; great-grandson, Anthony Michael Perrin; brother-in-law, Robert B. Oristano; sister-in-law, Pauline N. Britton; nieces and nephews, Patricia Britton Corbin, Richard F. Britton III, Walter R. Britton and Paula Britton Robinson. He was predeceased by his brother, Richard Francis Britton Jr. and his sister, Caroline Britton Oristano. A memorial service will be held in Lynnhaven Colony Congregational Church, United Church of Christ, Saturday, March 1, at 11 a.m. Memorial donations may be made to Lynnhaven Colony Congregational Church in Tom Britton's name. Hollomon-Brown Funeral Home, Great Neck Chapel, is in charge of the arrangements. Condolences may be offered to the family at www.hollomon-brown.com.