Thomas Lavoy Wallace

Thomas Lavoy Wallace

Columbia - September 19, 1933 - December 3, 2020

Thomas Lavoy Wallace, of Columbia, MS, died on Thursday, December 3, 2020. He was 87 years old. He was born on September 19, 1933 in Lawrence County in the little town of Topeka, Mississippi.

The joyous occasion of the birth of Edna and Arvin Wallace's first born son quickly turned to grief at the realization he was a still born baby. Edna immediately began to pray over him, "God - if you don't let him live, then let me die too!". He then drew his first breath. That was the first of many miracles that took place in the 87 year life of Thomas Lavoy Wallace.

Due to traveling construction work, the Arvin Wallace family moved regularly. This made for hardships in schooling in young Thomas' life. Just after the 5th grade he quit school, and joined the working public. Pumping gasoline, picking up roots on a logging sight, and hauling pulpwood were just a few of his jobs early on.

He was always fond of saying, "I went to Jayess University" when in the company of well educated men discussing alma maters. Those fellow Yale, Harvard and Ole Miss educated business men never questioned since no one knew exactly where Jayess University was located.

He started a family in 1954. He had 4 children - Tim, Becky, Mike, and Linda. Whom he loved very much. Their family includes:

Tim Wallace Family (wife Tammy)

-Children:

oTimothy Wallace and wife Belinda

Children: Timothy and Logan

oThomas Wallace and wife Amber

Child: Ty Lincoln

oTerry Wallace and wife Teronda

Children: Trexton and Benson

Mike Wallace Family (wife Susan)

-Children:

oChris Wallace and wife Crystal

Children: Dylan and Audrey Claire

oBryan Wallace and wife Kayla

Children: Kaylie and Kyle

oBrandon Wallace

Becky Wallace

-Child: Beth Sellers and husband Jeremy

oChildren: Brady, Bralyn, Jadelyn, Hayden

Linda Robinson Family (husband Robbie)

-Children:

oJonathan and wife Heidi

oKeri

In 1955, Mr. Wallace moved to Columbia, and was appointed foreman at Singley Construction before joining Dixie Paving Company. He eventually bought the company in 1972. From those humble beginnings came not only his construction career, but a business icon, T L Wallace Construction, Inc.

In 1974 he married the love of his life - Janette Hickman Wallace and a year later they had their only daughter Tonya Wallace Farmer. Her family includes:

Tonya Farmer Family (husband Clayton)

oChildren: Wallace, Anna Grace, and Gracelyn

He was involved in dozens of organizations and boards in his lifetime; too numerous to mention. None of this was as important to him as loving his family and supporting ministry.

He was proceeded in death by his parents Arvin and Edna Wallace, his daughter Rebecca (Becky) Elizabeth Wallace, his granddaughter Anna Grace Farmer, two sisters, Janice Hamilton and Sara Thornhill and one brother, Joel Wallace. He is survived by one sister, Jimmie Lambert of Columbia.

He was the father of 5 children,

Flew airplanes

Roped cows

Raced cars

Friend of governors

Friend of prisoners

Met 4 presidents

Met sinners

Been a sinner

Helped the homeless

Helped the ministers

Loved his children

Whooped his children

He drove to all 48 contingent states, Alaska, Mexico and Canada

Rode trains thru Europe

Dug wells, built schools, and churches from North America to South

America. Africa to Asia

Man with an iron fist

And with a gentle touch

He skied mountains

Climbed mountains

Rafted the Rio Grande

He shot doves in Argentina

Ducks on the Mississippi

Pheasant in Iowa

Elk in Colorado

Whitetails in Kansas

He loved to fish

And play Rook

He was happiest when his family was together

God was first in his life

And Janette was second

He built bridges in record time

Buildings in record time

And then broke his own record

And it still wasn't fast enough

He loved to work

He loved people

He said I love you and meant it

He smoked the best ribeye

And fried the best fish

Grilled the best deer meat

And cooked the best squirrel gravy

He forgave

And we hoped he'd forget

He made mistakes

But they were hard to find

He was like David - a man that sought after God

He was like Abraham - married a beautiful woman

He was like Job - The Lord gave and The Lord took away - Blessed be the

name of The Lord

The Good Samaritan - he gave and helped people across the world

He's with Christ - the Author and Finisher of his faith