Thomas Tandy Gerelds

THOMAS TANDY GERELDS, AGE 60, OF TUSCUMBIA, ALABAMA, WENT HOME TO BE WITH JESUS ON FRIDAY, JANUARY 10, 2003, AFTER A BRIEF BUT VALIANT FIGHT AGAINST CANCER. HE IS SURVIVED BY HIS WIFE AND BEST FRIEND, DEBBIE; THEIR THREE CHILDREN: JESSICA G. NORWOOD, AND HER HUSBAND, STACY OF TUSCUMBIA; SON: TODD GERELDS AND HIS WIFE, JENNIFER OF PERKASIE, PA., DAUGHTER: JILL G. CHRISTOPHER AND HER HUSBAND, WILLIAM OF BIRMINGHAM; SISTERS: MARSHA G. JOHNSON AND HER HUSBAND TOMMY, PEGGY G. VAN WINKLE AND HER HUSBAND RIP, GINA G. HOWELL AND HER HUSBAND STEVE, NINE GRANDCHILDREN AND MANY NIECES AND NEPHEWS.

HE WAS PRECEDED IN DEATH BY HIS FATHER, THOMAS FRASER GERELDS, MOTHER ELEANOR TARRANT GERELDS, AND BROTHER, ROBERT SCOTT GERELDS.

VISITATION WILL BE HELD FROM 6 P.M. - 9 P.M. SUNDAY, JANUARY 12th AT MORRISON FUNERAL HOME, TUSCUMBIA.

THE CELEBRATION OF HIS LIFE WILL BE HELD AT 2 P.M. MONDAY, JANUARY 13th, CALVARY BAPTIST CHURCH, TUSCUMBIA. HE WILL LIE-IN-STATE FROM 1 P.M. - 2 P.M. AT THE CHURCH. REVEREND GATUS CHEATHAM AND REVEREND LARRY SMART WILL OFFICIATE WITH BURIAL TO FOLLOW AT TUSCUMBIA OAKWOOD CEMETERY.

TANDY GERELDS WAS MANY THINGS. HE WAS A LOVING HUSBAND, A WELL RESPECTED AND WELL-BELOVED FATHER, A DEDICATED COACH, A SERVANT-HEARTED DEACON, AND A COMPASSIONATE AND CARING FRIEND. THE DRIVING FORCE BEHIND HIS MANY ROLES WAS HIS PASSION FOR PEOPLE AND HIS DESIRE FOR THEM TO KNOW THE LOVE OF JESUS AND EMBRACE HIS GIFT OF SALVATION FOR THEMSELVES. ITS WHAT HE TAUGHT HIS STUDENTS IN THE CLASSROOM, ON THE FIELD, AND THROUGHOUT HIS LIFE. IT IS HIS INCREDIBLE LEGACY OF FAITHFULNESS, INTEGRITY, LOYALTY, LAUGHTER, AND LOVE HE LEAVES FOR US ALL TO CELEBRATE AND FOLLOW.

"FOR TO ME TO LIVE IS CHRIST AND TO DIE IS GAIN." PHILLIPIANS 1:21

PALLBEARERS WILL BE DR. MIKE COWLEY, KEVIN DEATON, GLEN ELMORE, HAL MILLS, KERRY MOODY, JOHN MOTHERSHED, KEVIN ROSE AND TOM WINDSOR.

TANDY HELD MANY ORGANIZATIONS CLOSE TO HIS HEART. IN LIEU OF FLOWERS, PLEASE SEND MEMORIALS TO ANY ONE OF THE FOLLOWING: WALES GOEBEL MINISTRIES, SHOALS SAVE-A-LIFE, DESHLER HIGH SCHOOL BOOSTERS, BELMONT HIGH SCHOOL BOOSTERS, SHOALS CHRISTIAN SCHOOL, AND CALVARY BAPTIST CHURCH.