Dr. Thomas W. Weatherford III

Dr. Thomas W. Weatherford, III passed into eternity: 30 January 2025. He was born in the Uriah, Ala., farmhouse in which he was raised: 12 March 1930, and graduated from Uriah's J. U. Blacksher High School before going on to a distinguished academic career that began by earning his DVM at Auburn University and concluded with him retiring as Professor Emeritus from the UAB School of Dentistry and being inducted into the 2016 class of the Alabama Healthcare Hall of Fame. He was also an officer in the U.S. Army during the Korean War.

Dr. Weatherford began his career teaching histology in the Auburn University School of Veterinary Medicine. Soon thereafter he came to UAB, where he earned his D.M.D. and M.S. in Dentistry. After completing his periodontic residency at UAB and serving as a NIH Teacher Trainee, Dr. Weatherford went on to have a successful career at UAB as a teacher and researcher. He served on faculty from 1962 until 2012, when he was named Professor Emeritus by the UA System Board of Trustees.

UAB School of Dentistry Dean Nico Geurs stated: "Touching many lives, Dr. Weatherford's teaching responsibilities included the didactic and clinical aspects of the first professional degree and advanced education programs of dental students, dental hygiene students (preceptor and degree) and graduate students in the clinical specialty programs. His teachings were pure, and he served as a mentor for many. In fact, throughout the years he contributed to the education of most dentists and hygienists practicing in Alabama. Dr. Weatherford used his time with us well and his teachings will live on in those whose lives he touched. We have lost a great man and like many of you, I have lost a good friend and mentor."

He is preceded in death by his parents, Thomas W. Weatherford, Jr. and Agnes English Weatherford, and by brothers John B. Weatherford of Uriah, Ala., and William D. Weatherford of Pensacola, Fla.

He is survived by:

His loyal wife since 1957- Abbie "Buddie" Weatherford.

Children- Rick Weatherford of Birmingham, Ala. and Kim Stevens, with son-in-law David, of Jacksonville, Ala.

Siblings- Eleanor May (Tuscaloosa, Ala.); Virginia Watson (Americus, Ga.); Joe Weatherford (Montgomery, Ala.)

Visitation and viewing will be held on Saturday, February 8, 2025 from 12:00-1:00 PM at Johnson Funeral Home in Monroeville. Ala. A funeral service with eulogies will follow at 1:00 PM at the funeral home. Following that, a public interment will be at Mt. Pleasant Cemetery in Eliska, Ala., with the Rev. Dallas Culver officiating.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the UAB School of Dentistry or Convoy of Hope, both online.

The family wishes to thank the doctors and staff in Trussville, Ala. of: Legacy Ridge Assisted Living, UAB/St. Vincent's East hospital, Cavalier Healthcare, and Alabama Hospice Care who all provided comfort and care for him in his final weeks.

Johnson Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Visit our online registry at www.johnsonfh.org