James "Tom" Porter

J. Thomas Porter (Tom) 74, of Fernandina Beach, Florida, passed away on Sunday, November 6, 2022 at The Jane and Bill Warner Community Hospice in Fernandina Beach with his wife Lynda and daughter Jennifer holding his hands.
Tom was born on January 9, 1948 in Orlando, Florida to the late Sarah Frances Hancock and Charles Thomas Porter. He grew up in Orlando, Fl.
He lived next-door to an architect. His fascination with architecture began early. Tom graduated from Boone High School in 1966. He went on to study architecture at Georgia Institute of Technology, graduating, in 1972 with a Bachelors of Architecture degree. Prior to graduation in 1972, he was recognized as a national design award winner in the Paris Prize Competition. After graduation Tom began working for the architectural firm Thompson, Ventulett, Stainback & Associates. (tvsdesign) He became involved in retail design, designing and renovating many retail centers, while overseeing the retail design team for tvsdesign. He was a member of the American Institute of Architecture and the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC). Tom was heavily involved in the ICSC CENTERBUILD conference held every November for retail design and real estate professionals dedicated to planning and developing retail focused developments. In 2012 he was a recipient of the ICSC Trustees Distinguished Service Award.
Tom was a lifelong Georgia Tech football fan and die hard Atlanta Braves Fan. He was a family man who would do anything he could to help take care of them. Tom and Lynda joined Oak Grove UMC in the early 1990's. Tom and Lynda fell in love with Fernandina Beach, Fl. in the late 1970's. In 2012 Tom was diagnosed with Parkinson's. He became active in PD support groups and fitness groups working diligently to fight the progressive disease. In 2017 as PD began to progress for him, Tom and Lynda made the move to Fernandina Beach.
Tom leaves behind his wife Lynda of 53 years of Fernandina Beach, Fl., his son, Jim (Shannon) of Loganville, Ga.; daughter, Jennifer (Michael) Welch and 4 grand children of Sumter, SC.; sister in law, Kathy (Greg) Lorenz of Altamonte Springs, Fl. Tom was preceded in death by his son, Jason of Atlanta, Ga.
A celebration of life service will be held at 11 A.M. on Saturday, January 7, 2023 at Oak Grove United Methodist Church, Decatur, Ga. 1722 Oak Grove Road, Decatur, Ga. 30033. The family will receive guests at a reception immediately following the service.
The family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations be made in Tom's memory to the Parkinson's Foundation or the Georgia Tech College of Architecture.
Please share your memories and condolences at www.oxleyheard.com.
OXLEY-HEARD FUNERAL DIRECTORS