Tom Daughtrey

It is with sadness that I share the passing of my brother, Thomas (Tom) W. Daughtrey, into the Lord's hands at the age of 78 on 12 June 2025, peacefully at home, in the company of his loving wife Sandra (Dawkins) Daughtrey, of Valdosta, GA.

Tom was a prolific traveler and adventurer. He was born in Hahira, GA on 13 July 1946. His journeys took him around the world, first as the son and military dependent of a career Navy father, and then later, on his own, through many U.S. states and Canada. Wherever he traveled and lived he left an indelible mark on all who knew him. He delved into many widely varied occupations in his lifetime, first working in sales for a while, thence in 1969/1970 becoming a Marine Corporal and suffering severe wounds in the Vietnam War, which required him to be medevacked from Da Nang, RVN to Saint Albans Naval Hospital in Queens, N.Y. and treated for many months. While performing extensive combat patrols throughout the northern Vietnam countryside, and with prodigious exposure to the herbicide and defoliant, Agent Orange, Tom battled in the latter years of his life against numerous presumptive medical conditions with unwavering courage and steadfast strength. Tom was eventually formally recognized by the U.S. Marine Corps and VA as a 100% combat wounded and disabled veteran. Over the course of his life, among many other things, he has worked as a soil analyst technician with Terravac, Inc. dealing with the vacuum extraction technology used for environmental remediation of contaminated soils; and, he spent a dozen years as an OTR driver for C.R. England Trucking, until medical issues finally forced retirement.

During his active years, Tom loved to hunt and fish, and he was a fervent Georgia Bulldog and Lowndes County HS Viking football and baseball fan. He was also an avid reader of James Patterson, Lee Childs, and James Lee Burke genre novels.

He is survived by his devoted wife of 27 years, Sandra and two brothers, Howard of Orlando, FL and Butch of Charleston, SC. Tom's legacy will live on, particularly with those philanthropic acts developed in later years. He is preceded in death by a sister, Charlene, a brother, Stephen, and parents, Charles H. and Grace I. Daughtrey of Cook and Berrien County, respectively.

Services will be held on 20 June 2025 at Carson McLane Funeral Home, Valdosta, GA beginning with a 1pm visitation, 2pm funeral services officiated by Pastor Josh Pool of Covenant Baptist Church, immediately followed by graveside services at McLane Riverview Memorial Gardens. In lieu of flowers, the family asks contributions to his memory may be made instead to your nearest American Legion Post. Online condolences may be shared at www.mclanecares.com.

Carson McLane Funeral Home