Thomas E. Adkins Sr.

ADKINS, Thomas E., Sr., passed peacefully on July 8, 2021 in Jacksonville, Florida.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Alfred Ashton Adkins Jr. (Spritter) and Virginia Spottswood Adkins (Pat); his brother Alfred Ashton Adkins III (Puggy); his wife, Beverly Elaine Adkins; and his oldest daughter, Heidi Irving (Chuck).

He is survived by his sister, Sally Cary Parrish; his children, Thomas E. Adkins Jr. (Cathy), Heather Parrish (Robbie) and Wayne Adkins; his grandchildren, Meredith Frazier (Hampton), Caroline Adkins, Thomas E. Adkins III, Robbie Parrish (Kelly), Spencer Parrish, Gracie Parrish, Lauren Courtney (Nick), Peyton Douglas (Russell), Heather Irving, Kristen Klein (Nick); his great-grandchildren, Charlie Courtney, Gwen Courtney, Tinker Douglas; and countless nieces and nephews.

Born in Richmond, Virginia on October 3, 1932, Tom grew up in a very loving family with two wonderful siblings. His passion early on was playing sports especially baseball, football and basketball. Over the years, he became a talented baseball player and a quarterback who seemed to always play well in the big games. During his years at St. Christopher, John Marshall and Hampden-Sydney, he made many lifelong friends through sports. Tom was a veteran of the Korean War. He was a loving, caring and devoted husband and father who always made sure that his wife, children and grandchildren had what they needed to succeed in life. He adored his wife of 64 years, as you rarely saw one without the other. Tom was a family man who with his wife worked on many charitable causes to help those less fortunate, including raising two young boys in foster care, raising money to provide bicycles to needy children and numerous outings to feed and clothe the poor. He stayed very active his entire life, playing softball into his 70s with Tommy Earle, Charlie Earle and teammates, all of whom were at least 10 years younger. He also worked at Regency Tire until he was 86 and looked forward to his time at the shop with Chris Caudill, Ronnie Jeter, Cecil Elder and all of the workers. Tom was a dedicated Christian who loved Second Baptist Church, especially his Joy Sunday School class. He was kind and nice to everyone he met. Tom never met a stranger and you can bet that every encounter with anyone always included a joke. He always had a positive attitude towards life and loved to make people smile. Tom was a true Virginian. He loved Hanover tomatoes, oysters, crabs, shrimp, pecan pie and apple pie with ice cream. Tom also loved the beach and earned the nickname "Dr. Beach" by his family. Annual summer outings to Sandbridge and Hilton Head with his wife, children and grandchildren were some of the greatest times in his life. For almost five decades in the full outfit, Tom played Santa for all of the children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nephews, nieces and friends from all over Richmond, creating memories that will last a lifetime. One of Tom's many legacies will be his sense of humor which he used to make each day brighter for all he met.

The Adkins family would like to thank all of the staff at the River Garden Nursing Home and the Earl B. Hadlow Community Hospice Center for Caring for allowing him to peacefully "crossover" with endless care and dignity.

The memorial service for all family, relatives and friends will be held at Second Baptist Church, located at 9614 River Road, Richmond, Virginia, on Saturday, July 31, 2021 at 10 a.m. EST. A graveside service will follow at Greenwood Memorial Gardens, located at 12609 Patterson Ave., Richmond, Virginia at 11 a.m. EST. The Rev. Benjamin D. Brown will officiate both services. In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that donations be made to the River Garden Nursing Home, 11401 Old St., Augustine Rd., Jacksonville, Florida 32258; the Earl B. Hadlow Community Hospice Center for Caring, 4266 Sunbeam Rd., Jacksonville, Florida 32257; or the Joy Class Bike Fund, Second Baptist Church, 9614 River Road, Richmond, Virginia 23229.