Thomas Edwin "Tommy" Agee Jr.

AGEE, Thomas "Tommy" Edwin Jr., passed away at home on Sept. 28, 2023, one day before turning age 81, after valiantly fighting cancer for 8 months. Tommy is survived by his devoted wife Susan Hall "Sue" Agee, who has been by his side for 51 years, the first 30 years in Richmond, VA, and the last 21 years in their adopted home of Franklin, NC. In addition to Sue, also surviving him are daughters Tami A. O'Neil (Bob) and Terry L. Agee of Richmond, VA, and Ellen M. Agee of Franklin, NC; grandson Travis Ashworth of Richmond; granddaughters Crystal L. Norman (John) and Kimberly Leonard (Matt) of Richmond, Carrie L. Belyea (Stephen) of College Park, MD, and Annabelle J. Gunter of Franklin, NC; four great-grandchildren; his beloved sister Evelyn A. Jones of Richmond; and numerous nieces, nephews and dear friends.

Tommy was predeceased by his mother, Elizabeth E. Britt; stepdad, Charley Britt; brothers Calvin and Thomas Matthews; and favorite uncle, Alfred Buffin, and aunt, Susie Belle Buffin.

Born and raised in Richmond, Tommy became a licensed electrician through a five-year apprenticeship program with the local IBEW and the Richmond Technical Institute. During his apprenticeship, Tommy's hands-on experience involved an impressive array of projects, everything from wiring high-rise buildings, to working on underground utility service, to rewiring pre-Civil War homes, all the while working for some of the most-respected electrical contractors in Richmond. Tommy maintained his electrician's license for 52 years as a long-standing member of the IBEW, renewing his license annually through electrical code exams.

During the 1970s, he worked at both the Surry and North Anna nuclear power stations, and while at North Anna was an Electrical Journeyman Foreman supervising 10 others. In 1980, he accepted a position at the Western Electric plant in Mechanicsville, repairing circuit boards, and when the plant was taken over by AT&T, he worked with Bell Labs engineers and wired control panels according to their designs. Later, when Lucent Technologies assumed ownership of the plant, he set up a motor control repair shop within the plant to repair and maintain all the plant's motors, ultimately working 18 years at the plant under three owners.

In 2002, Tommy and Sue moved to the scenic mountain town of Franklin, NC, where Tommy worked for two years at Macon Bank and then worked part-time for 14 years doing maintenance work at Oak Forest Apartments, finally entering "full-time retirement" in 2020. While in Franklin, he utilized his considerable electrical and handyman skills to serve the Lord at his and Sue's church home, Emmanuel Presbyterian, where Tommy served for many years as a church leader and Deacon.

In addition to his ability to fix almost every electrical and mechanical problem imaginable, Tommy was also known for his quick wit and his love of classic American-made automobiles, and enjoyed rooting for the Tennessee Vols and Virginia Tech Hokies, playing spirited games of Uno, setting up his elaborate American Flyer train set, and enjoying time with family, friends, and members of his church.

To celebrate Tommy's life, a memorial service will be held on Saturday, Nov. 4 at 2 p.m. at Emmanuel Presbyterian Church, 233 Arrowwood Lane, Franklin, NC 28734. The family requests that memorial donations be made to the American Cancer Society or Emmanuel Presbyterian Church.