Thomas Aaron Bonds

TUPELO – Thomas Aaron Bonds, age 70, passed away on April 30, 2025, surrounded by his loved ones. Thomas was born on August 27, 1954, to Doyal and Louise Bonds of Red Bay, Alabama. Thomas married his high school sweetheart, Dale Malone Bonds, on December 14, 1974. They met and fell in love at the young age of 15. They have two beautiful daughters, Leigh Aaron Wade (Will), and Logan McCullough (Burks), and five precious grandchildren, Thomas Wade (age 17), Taylor Wade (age 17), Kennedy Wade (age 15), Parker McCullough (age 7), and Madison McCullough (a whole hand of 5).
Thomas graduated from Red Bay High School in 1972 and then went on to graduate from Auburn University, School of Architecture, where he earned his Bachelor's Degree in Building Science in 1979. Thomas and his wife, Dale, moved to Tupelo in 1980, making their home in the Joyner neighborhood. He and his wife built on to their house on Lee Street, doing most of the work themselves. Thomas grew up working alongside his father from the young age of 12 in the construction business. Furthering his passion in this field, he started and owned a construction business in the 80s, after obtaining his State Contractors License. After that, he worked as a field inspector for several architectural firms in Tupelo. In 2004, he accepted a position with Itawamba Community College as the Director of Physical Plant for all 3 campuses. He retired from this position in April of 2022. He also served on Tupelo's first licensing committee and served as Tupelo's ward two councilman from 2005 to 2009 and was currently serving on the overlay committee.
Thomas was a member of Lee Acres Church of Christ, where he served as Deacon over Benevolence. He also worked with the youth at Gloster Street Church of Christ for grades 5-6, serving many hours chaperoning youth trips, coaching basketball, and other activities. He was a man of God and always served as a Christian example in everything he did.
Thomas could do just about anything, like plumbing, electrical work, fencing, and could build all sorts of things. The neighborhood kids would often bring their bikes to him to fix or replace. He loved that. He was an excellent cook, gardener, loved to fish, and spent many hours on the water with his family, boating at Eastport Bay, teaching his girls and their friends how to ski. He loved his girls so much that he even became a Girl Scout so he could chaperone and spend time with them as they grew up. Thomas was also a self-taught musician, having learned to play the banjo and sang with the Tupelo Acapella Singers group for years at funerals and weddings.
Thomas had many great qualities. He was a perfectionist, a craftsman, a carpenter, and most proudly, a great neighbor and friend. He was honored over the years to serve as a pallbearer for at least 4 of those neighbors and countless friends, as well.
He is preceded in death by his father, Doyal Bonds, and his sister, Martha Bonds, both of Red Bay, Alabama.
He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Dale Malone Bonds of Tupelo, MS; both of his daughters, Leigh Wade (Will and children) of Louisville, MS, and Logan McCullough (Burks and children) of Tupelo, MS; and his mother, Louise Bonds of Red Bay, Alabama.
The family would like to thank the staff of Sanctuary Hospice House for their compassion and care in the final weeks of his life.
A funeral service will be held on Sunday, May 4, 2025 at 3 PM at the Lee Acres Church of Christ with Minister Jerry Grammer officiating. Visitation will be from 1 PM to 3 PM service time. Burial will follow at Tupelo Memorial Park. Holland Funeral Directors is honored to serve their friends.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you donate to either The Sanctuary Hospice House, P.O. Box 2177, Tupelo, MS 38802, or the Tupelo Lee Humane Society, P.O. Box 2143, Tupelo, MS 38803.
Pallbearers will be Bill Nesmith, Sid Gresham, David Eble, Wayne Sullivan, Jeff Fields, Amancio Cruze, David Martin, Douglas Overstreet, Phillip Goff, Randy Bishop, and Ardis Gilliam.