Thomas Eugene Meadows , Jr . of Memphis passed away on the morning of Decembe r 23 , 2021 , only a few weeks before his 100th birthda y . He was born March 2 , 1922 , in Memphis , the son of Thomas ( Sr . ) and Pearl ( Baker ) Meadows . Thomas graduated from South Side High School and went on to graduate from the William R . Moore School of Technology . Thomas married the love of his life , Dorothy L . ( Locke ) , in Memphis , Tennessee . The two shared nearly sixty -five y ears of marriage and were blessed with two sons .

His legacy will be cherished , remembered , and celebrated for years to come by his family and friends , including his son , Mark , and son Kent ( Jea n ) : four granddaughters , Karen , Kris , Kathi , and Rachel ; eight great - grandchildren , and three great - great - grandchildren . Along with his parents , Thomas was preceded in death by his wife and best friend Dorothy and long - time friend , Dudley Morris .

Thomas sp ent most of his care er as an auto mechanic . He h a d a reputation for quality workmanship , and his work ethic was respected by everyone who worked with him . He took great pr ide in caring for his yard and home . He was a member of the United Methodist Church and a faithful 7 0 + year member of the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons and a Brother in the Ancient & Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry . After becoming a 32nd D egree Freemason in the Scottish Rite , he was created a Shrine r on December 8 , 1949 . He remained an active member of the Park Avenue Masonic Lodge 362 for the next 66 years .

A celebration of Thomas ' life will be held on Wednesday , January 5 , 2022 , at 2: 00 PM . The family will receive friends briefly prior to the service at Forest Hill Funeral Home - Midtown , 1661 Elvis Presley Blvd . , M emphis , TN 3 8 106 . Burial will follow at Forest Hill Cemetery .