Dr. Thomas F. Pebworth Jr, 73, passed away on Wednesday, October 28, 2015 after an extended illness. Visitation will be at First Christian Church, Florence, from 12:00-2:00 on Friday, October 30, 2015 with a memorial service following at 2:00. Rev. Jim Storie and Dr. Bob Stegall will officiate. Elkins Funeral Home is assisting the family.
Tom was born on June 20, 1942 in Montgomery, Alabama. He graduated from Lee High School in Montgomery and was an active member of Capitol Heights Baptist Church. He earned a B.A. degree from Huntingdon College as well as a Ed.D. from the University of Alabama after receiving an Audubon Society Scholarship, a Presidential Scholarship and a NDEA fellowship. He was a member of Phi Kappa Phi, Beta Beta Beta, Psi Chi, Phi Delta Kappa, and Kappa Delta Pi honor societies.
He began his teaching career at Lee High School in Montgomery and then taught for 25 years in the Education department at the University of North Alabama. Having had a biology background he loved teaching inside and outside of the classroom. When his children were young, he was very active in their lives, coaching T-ball, soccer, leading boy scouts, and serving on the PTA at both Kilby and Hibbett schools. He was also an accomplished tennis player, master gardener, skilled wood worker and craftsman, and avid Alabama football fan.
Tom was an active member of First Christian Church serving as an Elder, Deacon, Board chair, Sunday School teacher and singing in the choir. He also served on the board of Directors for the YMCA, United Way of the Shoals, and West Way of the Shoals.
He is survived by his wife of 46 years, Claire Holland Pebworth; his son, Will Pebworth and wife, Svetlana of Decatur, AL; his daughter Holly Pebworth Potts and husband Les of Starkville, MS; granddaughters Claire Potts, Anna Leslie Potts, Margaret Pebworth, Elizabeth Pebworth, and Katherine Pebworth; sisters Dottie Estess and husband John of Hollandale MS and Betty Teal and husband Bill of Montgomery AL; mother-in-law, Mary Holland of Florence; brother-in-law, John Holland III and wife LiLi of Nashville, TN; and many nieces and nephews.
Preceding him in death were his parents, Thomas F. Pebworth, Sr. , Margaret Powell Pebworth; father-in-law, John Holland, Jr. and niece Laura Elizabeth Estess.
Pall Bearers will be Clifford Miles, Jim Noles, Barry Morris, J.B. Taylor, David Faulkner, Cody Partridge, Jim McLean, and Jimmy Carringer.
The family would like to extend a word of thanks to the special people of Hospice of North Alabama, the Genesis Glenwood Center, the Northwest Alabama Cancer Center, Dr. Danny Martin, and the University of Arkansas Medical Sciences Myeloma Institute.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the John and Mary Holland scholarship fund at the University of North Alabama, UNA Box 5113 Florence, AL 35632.
