Thomas Merle Glaze

GLAZE- It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Thomas “Tom” Merle Glaze on Monday, October 7, 2024, at 77 years of age. Tom was born October 5, 1947, at Grady Hospital in Atlanta, GA, to Hiram Courtland and Willie Clyde (Jones) Glaze. As an infant, Tom was the youngest surgical hernia patient Grady had seen at the time and doctors claimed he would not survive infancy. These medical problems set the stage for Tom’s childhood, developing severe scoliosis due to polio early in life and even breaking his back when hit by a car at age 13. Once again, doctors made dire predictions about Tom not surviving adolescence. Despite this, Tom was in his teens before he realized he was different, and he never let anything slow down his fun. He spent his days leading creative and rambunctious play with his many cousins and his siblings. In adulthood, at the urging of his mother, Tom pursued a career in respiratory therapy. By virtue of alphabetical order, and being in a graduating class of two, Tom became the first graduate of Georgia State’s Respiratory Therapy associates degree program in 1971. He would go on to work at Crawford Long (Atlanta, GA), Holy Family (Atlanta, GA), Newnan Hospital (Newnan, GA), St. Mary’s (Athens, GA), and St. Joseph’s (Atlanta, GA) hospitals. It was at Holy Family where Tom met the love of his life, Debra Powers, who, after a brief courtship, he married in November of 1973. In 1978, they welcomed a baby boy, Thomas Matthew Glaze. After a particularly heartbreaking shift at St. Joseph’s, Tom decided it was time to follow his dream of becoming a farmer. After earning a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Georgia in Agricultural Economics and Master’s degree in Dairy Science from Clemson University, followed by brief employment in the Extension Service and a calamitous foray into commercial dairy farming, Tom took a job as a Research Technician at the University of Georgia. Tom’s work focused primarily on swine husbandry and nutrition research, though he often worked with chickens and sheep as well. Tom had managed to become a farmer without needing to own a farm. He worked in the job that he loved until he retired as a Research Coordinator in 2007. In his personal life, Tom took his hobbies very seriously and often became a loved and indispensable member of the group. As a Civil War reenactor with the 42nd Georgia, Company B, Tom acted variously as historian, editor and contributor to the newsletter, and as a member of the color guard. Tom was proud to attend many of the battle reenactments marking the 12th anniversary of the Civil War, including the battle of Gettysburg. Tom stood out in the crowds and has been immortalized both in watercolor and film, in watercolor by artist Stan Strickland and in film as part of the “motley crew of old men and boys” described in the educational films shown at the Cyclorama in the 1990’s. When he wasn’t attending reenactments, Tom would perform living history demonstrations at his son’s school and those of his many nieces and nephews. Although Tom was unable to participate in Boy Scouts as a child, as an adult, he mentored more than a dozen boys through their journey to Eagle Scout. He was a champion of the small, the weak, and the weird, making sure that everyone felt welcome. His dedication, kindness, and work ethic lead to his induction into several honor organizations within the Scouts, including Order of the Arrow, Wood Badge, and the Old Timers. As a member of the Society of Creative Anachronism (SCA), Tom excelled in the field of heraldry, earning prestige across the Kingdom of Meridies and beyond. His skills, dedication to research, creativity, and chivalry earned him a place in the peerage as a Pelican (equivalent of a knighthood for service to the Kingdom and the Society at large). At the tender age of 65, Tom took up sword and shield combat, competing in tournaments and even making some of his armor. Tom was an ordained minister with the Universal Life Church, something he did for the sole purpose of officiating weddings for friends and family. Tom’s last few years were focused on spending as much time as possible with his wife, son, and daughter-in-law as well as trying to learn how to play and repair banjo and ukelele. He passed peacefully, surrounded by people who loved him. Tom is preceded in death by his father, Hiram Courtland Glaze, mother, Willie Clyde (Jones) Glaze, aunt, Mary Rudell “Aunt Dell” (Glaze) Black, and brothers, Samuel Byron Mehaffey and Larry Mincey. Tom is survived by his wife, Debra “Debbie” (Powers) Glaze, son, Thomas Matthew “Matt” Glaze, daughter-in-law, Angela Michelle (Slemp) Glaze, sisters, Donna (Mehaffey) Davis & Shirley (Mehaffey) Bankston, brothers-in-law Lenard Davis & Randy Bankston, brother, Charles “Chuck” Flynn, as well as all the cousins, nieces, nephews, chosen family, and friends who loved him dearly and continue to love him still. Funeral Service will be held on Wednesday October 16, 2024, at 1:00 PM in the Chapel of Time Stewart Funeral Home. The family will receive friends from 5:00 PM-8:00 PM on Tuesday October 15, 2024, for a visitation at Tim Stewart Funeral Home, 300 Simonton Road SW, Lawrenceville, GA 30046. 770- 962-3100. Please sign the online guest registry at www.stewartfh.com.

Thomas Merle Glaze

October 5, 1947 - October 7, 2024

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Thomas Merle Glaze

October 5, 1947 - October 7, 2024

What We Do

Flowers & Gifts

Plan Ahead

About Us

Resources

Obituaries

Grief & Healing

Contact Information

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