He leaves behind his wife of 53 years, Linda Tingle Searles; one daughter, Dr. Jaime Searles Harnden, (Kevin), and two grandsons: Luke Spencer Harnden and Blake Curtis Harnden. He also leaves behind two brothers: Clarence Earl Searles and Charles Wilbur Searles; and one sister, Alice Searles Hairfield.
Tommy was born in Richmond, VA. He attended and graduated from Oak Hill Academy in Galax, VA, in 1962. He joined the U. S. Army in 1964 and served in the Vietnam War from 1965-66. His death is the result of his contact with Agent Orange while serving as a combat medic. Tommy graduated from John Tyler Community College, receiving a Phi Theta Kappa Honorary Award for 4.0 GPA. He was a member of the Vietnam Veterans of America and the Veterans of Foreign Wars Battlefield Post 9808 in Mechanicsville.
From 1964 to 1975 Tommy was employed with the City of Richmond Electrical Department. He transferred to the Richmond Police Department in 1975 and attended the 37th Basic Recruit School. He graduated from the Virginia Forensic Science Academy’s 24th session in the school of Crime Scene Technology in 1985. He retired in 1995 as a Forensic Fingerprint Examiner with thirty years of service with the City of Richmond. During his work with the Richmond Police, he received four Excellent Police Duty awards, one Meritorious Police Award, and several police citations. He was a member of the Richmond Retired Police Officers Association.
Following his retirement with the city, he was employed by the Hanover County Sheriff’s Office as a Fingerprint Examiner in 1995, where he worked for ten years, retiring in 2005.
He was a long-time member of New Highland Baptist Church in Mechanicsville, formerly East Highland Park Baptist Church in Richmond. Tommy enjoyed golf and leaves behind many golfing buddies. He and Linda loved to travel. Baseball was his favorite sport, and they managed to see his beloved Atlanta Braves baseball games a few times while traveling.
The family will receive friends 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, May 26, 2021, at the Atlee Chapel, Woody Funeral Home, 9271 Shady Grove Rd., Mechanicsville. A funeral service will be conducted 1 p.m. Thursday, May 27, 2021, at New Highland Baptist Church, 9200 New Ashcake Rd., Mechanicsville. Interment in Forest Lawn Cemetery.
