Thomas Henry Graves

Thomas Henry Graves passed away peacefully on August 17, 2023. In his final hours he visited and laughed with friends and family. Although Tom lived with Multiple Sclerosis for four decades, he led a fulfilling life, making significant contributions to moderate Baptist life.

Tom was preceded in death by his father Allen Willis Graves, mother Helen Cannan Graves, and brother John Graves.

Tom is survived by his wife of 53 years Wendy Fowler Graves; daughters Anne Tuskey and Jennie Gwin, ;sons-in-law Brian Tuskey and Colin Gwin, and grandchildren Brandon Tuskey, Mollie Tuskey, and Caroline Gwin; sisters Joyce Olney, Cannan Hyde (James), Virginia Weisz (John); brother David (Margaret), sister-in-law Koene Graves; and many nephews, nieces and great nephews and nieces.

Tom was born in 1947 in Charlottesville, VA and spent most of his childhood in Louisville, KY, graduating from Atherton High School, class of ’65. He graduated from Vanderbilt University where he competed on the debate team and was awarded the Cornelious Vanderbilt Founder’s medal for speech and debate as a freshman. Tom received his MDiv and PhD from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and a ThM from Yale Divinity School.

Tom served as pastor at Christiansburg Baptist Church, KY; First Baptist Church, Lake Park, FL; and St. John’s Baptist Church, Charlotte, NC.

Tom was the founding president of the Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond and retired from that position in 2007. His previous academic positions include Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and Baptist Theological Seminary of Zimbabwe. In his retirement Tom served as the devoted teacher of the Shepherd-Holland Sunday School class at River Road Church, Baptist.

Tom will be remembered most by his loved ones for his optimism and lightheartedness. He could turn almost anything into a game, silly song, or poem. Tom will be best remembered by his grandchildren as the proprietor of Moose and Coco Camp, even if he never let them win at Monopoly.

Beloved husband, father, grandfather, friend, teacher, and mentor, Tom will be greatly missed.

The visitation will be at Woody Funeral Home Huguenot Chapel, Friday, August 25th from 6-8 pm. A memorial service will be held at River Road Church, Baptist on Saturday, August 26th at 11am. This link will take you to a livestream of the memorial service: rrcb.org/tomgraves

In lieu of flowers, please consider contributing to River Road Church, Baptist, Give Online - River Road Church, Baptist (rrcb.org)