Reverend Thomas Milton “Tom” Hutson, 91, passed away March 29, 2021 in Nashville, TN. Reverend Hutson was born November 29, 1929 to William Thurman Hutson, Sr. and Thelma Fortune Hutson in Chattanooga, TN. He attended Normal Park School, Northside Jr. High and graduated from the Baylor School in the class of 1948. After graduation, he joined the Navy Reserves and fulfilled his reserve active duty obligation. Returning home, he entered the University of Chattanooga. In 1950 his reserve unit was activated during the Korean War. His active duty bases were in San Diego, CA and Norfolk, VA. In October of 1952, he was honorably discharged from active duty and returned to UC to complete his undergraduate degree in economics. At UC, he was an officer in the Sigma Chi fraternity, vice-president of the class of 1955, and inducted into the Blue Key Honor Society and Who’s Who in American Colleges and Universities. He also held memberships in the Philosophy Club, Canterbury Club and served on the Student Council. Upon graduation, Tom enrolled in the Berkeley Divinity School at Yale University, graduating in 1958 with a Master of Divinity. He was ordained to the diaconate at Christ Church Episcopal, Chattanooga, and ordained to the priesthood at Holy Innocents Episcopal Church in Trenton, TN where he served until 1962. He then accepted the call to be the rector of the Episcopal Church of the Redeemer in Shelbyville, TN. In 1964, he was called to be the rector of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Memphis, where he served for ten years. In 1974, he accepted a call to serve as assistant rector at the Episcopal Church of the Ascension in Knoxville and in 1979, he was called to be the rector of the Episcopal Church of the Advent in Brentwood. His final call was to St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Chattanooga where he served as assistant rector from 1987 to 1994. During his ministry he served in numerous organizations. Upon retirement, he and his wife, Shirley, moved to Nashville to be near family members.
For decades, Tom treasured his annual month-long family vacations spent on the dairy farm in Bellingham, Massachusetts where Shirley grew up as well as at her sister Marcia’s cottage on Cape Cod.
Reverend Hutson was predeceased by his parents, brother William Thurman Hutson, Jr., sister Dr. Margaret Hutson, sisters-in-law Diana Crooks, Marcia Crooks, and Jackie Crooks, and brothers-in-law Howard Crooks and Robert Hendrickson. He is survived by Shirley Crooks Hutson, his wife of 62 years, and children, Martha Hutson Bowden (Rusty) Nashville, Sarah Hutson Iriks (Brian) Gimli, Manitoba, Canada, Daniel Fortune Hutson (Brenda) Knoxville and Elizabeth Hutson Westerman (Ned) Smyrna, TN, brother Dean Hutson (Mary) Signal Mtn, TN, and sister-in-law Jan Crooks Hendrickson, Cape Cod, MA. He is survived by grandchildren Leslie Mencer Price, Sarah Beth Miles, Mary Catherine Bowden, Madeline Bowden, Heather Iriks, and Tommy Westerman, great grandchildren, Wyatt Price, Carleigh Bowling, and Carson Bowling, and a host of nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to The Thomas M. Hutson Memorial Fund The Berkeley Divinity School 409 Prospect St. New Haven, CT 06511. Contributions may also be made at https://berkeleydivinity.yale.edu/support.
The funeral service will be held at 1:00 P.M. CDT Monday April 12, 2021 at All Saints’ Episcopal Church, 1401 Lee Victory Pkwy, Smyrna, TN 37167 and will be live streamed on FaceBook via “All Saints’ Smyrna”. Interment will follow at St. John’s, Ashwood at 6497 Trotwood Ave., Columbia, TN 38401. The family respectfully requests that “social distancing”, wearing of masks, and all CDC measures be adhered to at both the church and cemetery.
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