Thomas Terriel Coley, Jr, age 72, was a life-long Christian who woke up in heaven tonight after a battle with lung cancer and after a difficult life of painful neurofibromatosis. Born August 9, 1948, he rather miraculously outlived his life expectancy until June 15, 2021.
After allergy to the ink used made it necessary to leave his career as a printer with Bruno's Supermarkets in Birmingham, AL, he relocated and worked 11 years for Jimmy Swaggart Ministries in Baton Rouge, LA. He often used self-taught sign language to interpret services for the hearing-impaired at Rev.Swaggart's Family Worship Center.
Tom was a gifted singer who sang in various churches between Mobile AL and Lucedale, MS. He loved German Shepherd dogs and each one he raised was like his child. His last dog, Punkin, was known many times to rouse him from sleep and insist Tom use his oxygen. As many can understand, after the death of his precious 14 year old German Shepherd "nurse" Punkin, Tom's health rapidly declined.
Preceded in death by parents Thomas and Edith Coley, and oldest sister Jeanette Coley Rogers, Tom is survived by sisters Flo Phelps (Frank), Frances Nolen (Tony) and Marilou McGinnis, and by nieces and nephews.
Due to Tom's residing in Wilmer, AL for over 20 years, there will be no viewing nor visitation in Birmingham. At a date yet to be determined, interment will be near his sister at Sardis Community Cemetery.
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