Cecil Thomas Newsom

Cecil Thomas (Tom) Newsom was born on October 8, 1938 to Patty Louise and Cecil Pearce Newsom in Fort Worth, TX and spent the first part of his life in Oak Cliff where he graduated from Sunset High School in 1956.

He soon met the love of his life, Jane Thigpen, at Baylor University Golden Wave Band practice before the start of her freshman year at Baylor in 1958. They were married on July 16, 1960 and started their lives together as a married couple in Fort Worth where Tom began graduate studies at Southwestern Theological Seminary.

Upon finishing his Master of Divinity degree in 1964 they moved to Houston for additional training and then moved to Austin where Tom began work as Associate Pastor of Congress Avenue Baptist Church. After 5 years there that included the addition of their son, Bradley Thomas Newsom, the couple moved to Round Rock, Texas where Tom worked as the Chaplain of the Round Rock Children’s Home. Another addition to the family happily came along in 1969 when their daughter Amy Lynn joined the family.

In 1974 the family moved to Phoenix Arizona where Tom took a position with Grand Canyon College and then later as Chaplain of Phoenix Baptist Hospital. In 1980, Tom then settled in at Baylor University where he was a Development Officer until his retirement from Baylor. During his time at Baylor he was also a sponsor of the Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity where his son Brad was an active member. Somehow the Fraternity kept its charter intact while Brad and friends had lots of fun.

After retiring from Baylor, where he and Jane continued to attend Football and Women’s Basketball games, and choir and band concerts of all kinds, Tom also worked part time with the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship to help with their mission.

Tom had many passions in his life. He loved his wife, children, and grandchildren and he had a wonderful relationship and understanding of his Lord and savior Jesus Christ that he shared with many of us when we were in need. He loved to talk about his ancestors, tracing his family tree, and enjoyed talking about the colorful characters in the family’s history. He loved traveling with his wife and close friends on wonderful trips all over the US and abroad and would make great albums to document them. He loved Seventh & James Baptist Church and the many special relationships he developed over the years.

Tom was preceded in death by his son, Bradley Thomas Newsom, and Grandson, Zane Thomas Anderson. He is survived by his wife, Jane, Daughter Amy Anderson (Cory), and Grandchildren Bryn and Whit.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00am, Saturday, August 17th at Seventh & James Baptist Church, 602 James Avenue Waco, TX 76706.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial gifts be made to the Newsom/Anderson Endowed Scholarship Fund in Music, Baylor University, One Bear Place #97050, Waco, TX 76798-7050, or online at baylor.edu/give. For online gifts, search the name of fund. Please note the gift is in memory of Tom Newsom.