Mr. Thomas Earl Monds, age 73 of 103 North 10th Street in Erwin, entered into rest, on Sunday evening; the 29th day of September, at Highsmith-Rainey Specialty Hospital of Fayetteville with his family by his side.
Tommy was born on May 21, 1946 in Harnett County, the son of the late Lawrence Monds and Mattie Bell Solis Monds. In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by a brother, Lloyd Monds.
Benjamin Franklin said that, "It is the working man who is the happy man and the idle man who is found miserable." This quote could tell the story of Tommy's life in only a few sentences as he had lived his whole life as a man who believed in the fruit of one's labor and he was happy for it. He lived a long, prosperous life in which he reaped the harvest of the many years of labor that his hands had known. He was only a 9th grade boy when he decided he would leave school to make the load a little lighter on his daddy and go to work at Lundy's Packing Plant to help support his family. He went on to open his own business, Mond's Cleaning Service, were he was entrusted by many members of the community to contract with him, as they knew their money would be met with wonderful service.
The measure of a man is what makes up his heart and Tommy's heart was full of desire. Desire to work and ensure that his wife and two boys would have what they needed in this life. His character did not depart with him, as he instilled these same values in the spirits of his two sons, Allen and Earl. The boys can recall their father working two jobs when they were growing up but he still managed to have time for them and their mother. Five O'clock in the evening, every day, was dinner time. That meant, regardless of what was going on, you dropped it and you gathered around the table to break bread with your family. Tommy loved this time with his family gathered round, as it was then, that problems were solved, stories told and memories made with those he held so dear. He loved dinner time, because despite of how busy life was and everyone having their own paths to go during the day, at five o'clock, every day, it all paused and the family came together once again, as a whole and food was not the only thing passed, but the abundance of love between them. He loved his wife and children and later in life his grandchildren; who were the light of his world and will now carry a part of who he was as a man, a good man, with them through their lives. A hard working, honest, loving man; one who still believed in the picture that God painted of what a man should be; now that he has gone on to the reward that he has earned; his family can cherish the memories of a life well lived and teach generations of men to come of what it really means, to be a good man.
You are cordially invited to a time of visitation with the family of Thomas E. Monds on Wednesday, October 2, 2019 from six o'clock until eight o'clock in the evening at the Cromartie-Miller Funeral Home and at other times at 103 North 10th Street in Erwin.
A Funeral Service to commemorate the life of Thomas Earl Monds, will be conducted on Thursday, October 3, 2019 at two o'clock in the afternoon at Erwin Chapel Church with Rev. Danny Helms and Rev. Jeff Hayes officiating. He will be laid to rest at Erwin Chapel Church Cemetery with Todd Wood, Anthony Wood, Travis Cain, Robert Wood, Will Gregory and Robbie Stanley serving as pallbearers.
Left behind to cherish his legacy are the following members of his family: His devoted wife of 52 years, Arettia A. Monds; two sons: Earl Monds and wife Carla of Lumberton and Allen Monds and wife Tabitha of Erwin; grandchildren: Kilynn Kline of Lumberton, Jordan Monds and wife Ashlyn of Dallas, Texas, Katelynn Monds of Greenville, Nicholas Monds of Dunn, and Alaina Monds of Erwin; a brother: Jimmy Monds and wife Frances of Clayton; two sisters: Edna Stanley of Dunn and Brenda Jackson and husband David of Dunn; and a sister-in-law: Phyllis Monds of Dunn.
Online condolences may be expressed at www.cromartiemiller.com. Cromartie-Miller Funeral Home is entrusted with all arrangements.
