The Reverend John Tol Broome Sr.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, October 14, 2016 at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church at 2:00 p.m. with a reception to follow at the church.

John was born in Orlando, FL on December 9, 1931 to the late Lafayette Ericson Broome and Lillie Gist Broome. He graduated from St. Albans, National Cathedral for Boys in Washington, DC in 1950. John was a 1954 graduate of The University of the South in Sewanee, TN, where he majored in Greek, lettered in varsity track and wrestling, was the art editor and cartoonist for the school newspaper, Cap and Gown, and sang in the chapel choir and was the Assistant Director of the Glee Club. In 1958 he received a Masters in Divinity from Virginia Theological Seminary in Alexandria, VA.

During summers while in college, John worked in the records department of the F.B.I. After graduating from college, he worked in the Law Department of Southern Railway. During his 36 years as an Episcopal Minister, John served as the Rector at St. James in Belhaven, NC, Emmanuel in Farmville, NC, St. Paul’s in Beaufort, NC, St. Andrews in College Park, MD and for 22 years at Holy Trinity in Greensboro, NC. John was active in youth ministries; Camp Director at Camp Leach (where he met his bride); Youth Director of the Diocese of East Carolina; and Camp Director in the Diocese of Washington. In the Diocese of North Carolina, he served on the Diocesan Council, the Standing Committee and many other commissions and committees.

Active in his community, John served on the Board of the Greensboro Urban Ministry, the Food Bank Committee, Canterbury School Grandparents Committee and volunteered at Cone Hospital Cardiac Rehab and as a tutor at Cone Elementary School. He also completed the Leadership Greensboro Senior program. John studied for five weeks at St. George’s International College in Jerusalem, attended a leadership development course at the Center for Creative Leadership and published articles on youth ministry for the national Episcopal Church.

John and his wife Mary served as a clergy team for Episcopal Marriage Encounter for nine years, also serving on the national Board. Additionally, John was a proponent of the renewal movements in the Episcopal Church holding two Faith Alive weekends at Holy Trinity and serving on many Cursillo teams.

John enjoyed painting in water-colors, oils and pastels. He loved walking his many dogs, fishing, golf, UNC and Duke Basketball, gardening and singing barbershop harmony. He also was fond of NC beaches and global travel. Most of all, he loved spending time with his wife Mary and the rest of his family who will miss them very much. He was a wonderful father, grandfather, neighbor and friend to many. John was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Frank Gist Broome and his wife, Mary Nicholson Broome. He is survived by his children, Tol Broome and wife Pam of Greensboro, Laura Harper and husband Steve of North Potomac, MD, and Mimi Cockerham and husband Greg of Cary, NC; eight grandchildren, Elizabeth Baker and husband Michael, John Broome III, Marianna Broome, Joe Harper and wife Meghan, Sarah Harper, Susan Harper, Thomas Hillyard and Peter Hillyard.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Holy Trinity Episcopal Church Discretionary Fund or Hospice and Palliative Care of Greensboro in memory of John Tol Broome.