Thomas Wilkins Kerr

Thomas Wilkins Kerr was born on a kitchen table in Augusta, Georgia, to his parents, Robert Erskine Kerr and Rosa Van Cleve Wilkins Kerr. The family moved to Lake Charles, Louisiana, where he grew up with his beloved sister, Shirley. These innocent, sweet souls were like two peas in a pod and were incredibly close to each other throughout their lives. Tommy was a quiet and studious boy in school, and he excelled as a band member at Lake Charles High. He worked as a soda jerk at Gordon’s Drug Store, where he met his joy of service to others through his sweet innocence and pure light, making shakes, sundaes, and banana splits to everyone’s delight. Tommy served in the U.S. Air Force from 1951-1955 as a Chief Clerk, where he honed and crafted his writing and typing skills and impeccable penmanship. During his time in the Air Force, while stationed in France, he fell head over heels for the love of his life, and from then forward, for the rest of his life, was caught “somewhere in time,” always maintaining and demonstrating proper etiquette, gentile presence, and proper chivalry. In his 20s, he joined the Arthur Murray Dance Studio and became trained as a ballroom dance instructor. He touched the lives of many couples, daddies and daughters, and inspired his own daughter, Tamberly, to love dance. Tommy was a ballroom dance instructor for more than 60 years, where he served as an instructor for Junior Cotillion, ballroom dance classes at McNeese State University, and at private dance studios in Lake Charles, LA, and Houston, TX. He served as a ballroom dance instructor aboard a variety of cruise ships, where he offered his elegant gifts to the passengers, and, on one occasion, was awarded with the acknowledgment of Mr. Congeniality. Tommy was a member of a number of ballroom dance clubs in Lake Charles and Houston, and he curated several marvelously successful ballroom dance events in conjunction with his ballroom dance teaching success. Tommy was a wonderful artist, creating life-size murals and pen and ink drawings of Disney characters and imagery that captured the elegance of times past. His deep, radio-style voice was also crafty in mimicking just about any Disney and Warner Bros. character, bringing joy and fond memories to young and old through his jovial insight. He married very late and became “Daddy” to his daughter Tamberly at 38 years old and his son Jeremy at the age of 40. Being an older father didn’t stop him from allowing his inner child to flourish. Tommy would pick up his children, Tamberly and Jeremy, every other weekend and gather all of the neighborhood kids to play ball behind the school. He was the only daddy out there, leading a bunch of neighborhood kids in sportsmanship, athletic fundamentals, and team leadership. He inspired some neighborhood kids to pursue high school and college athletic careers that likely would not have happened without his guiding presence. Tommy served as a girls’ softball coach and traveled with his daughter’s high school basketball team to every senior game, serving as scorekeeper and an iconic Sulphur High Lady Tor parent figure. His booming voice could be heard throughout the gym as he yelled from the bleachers, “Go TK! Go Lady Tors!” and proudly witnessed and helped lead to victory, the Lady Tors 1988 state championship.

Tommy was a man with the highest integrity. He was the epitome of a southern gentleman, teaching his daughter, Tamberly, the value and appreciation of a fine gentleman who would graciously pull out a chair, open a door, and a car door too, in honor of a lady. Tommy was a devout Christian who supported a variety of missions and was an extremely active church member. Christmas and Easter were always special times for Tommy, celebrating the holidays with his children and nieces and nephews and gathering for the traditional family group photos.

Tommy served as a postal carrier trainer at the US Postal Service for over 30 years, and with these training skills, he taught his kids how to parallel park, which is one of the finest skills known to men and women!

Tommy always had a spring in his step and a radiant smile that would light up any room he entered. His favorite bird was the bright red cardinal, and he had a special affinity for squirrels, one of which he named Bravo, who he ultimately trained to eat out of his hand. He always seemed to have this innocent and very tender bond with certain animals. Tommy loved kitty cats, and he enjoyed playing with our family dog, Buddy, who served as our family’s glue, after the loss of his son, Jeremy.

Tommy and his daughter, Tamberly, were able to spend the last few months of his life together, returning to the joy of music and modified dance and a deep father-daughter connection. Tommy is leaving a legacy after navigating very difficult and unjust healthcare, elder care, and justice systems. Lessons learned will be told in his honor so that his experience may shine as an example to pave a new pathway for generations to come.

Tommy will always be remembered by his peers and his loved ones as a jovial, light-filled spirit who touched the lives of many people with his love and sincerity, which created a ripple effect in everyone he met.

Tommy is preceded in death by his father, Robert Kerr, mother, Rosa Kerr, son, Jeremy Kerr, and his sister, Shirley Self.

Survivors include daughter Tamberly Conway and her husband, Warren; brother-in-law, Marvin Self; nephews, Malcolm Self, Douglas Self, and Richie Self; niece, Melanie Gotreau, and several great nieces and nephews.

The family will welcome the public for visitation at J. E. Hixson & Sons Funeral Home Wednesday, January 29, 2025 from 12pm until time of funeral service officiated by Reverend Willie Bellard at 2pm. Interment will follow at Highland Memory Gardens.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests monetary donations to Montgomery Ballroom Dancers, the oldest ballroom dance club in Montgomery, Alabama, as a tribute to Tommy’s love of dance and his dancing legacy