Thomas N. Harrison

Thomas or "Tom" as most people knew him overcame several serious illnesses as a child such as viral pneumonia and a botched tonsillectomy that nearly took his life. He and his mother both came to Jesus at the same time when a preacher named Hugh Pyle came to their house and told them the gospel story. From that point on he was active in church. He sang in the choir and played the trumpet under the direction of Frank Garlock at Brent Baptist Church. He also played in the band at Pensacola High School and sang in their glee club. He graduated high school there in 1956, and went on to attend Bob Jones University.

One summer during his time at Bob Jones, he went on an evangelistic mission team with Bradley Price, Flay Allen and another Spanish-speaking interpreter, to Cuba to present the gospel. Later with family and friends he would share stories and Spanish songs he learned there even starting devotion times with Spanish phrases and choruses.

At Bob Jones University, he also met and married Amelia Bell Harrison, which most of us know as Amy. They would be married on December 21, 1962 and share nearly 59 years together. They had three children, Robert Thomas Harrison (deceased), Thomas Edward Harrison (Eddie) and Cynthia Ann Harrison Stewart (Cindy)

Tom enjoyed working. His favorite occupation was as a machinist at Westinghouse. He started working there in 1968 until he retired in 1997.

He enjoyed serving at church as bus driver at Faith Baptist, song leader at Faith Baptist, choir director at Cantonment Baptist Church for 20 years, and any other thing that the church needed. He also gave to missions extensively.

Tom's first love besides Jesus was music. He could sing and teach any part in a quartet, but he was a resounding bass. If you ever heard him sing, you would never forget his powerful voice, and you would never forget the message communicated in his song.

He also knew many choruses which he would be happy to teach you at a moment's notice. His ability to keep those songs in his head over the years surprised many. One of our last fond memories of him was being able to sing with him at the hospital and hear him sing harmony once more.

Thomas Neil Harrison was preceded in death by his parents Albert Royster Harrison and Leona Fern Ackerman Harrison and his sister Daphne Joscelyn and his brother Troy Eugene Chavis (and his wife Esther and their daughter Tom's niece Vicki Knickelbine) and Tom's son Robert Thomas Harrison.

He is survived by his loving wife Amelia Bell Harrison, his son Thomas Edward Harrison, daughter Cynthia Ann Harrison Stewart, grandchildren Victoria Joy Stewart Herring (husband James Herring). Great-grandson Jason Thomas Herring, Granddaughter Sarah Christine Stewart - Gaus (husband Benjamin Gaus) granddaughter Elizabeth Diane Stewart (fiance's Stephen Butler) great-grandson Gabriel Alexander Butler. Brother -in-law Claude E. Joscelyn "Josh" (wife Polly), Carolyn Strong niece (husband John Strong) their children Samuel Strong and Mary Milyard and their families. Lee Joscelyn nephew, Mark Joscelyn nephew (wife Melissa) their children Joshua, Genesee, Jessica, Jeremiah, and Jedidiah and their families. Donnie Chavis nephew (wife Orkie), daughter Brandy, Mike Knickelbine nephew-in-law, Jessica Knickelbine great niece, Angela Hester great niece, Troy Eugene Hester great nephew.

A visitation for Thomas N. Harrison will be held Thursday, December 2, 2021 from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM at Eastern Gate Memorial Funeral Home, 1985 West Nine Mile Road, Pensacola, FL 32534, followed by a celebration of life service followed by committal prayers for Thomas N. Harrison at 11:00 AM .

Thomas will be laid to rest in Eastern Gate Memorial Gardens.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.EasternGateMemorial.com for the Harrison family.