Thomas Wade Fetzer Jr.

Thomas Wade Fetzer Jr. was born in Miami Florida on August 31st, 1958 and welcomed into the family of Tom and Marian Fetzer and sister Kathy. In 1964, Tom (Senior) moved the family first to Atlanta and then to Griffin where he opened “Fetzer's Music Store”. Tom enjoyed an idyllic childhood filled with music and being active at Griffin First United Methodist Church.

Tom was an avid lover of all sports and regularly supported his favorite Georgia teams. Tom’s passion originated from his active involvement in high school sports. Tom was a star athlete on the Griffin Bears Highschool Football team where he played guard on the offensive line, helping to win the Region 6-AAA championship. Tom was “a very tough and great football player”, according to his fellow teammates. Tom graduated from Griffin High School in 1976 and went on to attend Valdosta State University to obtain a bachelor's degree in accounting.

Fate led Tom to Trinidad in 1984 when he accepted an accounting position with a large telephone company, Burnip & Sims, in the Caribbean Islands. One day, needing a haircut, Tom found his way to the chair that belonged to his would-be wife Billie. Tom and Billie moved to California and then took everyone by surprise when they had an impromptu wedding in Las Vegas, Nevada on July 12th, 1986, marking 2026 as their 40th wedding anniversary. Much to the pleasure of their family and friends, Tom and Billie had a traditional wedding ceremony in Griffin on January 17th, 1987.

While in Griffin, Tom and Billie gave birth to their daughter Charlene in 1987 and found their way to their loving community in Acworth. In 1990, they welcomed Billie’s son Ricky from Trinidad. With his family complete, Tom enjoyed a lifetime of happy family memories, fulfilling work, and countless friends and neighbors.

In 1995, Tom joined the prestigious accounting firm Deloitte and Touche which utilized his expertise in various countries around the world with brief stints in Hungary, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and ultimately a two-year term in Moscow, Russia.

Moving to Marietta in 2012 atop Sweat Mountain into a lovely home with the most beautiful view of the mountain range, the family enjoyed the fruits of their labor until Tom retired from the American Cancer Society in 2024. This last role with ACS, Tom felt was his most fulfilling role supporting a team and organization he deeply respected.

Tom is preceded in death by his parents Tom and Marian Fetzer and his daughter Charlene Fetzer. Tom is survived by wife Billie Fetzer, son Ricky Rampersad, sister Kathy Hearn and her husband Keith Sharp, niece Wendy Castilla and her husband Juan Castilla, his chosen daughters (and their families) Katie Bowman, Blair Burge, Christine Ralph, Shanda Sams, and Nina Haggon, as well as his extended Kaminski family.

There will be a future announcement for a Celebration of Life Ceremony at Mount Paran Church Atlanta, date to be determined. In Lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to the Atlanta area American Cancer Society.