Thomas Woodrow McLeod

Thomas W. McLeod, Jr. (“Tom”), 78, of Stone Mountain, Georgia, passed away peacefully on August 6, 2026, after a courageous battle with cancer. His life was marked by deep faith, a love for people, curiosity about the world, and a commitment to serving others.

Born in Valdosta, Georgia, and raised in Albany, Tom graduated from Albany High School in 1966 as a Georgia STAR Student and National Merit Scholarship recipient. He earned a degree in Industrial Management from the Georgia Institute of Technology in 1971, where he was a member of Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity. During college, he spent a year as a foreign exchange student at the University of Hanover in Germany, becoming proficient in German and developing a lasting appreciation for other cultures and perspectives.

Tom spent more than three decades in restaurant management, beginning with The Magic Pan, where he managed locations in Atlanta, Columbia, Maryland, and Metairie, Louisiana. He later returned to Atlanta and joined J.R. Crickets, where he worked for 26 years and played a key role in the company’s growth and success. He earned the trust and respect of colleagues, employees, and customers through his organizational skills, consistency, and dedication. He especially valued mentoring young employees, many of whom became successful managers, community leaders, and lifelong friends.

Faith and service were central to Tom’s life. He was a longtime member of North Avenue Presbyterian Church, where he served as a deacon, and later an active member of Tucker Presbyterian Church. He supported numerous Christian and community organizations, including Comet House Schools and Family Legacy Missions International in Africa, Friends of Disabled Adults and Children (FODAC) and Feet on the Streets in Atlanta, and Westminster Christian Fellowship at Georgia Tech. Through Westminster’s relationship with North Avenue Presbyterian Church, he served Chinese students by providing transportation, helping with meals and logistics, and, most importantly, offering friendship and connection.

Tom’s curiosity and love of people fueled a lifelong passion for travel, taking him throughout Europe, the United Kingdom, Africa, Central America, the Caribbean, Nepal, Israel, Turkey, and China. Wherever he went, he engaged with local people and cultures, returning home with a deeper understanding of the world and stories to share. His one regret was being unable to travel during his last couple of years.

Tom will be remembered for his dry wit, wide-ranging knowledge, and genuine interest in people. Practical and frugal in his personal life, he gave freely of his time and care for others. A natural conversationalist, he could engage almost anyone and always had a story, fact, or insight to share.

Tom was preceded in death by his parents, Thomas W. McLeod, Sr. and Mary M. McLeod.

He is survived by his brother, Richard N. McLeod, and Richard’s wife, Linda; three nieces and one nephew; six grandnieces and grandnephews; and several cousins.

Tom’s faith remained a source of hope throughout his life, and he would want his loved ones to remember the promise of eternal life through Jesus Christ. The words of Jesus in John 11:23–26 reflect the hope that sustained him:

“I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die.”

His selfless spirit and commitment to others will live on in the hearts of his family and friends. The family extends its deepest gratitude to Tom’s friends, pastors, and church community for the many calls, cards, prayers, and visits they shared with him during his final weeks. Their kindness brought him great comfort and happiness.

A memorial service will be held on August 16, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. at North Avenue Presbyterian Church, 607 Peachtree Street NE, Atlanta, followed by a reception.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Tom’s memory to the American Cancer Society.