Thomas E. Partlow
Mr. Thomas Earl Partlow, age 80 of Lebanon, passed away peacefully at his home on Saturday April 21, 2018. Mr. Partlow was born in Wilson County on March 10, 1938 to the late Herbert Lee Partlow and Nannie Johnson Partlow.
Thomas graduated from Lebanon High School in 1956, and then went on to study at Cumberland College and Middle Tennessee State College, where he received his degree in Social Science in 1959. Mr. Partlow was then hired to teach at Glencliff High School in Nashville where he taught for 32 years. In 1962 Mr. Partlow would go on to Peabody College, where he would earn his Master’s Degree in History. He retired from teaching in 1995. In the fall of 1997 he went to work alongside Linda Granstaff to reconfigure and expand the Wilson County Archives. Mr. Partlow worked faithfully at the archives serving as Co-Director until the last few weeks when his health prevented him.
He belonged to many notable organizations, and was most proud of his family lineage. Perhaps one of his favorite pass times was studying and researching his Ligon family heritage. He was a proud member of the Ligon Family and Kinsmen Association and has traveled abroad to attend “Ligon Reunions” in England. Thomas was also a member of the following organizations; The Dames and Barons Magna Charta, Sons of Confederate Veterans, Americans of Royal Descent, Descendant of Most Noble Order of the Garter, The Jamestowne Society, Sons of the American Revolution, and was an honorary member and volunteer with the Wilson County Black History Committee. Mr. Partlow has been a member of First Baptist Church Lebanon since 1945.
In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by his brother and sister in law, Herbert Gene (Agnes) Partlow; sister, Nancy Partlow Whited; nephew, Tom Chambers; and niece, Debra Midgett.
Mr. Partlow is survived by sister and brother in law, Dorothy Partlow Chambers (Robert) of Lebanon; nephews, Howard (Judy) Chambers of Lebanon, Don (Cindy) Partlow of Atlanta, GA, David (Michelle) Chambers of Lebanon, Jeffrey (Sonya) Whited of Lebanon; niece, Marilyn (Jessie) Hawkins of Atlanta, GA. He also leaves behind numerous great and great-great nieces, nephews and extended family.
Mr. Partlow’s remains rest at the Ligon & Bobo Funeral Home of Lebanon, where funeral services will be conducted on Tuesday April 24, 2018 at 2:00PM. Bro. David Freeman and Bro. Don McElroy will officiate and interment will follow in the Wilson County Memorial Gardens. Visitation with the family will be on Monday from 2 PM until 8 PM and again on Tuesday after 10 AM. In Lieu of Flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
Brian Petraitis, Tommy Whited, Chet Mason, Howard Chambers, Jeffrey Whited, and David Chambers will serve as active pallbearers.
Honorary pallbearers: Wilson County Records Commission, Lebanon Historical Commission, Wilson County Black History Committee, and the Hardaway-Jenkins Sunday School Class.
LIGON & BOBO FUNERAL HOME in charge of arrangements.
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