On October 18, 2016, Thomas Pitts, Sr. went home to be with the Lord.

Thomas was born April 23, 1931 to the late James and Bertha Pitts. He graduated from Atkins High School in 1949 and then joined the Air Force in 1953. His Air Force service included: crew chief on 0-10 crash rescue vehicle from 1954-1957, promotion to Fire Chief in England supervising 24 American and English firefighters from 1957-1958, promotion to non-commissioned officer over Personnel Services, base inspections from 1958-1968, non-commissioned officer in charge of training and administration section for the 12th civil engineering squadron in CamRanh Bay, Vietnam from 1967-1968, promotion to Fire Protection Supervisor from 1968-1970, and supervising training program for base fire department and managing training for 475th Wing Air Force and 5th Air Force from 1970-1975.

He graduated from Winsalm (Rutledge College) with A.A.S. in Business Administration Management.

He married Bernice Downes on March 4, 1957 in England and they were blessed with three children, Gloria, Lynnette, and Thomas, Jr.

He retired from the Air Force after 22 years of service, retired from Stroh's after 25 years, and retired from Parkway Plaza Shopping Center after 33 years.

He was a loving husband, father, and grandfather who leaves behind his wife of 59 years, Bernice; children, Gloria, Lynnette, and Thomas, Jr.; seven grandchildren, Telano (Jessica), Rashaad, Kyle, Torrie (Taevon), Farisma, Kiara, and Kaylin; eleven great-grandchildren, Kameron, Yalijah, Isabella, Jamarian, Tave, Makenze, Marcos, Kyle, Jr., Talajah, Taelin, Tievon, and Narianna; four brothers and sister, Benjamin Pitts, Jeanette Wells, Isaac Pitts, Willie Joe (Vernell) Pitts, and Robert (Sandra) Pitts; additional family members, Danny Gray, Joe Igancio, Lisa Pitts, and Franklin Fogle, Jr.; and a host of numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00am Tuesday, October 25, 2016 at the Russell Funeral Home Chapel with Evangelist Marie McGhee officiating. Entombment will follow in Piedmont Memorial Gardens.