Thomas Colvin, Jr.

     Thomas Colvin, Jr., a good and decent man, peacefully departed this life on Friday, September 23, 2011 at his home in Dothan.

     A Mass of Christian Burial will be held 11 am Wednesday, September 28, 2011 at St. Columba Catholic Church with Father Patrick Gallagher officiating. Burial with military honors will follow in Sunset Memorial Park with Robert Byrd directing. The family will receive friends from 6-8 pm Tuesday at the funeral home with a prayer service at 7:45 pm.

     Born in Ozark, on June 15, 1931, he was the youngest child of the late Thomas and Flora (Waters) Colvin, Sr. Educated in the Ozark Public Schools, he earned degrees from Alabama State University and Troy University, and also matriculated at Alabama A&M University.

     On June 1, 1957, he married Alma Celestine Boykin. To this union three children were born: Leslye, Thomas III, and Angela. A lifelong Christian, he and his family joined St. Columba Catholic Church in the 1960s where he served in several ministries. A tireless volunteer, he was involved with many parish and community efforts. In addition to having served as Chair of the Dothan Board of Education he served many years on the Dothan Housing Authority, and was a Fourth Degree, Knight of Columbus. There are too many other organizations to identify individually, but he was committed to each.

     He began teaching in the Dothan City Schools after receiving an honorable discharge as a Sergeant from the United States Army. A brick mason and educator, he was chosen as the Teacher of the Year in 1966. He retired from George C. Wallace Community College in 1990 after more than three decades of educating the students of Dothan and the Wiregrass area. In his retirement, this loving and devoted family man enjoyed being a grandfather, genealogist, and fisherman.

     He was predeceased by his parents, Thomas and Flora (Waters) Colvin of Ozark, and his brother and sister-in-law, Lewis and Carolyn Evans of Indianapolis, IN.

     Those blessed to cherish memories of him include his loving wife, Alma Boykin Colvin; three children, Leslye Alise Colvin of Decatur, GA, Thomas Colvin, III of Huntsville, AL, and Angela Denise Colvin-Burque of Auburn, AL; three grandchildren, Brittany (Jonathan) Nekayah Colvin Danner of Birmingham, AL, Joseph Thomas Burque of Auburn, AL, and Andrew Daniel Burque of Auburn, AL; one great-grandchild, Kaylex Mariyah Danner; two sisters, Mary (Melvin) Loman of Albany, GA, and Florine Colvin of Ozark; sisters-in-law, Paulette (Willie) Love of Ozark and Renee Matthews of Birmingham; brother-in-law, Chris (Toretha) Jackson of Ozark; three special cousins, Loretta Boykin, Bea Lewis and Ann Parker, all of Ozark; one aunt, Barbara Smith Waters of Dothan; and a host of nieces, nephews and cousins.

     In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Catholic Social Services of Dothan, 557 W. Main St., Dothan, AL, 36301.