Thomas Jerry Lomax

Reverend Thomas Jerry Lomax Arden – Rev. Thomas J. Lomax, 78, of Arden, died unexpectedly Thursday, February 13, 2014. A native of Union Co., NC, he was a son of the late Thomas and Willard Helms Lomax. He was also preceded in death by one granddaughter, Jamie Parham, as well as one brother, Donny Lomax. Rev. Lomax first started his ministry by serving as a chaplain in the United States Army. He later went on to earn his Master of Divinity from Southeastern Seminary in Winston-Salem. He later pastored several churches including Mountain Grove Baptist Church in Lenoir and served as associate Pastor with Merrimon Avenue Baptist Church. He also enjoyed organizing Christian tours. He is survived by his wife of 28 years, Katherine Ford Lomax; four daughters, Teresa Clark and her husband, Adam, of Fort Mill, SC, Susan McGill and her husband, Billy, of Candler, Sandra Parham and her husband, James, of Leicester and Kim Brank and her husband, Scott, of Easley, SC; three sons, Jeff Lomax and his wife, Theresa, of Anderson, SC, Mark Lomax and his wife, Danette, of Charlotte, NC and John Ward and his wife, Tammy, of Easley, SC; one sister, Ann Ballard of Charlotte, NC; one brother, Bobby Lomax of Charlotte, NC; thirteen grandchildren as well as several nieces and nephews. A Celebration of Life service will be held at 2:00 PM on Sunday, February 16, 2014 at Merrimon Avenue Baptist Church with the Rev. Daniel L. Dockery, Rev. Bill Bigham and Rev. John Ward officiating. The family will receive friends in the church fellowship hall following the service. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial contributions be made to Samaritan's Purse, PO Box 3000, Boone, NC 28607 (samaritanspurse.org). Groce Funeral Home at Lake Julian is assisting the family.