Thomas "Tom" Evans Hedges, Sr.

Thomas Evans Hedges Sr, age 87, of Bogart, Georgia was born September 18th, 1936, in New York City.  His family moved when he was young to Melbourne, Florida where he was raised. After graduating from Melbourne High School, he attended the University of Florida and received a degree from the school of Journalism and Communications.  Go Gators!

After college, he joined W.T. Grant retail stores as a manager until 1975 when he went to work for a Canadian book chain, Coles, The Book People, that was expanding to the United States.  He oversaw the opening of stores throughout the country as well as training the management and staff of the stores.  In 1988 he continued his career in the book business working for Waldenbooks and transferred to the Borders division of the company as a general manager.  He finished his career in 2019 working part time at Barnes & Noble in Athens.

Since 2010, Tom was an active member of Athens First United Methodist Church as an usher with the 9:30 team and a volunteer for Souper Suppers and Rise Against Hunger. Tom enjoyed running 5k races in the 90’s throughout Atlanta and completed 12 Peachtree Road Races starting with the 1998 race and running his last one in 2009.  He enjoyed traveling with his college friends to University of Florida football games, Alaska, Canada and many of the national parks in the western half of the US.  One of his greatest joys was going to as many sporting events, birthdays, graduations and vacations as he could that involved any of his eight grandchildren. He was in the stands and on the fields quite often year-round cheering them on proudly.

Tom is survived by his three children Tommy and Tracie Hedges of Bogart, Brian and Dawn Hedges of Decatur and Kristen and David McGaughy of Marietta, eight grandchildren, his sister Kathryn Rabun of Melbourne, Florida, family and friends.

A Celebration of Life service will be held on Friday, October 6, 2023 at 1:00PM at Athens First United Methodist Church with a reception immediately following in the Hancock Hall.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Athens First United Methodist Church Missions/Souper Suppers, P.O. Box 1109,  Athens, GA 30603.

Lord and Stephens Funeral Home, WEST, Watkinsville, GA is in charge of arrangements. www.lordandstephens.com