Thomas Crane Sheffield

Mr. Sheffield was born August 22, 1953, in Orlando, FL to the late Lester and Margaret Sheffield. He was educated in the St. Lucie County public schools through middle school, where he excelled at playing the trumpet. He then attended Taccoa Falls Academy for high school and was the president of his senior class. He started his college education at The University of Georgia. He graduated at the top of his class at Control Data Institute in Atlanta, GA. Directly after graduation he was hired by Data General Corporation. After several postings he moved to their RTP facility. The company paid for him to get his Computer Science Degree from North Carolina State University where he graduated Suma Cum Laude. At the height of his career he became a Nationally Certified Senior Project Management Professional. He continued with the company for nearly 40 years through the merger with EMC corporation. He never admitted that he was retired because that was too much of a commitment. He was just “not working.”

Mr. Sheffield will be remembered by his friends in the graduating class of 1971 of Taccoa Falls Academy, the North Raleigh Road Dogs, and the Durham Wildlife Club. He was an avid fisherman with his friend Bill Toburen, outdoorsman with his friend Tony Farlow, and most recently an enthusiastic gardener to the point of supplanting his wife in the creation of their garden.

In addition to his wife of 40 years, Mr. Sheffield is survived by his children, daughter Maggie Hendricks, and her husband Blake, of Fredericksburg, VA; son Joe Sheffield, of Roanoke, VA; sister Susan Evans, and her husband John of Murphy, NC; and nephew Dave Evans, and his wife April, serving in the Coast Guard in Salt Ste. Marie, MI.

Mr. Sheffield was preceded in death by his parents.

Per his request, there will be no funeral service. In lieu of flowers, please direct memorials to the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation through the link below.

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