Thomas Spencer Livengood

With his family gathered around him, Rev. Dr. Thomas Spencer Livengood of Atlanta, cherished husband to Nancy and doting father to daughter Skylar and son Gabe, succumbed to cancer on July 5, 2019. He was 46.

Tom was born on April 16, 1973, in Dearborn, Mich., the youngest child of Lou and Nancy (née Wakefield) Livengood. From an early age, he was passionate about reading, studying and teaching God’s word. Tom earned a bachelor’s degree from Adrian College in Adrian, Mich., a Master of Divinity from the Candler School of Theology at Emory University in Atlanta, and a Doctor of Ministry from Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur, Ga. Tom’s pastoral philosophy may be summed up in one of his favorite quotes from the German writer Goethe: “Treat people as if they were what they ought to be and you help them to become what they are capable of being." An ordained Presbyterian minister, in 2012 he answered God’s call to become a hospice chaplain, providing emotional and spiritual support to terminally ill patients and their families.

Tom met the love of his life, Nancy (née Shippen) Livengood, at a post-church lunch outing with friends. They were engaged just six months later and married on May 25, 2013. Together they enjoyed traveling the world and playing with their two corgis. Tom had an unstoppable energy and spirit and also loved spending time with his children, boating on Lake Lanier, attending classic car shows, and go-kart racing.

In addition to his beloved wife and children, Tom is survived by his parents, Lou and Nancy Livengood of Medina, Ohio, sister Pamela (John) Morgan of Medina, Ohio, brother Steven (Marie) Livengood of the Dominican Republic, and numerous nieces and nephews. The family will receive friends on Tuesday, July 9, 2019, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at H.M. Patterson & Son-Spring Hill Chapel, 1020 Spring St. NW, Atlanta. A funeral service will be held on Wednesday, July 10, at 11 a.m. at Peachtree Presbyterian Church, 3434 Roswell Rd. NW, Atlanta. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to Orchard Ministries (www.meetorchard.org) or the charity of your choice.