Euell Thomas "Tom" Stroud

Tom was born March 31, 1931 to Mayde Heath and Euell Taylor Stroud in Douglas, Georgia. After high school Tom attended and graduated from Valdosta State College and earned a Masters of Divinity degree from The Chandler School of Theology at Emory University.

Tom married Betty Ann Bishop from Alma, Georgia in 1955. While serving as pastor for several churches within the United Methodist South Georgia Conference, he and Betty Ann became the parents of a daughter and three sons, Beth, Tommy, Freddy, and Brad.

St. Simons United Methodist Church was a great and significant transition for Tom. This was to become his last full-time pulpit and the beginning of establishing Island roots for his family. While Tom may have been called to change his career from full-time ministry, he continued to minister to everyone he knew.

Tom seemed to live to serve and serve to live. Family, friends, community, and congregation members looked to him for a receptive ear and his always-comforting guidance.

Everyone who dealt with Tom came away walking straighter, taller, and more confident. Tom blessed those he came into contact with.

Tom was also a large part of the driving force that founded The Gathering Place and Wesley United Methodist at Frederica.

Whether as a member of Rotary, Jekyll Island Authority, Golden Isles Masonic Lodge, or a host of other organizations, Tom was there to be a part of improvement and service.

Tom was preceded in death by his wife, Betty Ann Stroud; his mother Mayde Heath Stroud, his father Euell Taylor Stroud, and his sister and brother-in-law, Kitty and Bob Tobey.

Tom is survived by his children: Elizabeth Ann Knittel (Wayne), Thomas B. Stroud (Sally), R. Frederick Stroud (Anna), J. Bradley Stroud (Melissa); grand-children; Elizabeth Knittel, Tommy Stroud, Jr. (Leigh Ann), Ansley Stroud (Ken Sellers), Katherine Knittel, Mary Bernard Knittel, Wes Stroud, John B. Stroud, Jr., Rob Knittel, , Frederick Stroud, Larkin Stroud, Emily Ann Stroud, Elliott Stroud, Bennett Stroud, Carson Stroud, Maddox Stroud, great grand-children: Kaplan and Sawyer LaFountain. Tom’s brothers-in-law; Henry and Jimmy Bishop.

Visitation will be held at Wesley United Methodist Church at Frederica Wednesday, September 24, 2014 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

A funeral service will be held 11 a.m. Thursday , September 25, 2014 at Wesley United Methodist Church at Frederica, with Dr. Wright Culpepper, Rev. Steve Patton, and Rev. Marcia Cochran officiating. Entombment to follow at Oglethorpe Memorial Gardens

Serving pallbearers are Tommy Stroud, Jr., Wes Stroud, John B. Stroud, Rob Knittel, Frederick Stroud, Elliott Stroud, Bennett Stroud, Carson Stroud, Maddox Stroud, and Kaplan LaFountain

Family request memorials contributions to be made to Wesley United Methodist Church, St. Simons United Methodist Church, FaithWorks, Magnolia Manor/St. Simons, or the Hospice of the Golden Isles.

Arrangements are entrusted to Edo Miller and Sons Funeral Home. www.edomillerandsons.com