Bryan Thomas Kennedy

Bryan Thomas (Tom) Kennedy, age 75, went to be with his Heavenly Father on Thursday, November, 10 at the Transitions LifeCare Center in Raleigh. Born in Kinston NC on April 9, 1941 he was the son of the late Herman Kennedy and Gay Tiffany Davis Kennedy. A memorial service will be conducted at 3:00pm on Saturday November 12, 2016 at Hocutt Baptist Church with Dr. Steve Roy officiating. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service from 2:00 until 3:00 at the church. He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Carol Kennedy, his daughter Connie Gilmore and son-in-law, Michael Gilmore; his son Scott Kennedy and daughter in-law, Nicole Kennedy; 6 granddaughters, Kristin Keleman, Ashley Sanderson, Jessica Kennedy, Rachel Kennedy, Haley Gilmore, Danielle Kennedy and 3 great grandchildren, Christopher Matthews, Paityn Kelemen and Jenna Alexander. In addition to his parents he was also preceded in death by his sister, Glenda Skinner and a brother, Jimmy Kennedy. Tom loved life. His retirement dream was to live at the coast and to travel. After retirement in 2005, he and Carol sold their house in Wake Forest where they had lived for 30 years and moved to Oak Island NC. They lived in Oak Island NC for 10 years and currently reside in Clayton NC. They traveled to many places during those 10 years including; Alaska, Hawaii, the Virgin Islands, Puerto, Jamaica, Lake Tahoe and many others. Tom was a member of First Baptist Church in Oak Island for 7 years where he served as a Deacon. He also was a member of the Gideon Association and spoke at various churches for the Gideon until his illness started to consume him. He was diagnosed with Dementia with Lewy Bodies in 2012. He and Carol moved their membership from First Baptist Church to Mount Olive Church in Leland in 2014. Although, they loved living at the coast, his illness necessitated the move to Clayton where they were closer to their children. Tom loved his children, his grandchildren, and his great grandchildren. They were all the apple of his eye. Tom was a real estate appraiser and he loved his work. He also enjoyed cooking on his very own pig cooker and working in his wood shop. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Transitions Life Care (Hospice House}, 250 Hospice Circle, Raleigh NC 27607. Online condolences may be made to the Kennedy family at www.mclaurinatpinecrest.com. Arrangements are with McLaurin Funeral Home Clayton.