Thomas Fleming Flournoy Jr.

Thomas Fleming Flournoy, Jr. 96, died November 29, 2013 at Carlyle Place. The Funeral Service will be held at Vineville Baptist Church on Monday, December 2 at 2 p.m. with the Reverend Ron Holland officiating. The family will greet friends at the church following the service. Burial will be private in Riverside Cemetery. In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made to Vineville Baptist Church, 2591 Vineville Avenue, Macon 31204 or the donor’s choice. Tom was born on March 18th 1917 in Fort Valley, GA to the late Thomas Fleming Flournoy Sr. and Jessie Wood Flournoy and was predeceased by a sister Harriett Hurst Flournoy. Before graduating from Ft. Valley High, Tom became the first Eagle Scout in Peach County in 1930 and served on the staff of Benjamin Hawkins Scout Camp. Tom attended Mercer University on a tennis scholarship where he lettered in Tennis, Track, and the Glee Club making him a member of the prestigious “M” Club. Tom was a member of Phi Delta Theta, and continued to be an advisor for several decades.

After graduating with a dual major in Accounting and Economics in 1938, Tom joined The New York Life Insurance Company where he started a long and successful career as one of the top regional and national salesmen. During a leave of absence during WWII Tom served as a Sergeant in the Army and had been on an invasion ship just prior to Japan’s surrender. He served with the occupation forces of Japan and later at the Naval Ordinance Plant in Milledgeville. Tom was President of the Macon Association of Life Underwriters in 1949, Macon’s first member of the Million Dollar Round Table, and Macon’s first agent to attain the Chartered Life Underwriter Degree, later serving as President of the local Chapter in 1963. Tom was a member of all of New York Life’s top production clubs and a Charter Member of its President’s Council. Tom was past President of the Leaders Round Table of Ga, and a member of the Agent’s Advisory Council of New York Life. In the early 50’s, a student at Wesleyan’s Conservatory, Neva Jane Langley, while working part time in his office was crowned Miss America. His career spanned over 70 years and he was honored for his service and achievements at meetings in Los Angeles and Puerto Rico. Tom’s two sons Tom III and Carson joined him in his business.

Tom was as a member of The Macon Exchange Club. Later Tom was Co-Chairman of the 1954 Heart Fund, a 32 Degree member of the Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, and was elected to the Board of Directors of Home Federal Savings and Loan serving for two decades and served on the Board of Trustees of Mercer University. Tom was elected in 1964 and served two terms as a Bibb County Commissioner, where he was Chairman of the Tobesofkee Committee, which at a cost of 4.8 million dollars, created Bibb County’s largest recreational facility. Tom also served on the Bibb County School Board, PTA of Joseph Clisby School, the Library Board, United Givers Fund and Wesleyan College Fund Drive. As a member of Vineville Baptist Church, Tom was honored in 2005 for membership of over fifty years, serving twenty of those as a Deacon and Superintendant of Sunday Schools.

But, Tom’s biggest passion in life other than his family and work was golf! He was a member and on the Board of Directors of the Idle Hour Golf and Country Club where he played golf for over 50 years, having two hole in ones. He played every week, rain, shine or storm three days per week, and played many of the finest courses in the world including The Augusta National, Saint Andrews, Scotland, The Greenbrier in WV with Sam Sneed, and in Puerto Rico with Chi Chi Rodriquez. He met many of his best friends on the golf course and sold a great deal of insurance during rounds with clients and was very proud of shooting his age.

Tom was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 72 years, Frances Virginia Carson Flournoy. He is survived by his children, Tom Flournoy III (Annie Laurie), Fran Flournoy Matthews (William M.), and Carson Flournoy; grandchildren, Tom Flournoy IV (Bonnie), Mac Matthews (Stacy), Lyn Rehn (Col. Steve Rehn), Carson Matthews (Martha), and Mary Frances Flournoy, along with nine great-grandchildren. Snow’s Memorial Chapel Funeral and Cremation Services, Cherry Street, has charge of arrangements.