Rev. Thomas Lee Law

The Rev. Thomas Law of Raleigh died at home on Sunday, July 9th, surrounded by his family. Tom was a loving son, brother, husband, father and grandfather. He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Gay Barnes Law; by their three children, Lisa Hamlett (Bruce) of Oak Ridge NC, Michael Law (Kile) of Raleigh NC and Mark Law (Louise) of Cupertino CA; and by seven grandchildren: Blair, Lauren and Shane Hamlett; Lucia and Lang Law; and Philip and Ligia Law.

Tom Law served as pastor of St. Paul’s Christian Church, Disciples of Christ, in Raleigh from 1967 to 1997, and he thought of his time with that remarkable congregation as his ‘Camelot’. Over his thirty years in the pulpit the St. Paul’s campus grew from two buildings to five, including the much-loved sanctuary building which opened in 1975. Tom led both his church and the Raleigh community in a wide range of outreach projects that have served tens of thousands of Wake County residents, and which have provided assistance to those in need around our country and around the world. Organizations that Tom helped to found or to lead include The Coalition Project, Urban Ministries, Raleigh Area Ministries, The Food Bank of Eastern NC, The Open Door Clinic, The Helen Wright Center for Women and The Ark Shelter for Men.

Tom grew up in Rocky Mount Virginia, the son of Willie Arrington Law and Roy Thomas Law. He was very close to his older brother Roy Morris Law and younger sister Shelby Jean McCarthy, who preceded him in death. He adored them both and enjoyed and celebrated their company throughout their lives.

Tom and Gay met at the College of William and Mary where Tom won the James Frederic Carr Memorial Cup, the highest honor for a member of the senior class. Tom served as President of The Honor Council, the Omicron Delta Kappa leadership fraternity, The University President’s Aides and the Senior Class of 1959. A political science major, he was offered and accepted a Rockefeller Fellowship to attend seminary. He was accepted to The Divinity School at Yale University where he found that ministry was his true calling. Tom served as Associate Pastor at Third Christian Church in Indianapolis and as pastor of Red Oak Christian Church in Greenville, NC before moving to St. Paul’s in Raleigh in 1967.

Reverend Law was truly at home in his work in the church. He loved planning projects and encouraging people to think big, to accomplish more than it seemed was actually possible. He was a gifted speaker who gave sermons that were affirmations of the things that are most meaningful, of what people need from each other, of the importance of service, and always of the enduring love of God. When Tom spoke from the pulpit it felt like he was speaking to you personally. He was ever willing to be there for people in their time of need and radiated a warm and compassionate presence that helped so many through difficult times. Reverend Law also served The Christian Church in North Carolina as Moderator and also served several terms as chairman of The Commission on The Ministry.

Following his retirement from active ministry in 1997, Tom continued his personal ministry as a driver for the Interfaith Food Shuttle, as a food preparer and server at The Shepherd’s Table, and as a collector and deliverer of food to the Urban Ministry Center and Salvation Army. He was installed as Minister Emeritus of St. Paul’s at the church’s 50th anniversary celebration in 2009.

Tom was both a biblical scholar and a ‘regular guy’. He had that rare and very special quality of being able to walk into a room and within a short time know everyone. When Tom spoke to you, you had his full attention and felt like you were the only thing that mattered to him. He dearly loved his family, the church, the word of God, great literature and poetry, helping those in need, picking fresh flowers from around the yard, and the color yellow – the color of sunshine. Tom would always stop to acknowledge and celebrate the little things we too often take for granted – the beauty of nature, a small kind gesture, an accomplishment that to you seemed minor but to him was significant.

In a world where diversity, equity and inclusivity have only recently become a stated priority in some organizations and institutions, Tom was decades ahead of his time. A child of the rural South, he was never concerned about skin color, gender or gender preference; he instead valued and supported and lifted up the hearts and souls of people regardless of their identity. At St Paul’s he brought on the first minority student minister and contributed to confirming two female pastors – all whose work and messages he praised. And he was always constant in expressing his unwavering support of the LGBTQ+ community.

Tom’s hearty laugh, his warm and assuring presence, his sincere caring and concern, his continual affirmation of what is really important in life – all of this will be greatly missed by those of us who have known and loved him for so long. We celebrate Tom’s eighty-six years, thank God for his presence in our lives, and will ever honor and be grateful for his life well-lived.

A Celebration of Life for Tom will take place on Saturday, July 29th at 11:00 a.m. at St. Paul’s Christian Church, 3331 Blue Ridge Road, Raleigh, NC 27612.

In lieu of flowers, please send contributions in Reverend Law’s honor to the St Paul’s Week of Compassion fund at the church address or online at stpauls.net on the Online Giving page.

Arrangements by Brown-Wynne Funeral Home, 300 Saint Mary's St. Raleigh, NC.