Charles Thom

Charles Meredith Thom, 89, died peacefully in Nashville on May 14, 2021. Born August 3, 1931 in Rockford, IL to Charles and Nellie Thom. He was the eldest of three sons.

Meredith loved his family dearly. He was a man of deep convictions and a strong faith in Jesus Christ. He was an artist who loved to paint, garden and read. He loved spending time with people, listening to and sharing stories.

Meredith graduated from Harding University in 1954 and the received his MA from University of Arkansas. He served in the U.S. Armed Forces, stationed at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, TX. He married Laura Joanne Hartman in Bernardsville, NJ in 1956. Meredith was a professor of Art and Drama at York College, in York, NE for eleven years and spent a year at Christian College of the Southwest in Dallas, TX. He spent more than three decades in Christian ministry including Camp Shiloh in New York, Proverbs 3 men’s ministry in Nashville and in 1977 joined the pastoral team at House of Blessing Church in Nashville, TN. He retired as head pastor in 2015.

Meredith was preceded in death by his parents and brother Richard Thom. He is survived by his beloved wife Joanne of 64 years, his son Barry Thom (Samantha), daughters Jennifer Thom Byrd (Shawn) and Maranatha Thom Bigos (Ted); eight grandchildren, Hadley, Addison, MaryScot, Shelby, Taylor, Madeline, Spencer and Louisa, and soon to be seven great grandchildren as well as his brother Victor Thom (Sandra) and five nieces and ten great niece and nephews.

A private family burial will take place at the Middle Tennessee State Veteran’s Cemetery on May 20, 2020. Memorial Service to be held May 22, 10 a.m. at Belmont Church, 68 Music Square East, Nashville, TN.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Meredith Thom Memorial Fund. Send checks made to Legacy Nashville (memo Thom Memorial Fund), P.O. Box 68230, Nashville, TN 37206 or PushPay at legacynashville.org, “Give” button, “offering” in the pull down menu, and note in the memo Thom Memorial Fund.