Brother Thomas Jackson DeShazo, affectionately called “Jack”, age 90, was born on September 16, 1927, in Figsboro, VA, to the late Luther and Oria DeShazo. He peacefully departed this life on Sunday, August 5, 2018, at the North Carolina State Veterans Home, Fayetteville, NC. As a child, Thomas and his family moved to Martinsville, VA, where his father worked in the local furniture factory. In 1944, Thomas left Martinsville to join the U.S. Navy, where he served his country for 20 years. After being honorably discharged from the military, Thomas worked for the Marriott Corporation, District of Columbia, Department of Corrections, and was co-owner of DeShazo’s Bar and Grill in Glassboro, NJ. He eventually retired and moved to Hope Mills, North Carolina with his wife Mary. Thomas loved the Lord. For a number of years, he was a faithful member of Peace Baptist Church in Washington, D.C., where he served as a trustee, senior usher and worked diligently with the Share Food Project. In 1997, along with his wife, Mary, he joined Lewis Chapel Missionary Baptist Church, where he served as an usher, worked with VBS, the Homecoming Committee, the Finance Committee, and was a member of the Male Sunday School Class. Thomas will always be remembered as a sharp dresser and the best marcher on the Senior Usher Board. He loved to entertain family and friends at his extravagant, fun-filled cookouts and was especially known for his hearty laughter. Thomas truly loved his family. He was a faithful husband to his wife of 52 years, Mary Close DeShazo; loving father to four children, Thomas Williams (Cindy), Frederick Williams (Dollie), Pamela Williams Cochran and Thomasena Williams (SC). The joys of his life were his grandchildren, Shonell Reed, Nicole Cannon (Sherman), Jamel Williams, Kamilah Cooper (Carlton), Thomas Williams IV (Swiyyah), Leila Williams and Stephen Williams; eight great-grands, two great-great-grands, and a host of nieces and nephews residing in Virginia. Thomas was preceded in death by his sisters, Mae DeShazo, Julia Reid, Bessie Prunty, and Lean Douthit; two older brothers; and cousin, Orabelle Petty.