John Thomas Everett

Everett, John Thomas, age 81, died the morning of, October 22, 2023. He was predeceased by his wife, Shirley, in 2015. He leaves a daughter, Susan Borneman, a son, Matthew Everett, and a granddaughter, Riley Harris. Tom and his mother lived alone for the first few years of his life while his father was in the military. He grew up on Virginia Avenue and went to Beaumont Elementary School. He then attended Rule High School and played football, graduating in the top group of his class. He graduated from the University of Tennessee and entered the U.S. Army for five years, serving as an M.P. in the Dominican Republic. He was a Captain when he resigned from the Army. He then attended Southwestern Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas. Upon graduation from Seminary, he and Shirley returned to Knoxville where he pastored at Lonsdale Baptist Church. Resigning from the church, he became the Director of the Baptist Center in the Western Heights Housing Project. He and Shirley served for 30 years there before their retirement. One of the delights of Tom’s life was being at Harvard for two semesters. He loved the school, the city, the people. The entire experience was a joy to him. After retirement Tom and Shirley traveled the world. They visited every state in the United States along with Peru, England, Germany, Wales, Scotland, Ireland and Nova Scotia. He published two books of poetry: The Way to Asphalt Mountain and Voices Seldom Heard. After Shirley’s death. Tom continued to live in their condo until May of this year, at which time he moved to Park View on Emory Road. He made new friends and delighted in the people and workers who lived there. The love and friendship was returned. Tom was a man of the people. He walked with the rich and he walked with the poor. He helped to clothe the naked and feed the hungry. He ministered as he believed he was led to do. This world was not his home, but he finally got to go home this morning. The family will receive friends 2-4 pm on Sunday, October 29,2023, with a Celebration of Life to be followed at 4pm at Rose Funeral and Cremation Broadway Chapel. The inurnment service will be private. Online condolences can be made at www.rosefuneraltn.com

Tributes

John Thomas Everett

October 22, 2023