Thomas Jefferson McMichael

Late on the evening of Saturday, November 29, 2025, Thomas Jefferson “Tom” McMichael, 89, joined his Lord and Savior in heaven where he was reunited with his beloved wife, Dianne.

Born on April 27, 1936, Tom was raised in Jackson, Georgia, where he grew up on his family’s farm during the Great Depression. Those early years shaped his lifelong values of hard work, humility, and service to others.

Tom graduated from Jackson High School in 1954, where he played football and was active in the Future Farmers of America. His academic dedication earned him a scholarship to the University of Georgia, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in Business Administration in 1958. He continued his education at Louisiana State University, completing his master’s degree at the LSU School of Banking.

Tom began his banking career in Atlanta with C&S Bank, managing several branches throughout the metropolitan area. In 1979, he moved to Warner Robins to serve as Vice President of C&S. He continued through the bank’s transitions to Nations Bank and later Bank of America, retiring before eventually returning to work with Liberty Bank, which became BB&T, where he retired a second time.

A proud American with a deep love for the military, Tom served in the Army Reserves as a tank driver and served at Fort Knox. His admiration for the Air Force and for those in uniform remained constant throughout his life.

A dedicated public servant and respected community leader, Tom served as the Houston County Commissioner for Post 5 for 24 years. He was particularly proud of his work on the Russell Parkway extension and the development of the Houston County landfill. His leadership extended throughout the state as President of the Association of County Commissioners of Georgia and as a member of the Georgia Public Safety Post Council. One of the great honors was having the Thomas McMichael Multipurpose Room at the Houston County Courthouse named in recognition of his service.

Tom’s service to his community reached far beyond public office. He served on the Board of the Museum of Aviation and was a member of the Air Force Association. He was honored with both the Sam Nunn Award and the Sherrill Stafford Award. A longtime Rotarian and former President of the Warner Robins Rotary Club, he also served on the boards of Middle Georgia State University, Central Georgia Technical College, and United Way. Tom received the Charles Jones Lifetime Achievement Award which is given by the Warner Robins Chamber of Commerce and was also recognized with the Georgia Small Business Leader Award, and named Optimist of the Year, and was a longtime member of the Warner Robins Noon Day Optimist Club. He was most recently a member of Bonaire Church and a former longtime member of Christ United Methodist Church.

Among Tom’s greatest joys was caring for and spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren. Widely known as “The Muffin Man,” Tom delighted in baking muffins and delivering them to his grandchildren’s schools and to his bank employees. He and his wife proudly followed their grandchildren to countless sporting events, cheerleading competitions, and FFA activities.

Tom loved cooking and had a gift for making sure everyone around him was well-fed. He taught his children and many friends how to water-ski on Lake Allatoona, was an excellent tennis player, and an avid gardener. He enjoyed refurbishing furniture with his wife and treasured his trips to Sanibel Island with his longtime friends and colleagues from C&S Bank.

Tom will be remembered for his determination, generosity, devotion to his family, and his steadfast sense of principle. His life was one of service, faith, and love, and his legacy lives on through the countless lives he touched.

Tom was preceded in death by his loving wife, Dianne Holland McMichael, parents, James and Bessie Cook McMichael and sister, Jane McMichael Saunders.

His memory will forever be treasured by his children, Gregg McMichael (Debbie) and Gail McMichael Brown; grandchildren, JR McMichael, Thomas McMichael, Haley Stuckey and Caitlyn Brown; brother, Harold “Doc” McMichael (Dorothy Strawn) and many nieces and nephews.

Visitation with Tom’s family will be Thursday, December 4, 2025, from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at McCullough Funeral Home. The funeral service celebrating his life will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, December 5, 2025, in the chapel of McCullough Funeral Home with Reverend Jason Dickerson officiating. Following the service, Tom will be laid to rest in Magnolia Park Mausoleum.

The family will accept flowers or donations may be given in memory of Thomas Jefferson “Tom” McMichael to the Museum of Aviation at www.museumofaviation.org.

Go to www.mcculloughfh.com to sign the Online Registry for the family. McCullough Funeral Home and Crematory has the privilege of being entrusted with these arrangements.