Thomas Howard Pleasant

Thomas Howard Pleasant, 67, of Hopewell, passed away on Sunday, January 24, 2016. He was preceded in death by his father, Thomas S. Pleasant, Jr. A retired maintenance supervisor at Hercules, Inc., Tom served his fellow employees as an officer of the local labor union for many years. He was a journeyed carpenter, welder, and sheet metal fabricator. Some of his favorite times were spent at the beach, his chair drawn into a circle with family and friends just listening and telling and retelling stories. Before his health failed, he loved traveling to 48 of the United States, golfing with great friends, fishing of any kind, dancing, playing cards and games, entertaining, visiting Dairy Queen, working in his yard, and listening to his music, everything from big hair bands to country to classic to praise songs. Babies loved him, and he made it his goal to take each of them for his or her first ice cream cone. Tom always listened to people, never left anyone out, and was the first to lend a helping hand to friends, family, and neighbors. He saw value in every person, no matter his or her station of life. He loved watching the ocean, sunrises and sunsets, his birds at his feeder, his children and grandchildren doing anything, and repeating daily how wonderful life was. It was the simple things around him in life that he never took for granted, commenting daily how fortunate and thankful he was. Above all, Tom was absolutely devoted to his wife, children, and grandchildren. He was a father who involved himself in his children’s lives and supported, respected, and loved his wife unconditionally. A lifelong member of Wesley United Methodist Church, he served in many capacities, including Chairman of Trustees, and Youth Sponsor for many years. He was a man of strong faith, believing in the power and strength of Jesus Christ’s love and the beauty and peace that would await him after his passing. Thomas is survived by his loving wife, Brenda Houff Pleasant; his children, Chad Thomas Pleasant and his wife, Lindsay, Janice Baum, Vickie Woodrow and her husband, Kevin, Donna Coffin and her husband, Matt; his grandchildren, Kevin, Jake, Kennedy, Lawson, Brooke, Campbell; his mother, Mildred T. Pleasant; sisters, Becky Yeratt and her husband, Percy, Cathy Griffith; the Houff family; 10 nieces, and nephews, and other extended family and friends. The family will receive friends from 2pm to 4pm and from 6pm to 8pm on Friday January 29, 2016 at the Hopewell Chapel of J.T. Morriss & Son Funeral Home. A funeral service will be held at 11am on Saturday January 30, 2016 at Wesley United Methodist Church 2901 Norfolk Street Hopewell VA, 23860. Interment will be private. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to Wesley United Methodist Church Memorial Fund or to the American Diabetes Association 4335 Cox Rd, Glen Allen, VA 23060. Condolences may be registered at www.jtmorriss.com .