USAF (Ret.) Lt. Colonel Thomas E. Brazil, of Newborn, passed away July 8, 2019, at the age of 80. Tom was a native Georgian, born in LaGrange and raised in Atlanta. He attended Atlanta public schools and graduated from Georgia Tech. Tom and his wife, Marene, had three children: Tom, Jr., a teacher in Douglas County; Barbara, a teacher in Gwinnett County; and Jimmy, a supervisor in Cobb County, as well as three grandchildren, James, John, and Mary.
Tom was a landowner in north Jasper County for 38 years and a homeowner for 22 years. He and Marene moved from Dunwoody where they lived for 23 years. He retired from the U.S. Air Force as a Lieutenant Colonel with 35 years of service, active and reserve; his last tour was as a base commander in country Operation Desert Shield/Storm. Tom's decorations included the Meritorious Service Medal (3 awards), Air Force Commendation Medal (2 awards), National Defense Service Medal (with 2 Bronze Service Stars), Vietnam Service Medal, Southwest Asia Service Medal (with Bronze Service Star), plus numerous service medals. During his military service, he received an advanced degree from the National Defense University and completed many specialized Air Force courses. Tom was also retired from Lockheed where he was a Senior Engineer on the F-22A Fighter program.
Civic and community affiliations included:
- 14 years as youth baseball and football coach and member of Board of Directors, DeKalb County
- Member, Georgia Tech National Alumni Association
- Member, Air Force Association
- Past State President, Treasurer, National Councilman, and current Secretary of the Reserve Officers Association. Also, a past president the Greater Atlanta Chapter
- Member, Veterans of Foreign Wars
- Trustee, Newborn Area Heritage Trust, Inc.
- Member, Military Officers Association of America
In Jasper County, Tom served for ten years as an unpaid volunteer on the Jasper County Water and Sewer Authority where he served as Chairman. He acted as Foreman of the Jasper County Grand Jury and as Chairman of the Board of Tax Accessors for Jasper County. Tom was a 2001 graduate of the Jasper County Leadership Course.
A Graveside Service for Tom will be held Monday, July 15, 2019, 10:30 A.M., at Georgia National Cemetery, 1080 Scott Hudgens Drive, Canton, GA, 30114. Friends are invited to visit with the family Sunday, July 14, from 3:00 – 6:00 P.M., at Caldwell & Cowan Funeral Home, 1215 Access Road, in Covington.
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