Thomas Nelms
Mr. Thomas Ray Nelms, 80, of South Fulton passed away peacefully at the Ray & Kay Eckstein Hospice Care Center in Paducah, Ky., on Aug. 8, 2026.
He was born in Rives on July 2, 1946, to Daniel Caldwell Nelms and Mary Frances Briggs Nelms. Thomas shared more that 32 years of marriage with his beloved wife, Diane Mullins Nelms, whom he married on Nov. 27, 1993. He was a devoted husband, stepfather and grandfather; a graduate of the University of Tennessee with a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture; an avid Tennessee Volunteers fan; and enjoyed watching the St. Louis Cardinals.
Thomas faithfully attended South Fulton Baptist Church and proudly served his country in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam era. A lifelong farmer, he also had a gift for woodworking, creating many beautiful pieces of furniture and cabinetry for his family.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by his stepchildren, Stephen (Audra) Kyle of Paducah, Ky., and Kimberly (Brian) Melton of Jackson; his grandchildren, Christian and Ben Melton of Jackson, Ella and Sophie Kyle and Leah and Allie Herndon, all of Paducah, Ky.; his great-grandchild, Easton Herndon; his brother, Bill Nelms of Maryville; his sister, Jessie (Curtis) Brandon of Auburn, Wash.; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Carolyn Best.
Funeral services will be held Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2026, at Hornbeak Funeral Chapel. Visitation will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Burial will follow in the Little Obion Cemetery in Wingo, Ky.
Pallbearers will be Stephen Kyle, Tony Nelms, Christian Melton, Ben Melton, Jeff Morris and Michael Snow. Honorary pallbearers will be Brian Melton, Glenn Snow, Roy Griffith, David Wisener, Doug Mullins and Leslie Batts.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to South Fulton Baptist Church Harvest The Vision, P.O. Box 5258, South Fulton, TN 38257 or Little Obion Cemetery, c/o Barbara Tarver, P.O. Box 44, Clinton, KY 42031.
The Messenger