Rev. Thomas P. “Tommy” Long, Sr.

May 10, 2016

Rev. Thomas P. “Tommy” Long, Sr., 78, of Bainbridge, Ga, passed away Tuesday, May 10, 2016.

The funeral service will be held at 2: p.m. on Saturday, May 14, 2016 at Eldorendo Baptist Church with Dr. Kenneth Cloud and Pastor Jerry Harrell officiating. Interment will follow at Blackjack Baptist Church Cemetery with Robert NeSmith, Ted Lee, Terry Lee, Scott Harris, Dan Starnes and Josh NeSmith serving as active pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be the Retired Probation and Parole Officers Of South West Georgia Region, and the Men Of Eldorendo Baptist Church.

The family will receive friends from 6 to 7:30 p.m. on Friday, May 13, 2016 at Ivey Funeral Home. Online visitors may sign the guest register at www.iveyfuneral.com. Memorial donations may be made to Eldorendo Baptist Church, P.O. Box 7095, Bainbridge, GA 39818 or Blackjack Baptist Church Cemetery Fund, C/O Charles Brock, 1608 Vada Road, Bainbridge, GA 39817.

Tommy was born October 8, 1937 in Bainbridge, the son of David French Long, Sr. and Irene Peacock Long. He was a graduate of Bainbridge High School, and attended ABAC, Valdosta State College, Jones Business College, receiving his BA from Tennessee Temple Bible College and received his master’s degree from the University Of Georgia. While in high school, Tommy served as the State Treasurer of the FFA making him the first state officer from Bainbridge. Rev. Long was a member of Eldorendo Baptist Church and served as pastor there for 36 years. He has served numerous churches, many in our area over the last 58 years. Rev. Long enjoyed his time as a member and officer of the Bainbridge Rotary Club. For many years Tommy worked and later retired as Regional Director of SWGA Probation. He was a member of the Peace Officers Association and was the first elected President of the Probation and Parole Association. He represented the Bowen Baptist Association at the Georgia Baptist Convention and served in various capacities with the Southern Baptist Convention.

Survivors include his wife of 58 years, Linda N. Long of Bainbridge; his children, Thomas P. Long, Jr. of Jamestown, California, Robert French Long and his wife, Lisa, of Eastman, Georgia and James Hill Long and Beckie, of Bainbridge; his siblings, Beth Starnes of Rome, Georgia, Mary Ruth Harris and her husband, Dan, of Arlington, Georgia and David French Long, Jr. of Florida; his nine grandchildren; his four great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by his brother, John Wheat Long.