Williams Thomas Shows
85, Columbia
A memorial service celebrating his life will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, June 30, 2018, at First United Methodist Church for William Thomas Shows, 85, of Columbia, who passed away surrounded by family during the early hours on Father’s Day, June 17.
Born on Jan. 7, 1933, to Otho and Ethel Hunter Shows in the Whitfield community of Jones County. He met Betty Curtis in Jones County and they were married in 1952. Thomas received his degree from Mississippi State University in 1954 before serving as a 1st Lieutenant with the 82nd Airborne Division.
The couple welcomed four children, all of whom remember their dad as a gentle, warm father who taught them the importance of perseverance and respect for others.
The Shows moved to Columbia where Thomas joined Pearl River Valley Electric Power Association in 1957, becoming General Manager in 1977, until his retirement in 2007.
Devoted to his family, church and community, he was active in each related area serving as president of the Chamber of Commerce, Rotary Club, Pearl River Basin Development District, Columbia School Board and chaired First United Methodist Board of Stewards.
In the 2016 book, Born of Conviction, a 1965 quote from Rev. N.A. Dickson gives Tom credit for “organizing prominent white citizens of Columbia” in support of peaceful compliance with the 1964 Civil Rights Act. A full-page ad in the local paper had 136 signatures and resulted in the city school boards submitting a desegregation plan the following month.
Beyond Columbia, he served on the Board of Directors of Trustmark Corporation and Trustmark National Bank of Jackson, National Rural Electric Cooperatives Association, CoBank-National Bank of Cooperatives, Electric Power Associations of Mississippi and South Mississippi Electric Power Associations as well as The Asbury Foundation.
Following his retirement at the age of 75, he enjoyed spending time at his farm with his beloved dog, Faith Hill. Roots were deep in Columbia, and even after moving to Hattiesburg, he returned to Columbia’s First United Methodist Church and the Men’s Bible Class for as long as he was able.
In addition to his parents, Thomas Shows was preceded in death by his brother, Harold of Laurel and his sister, Jeanette Landrum of Ovett.
Survivors include his wife, Betty; daughter, Joanna of Columbia; sons, Scott and Paul (Russ Spezial), both of New Orleans, and Mark of Hattiesburg, and siblings, Charlotte Welborn of Laurel, Frankie Middleton of Fort Walton Beach, Fla., and Stanley Shows of Brandon.
With warmest gratitude, his whole family wishes to acknowledge the love and devotion shown to Tom by his caregivers, LeTischa and Alfonzo McDyess, Cynthia Woods and the entire Carewell team.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the church or charity of your choice.
