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Thomas Benson Barnes
Mount Pleasant, South Carolina

Thomas Benson Barnes, 42, devoted husband to Carrie and proud father to Bentley, of Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, passed away suddenly on Friday, July 3.

Tommy was born on Sept. 4, 1977, and raised in Columbiana, by his father, Thomas Barnes (Donna); mother, Sharon Bentley; and stepfather, George Bentley.

He was a proud graduate of Shelby County High School and the University of Alabama.

He is survived by a large, adoring family including siblings, Sherri Barnes, Rachel Barnes Dillard (Jason), Rux Bentley (Amanda), Amy Bentley, Casey Bentley (Danette), Mandy Freel, and Laura Freel; in-laws, Mr. & Mrs. Richard Freel; nieces and nephews, Hannah Danho, Harper Dillard, Harrison Dillard, Maddie Bentley, McKlane Bentley, Addison Bentley, and Braden Bentley; and a multitude of dear friends too numerous to name.

He was preceded in death by loving grandparents, cousins, and friends.

Tommy was a man of MANY words with a particular flair for language of the colorful variety. When he entered a room, he took up ALL of the space in it. One of his greatest joys was to keep everyone around him laughing. He loved and laughed with every ounce of his being. His passion for everything from music to Alabama football burst out of him without any reservation.

Light didn’t have to shine on Tommy; it shone from him and warmed every person who was blessed by his presence. He never missed an opportunity to say “I love you” and had the most tender, loving heart – the kind that ached and made him cry when leaving his Alabama family after Christmas was over each year.

Tommy’s greatest accomplishment was the family he made for himself in Charleston with his wife, Carrie, and their precious 12-year-old daughter, Bentley. There are no adequate words to describe his love for his family. Tommy and Carrie met while working at Vickery’s in 2006, and over the last 14 years, Vickery’s has served as more than a place of employment – it is the home of an extended family of special friends who have meant the world to Tommy, Carrie, and Bentley.

It is difficult to think of Tommy without smiling, which is exactly the way he would like it. The best way to honor his life is to remember him with a funny story, a song, and a promise to never miss a chance to tell someone, “I love you.”

The family will have a private memorial service in Columbiana. There will also be a celebration of life service at Vickery’s in Charleston on Sunday, July 19.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to support Carrie and Bentley through the following link: Freefunder.com/campaign/tommy.