The Celebration of Life Service for Bro. Tommy Lavoy Wallace will be held at 1:00 PM on Saturday, December 5, 2020 at Woodlawn Church in Columbia. Following the service, interment will be at Woodlawn Cemetery in Columbia. The church doors will be open to the public at 12:30 pm. At the conclusion of the service, a final viewing will be made available upon exit. The family asks that all guests please wear masks and practice social distancing protocol.

Thomas Levoy Wallace, of Columbia, MS, died on Thursday, December 3, 2020. He was 87 years old. He was born on September 19, 1933 in Lawrence County in the little town of Topeka, Mississippi.

The joyous occasion of the birth of Edna and Arvin Wallace's first born son quickly turned to grief at the realization he was a still born baby. Edna immediately began to pray over him, "God - if you don't let him live, then let me die too!". He then drew his first breath. That was the first of many miracles that took place in the 87 year life of Thomas Lavoy Wallace.

Due to traveling construction work, the Arvin Wallace family moved regularly. This made for hardships in schooling in young Thomas' life. Just after the 5th grade he quit school, and joined the working public. Pumping gasoline, picking up roots on a logging sight, and hauling pulpwood were just a few of his jobs early on.

He was always fond of saying, "I went to Jayess University" when in the company of well educated men discussing alma maters. Those fellow Yale, Harvard and Ole Miss educated business men never questioned since no one knew exactly where Jayess University was located.

He started a family in 1954. He had 4 children - Tim, Becky, Mike, and Linda. Whom he loved very much. Their family includes:

Tim Wallace Family (wife Tammy)
- Children:
o Timothy Wallace and wife Belinda
Children: Timothy and Logan
o Thomas Wallace and wife Amber
Child: Ty Lincoln
o Terry Wallace and wife Teronda
Children: Trexton and Benson

Mike Wallace Family (wife Susan)
- Children:
o Chris Wallace and wife Crystal
Children: Dylan and Audrey Claire
o Bryan Wallace and wife Kayla
Children: Kaylie and Kyle
o Brandon Wallace

Becky Wallace
- Child: Beth Sellers and husband Jeremy
o Children: Brady, Bralyn, Jadelyn, Hayden

Linda Robinson Family (husband Robbie)
- Children:
o Jonathan and wife Heidi
o Keri

In 1955, Mr. Wallace moved to Columbia, and was appointed foreman at Singley Construction before joining Dixie Paving Company. He eventually bought the company in 1972. From those humble beginnings came not only his construction career, but a business icon, T L Wallace Construction, Inc.

In 1974 he married the love of his life - Janette Hickman Wallace and a year later they had their only daughter Tonya Wallace Farmer. Her family includes:

Tonya Farmer Family (husband Clayton)
o Children: Wallace, Anna Grace, and Gracelyn

He was involved in dozens of organizations and boards in his lifetime; too numerous to mention. None of this was as important to him as loving his family and supporting ministry.

He was proceeded in death by his parents Arvin and Edna Wallace, his daughter Rebecca (Becky) Elizabeth Wallace, his grand-daughter Anna Grace Farmer.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Woodlawn Church - Missions. This was his heartbeat. Hathorn Funeral Home in Columbia is in charge of the arrangements. Family and friends may sign an online guestbook at www.hathornfuneralhome.com.