Shipps Funeral Home, Inc. | Sylvester, GA

Obituary For Tommy Lee West

The the late Mr. Tommy Lee West of 525 S. Gordon Street, Apt. 404, Ashburn, Georgia, departed this life on Thursday, October 15, 2020 at Tift Regional Medical Center in Tifton, Georgia.

Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, October 20, 2020, at 1:00 p.m. from the Westview Memorial Cemetery in Ashburn, Georgia. Words of Comfort will be given by Apostle Daniel Joseph West.

Mr. Tommy Lee West was born on June 1, 1960, in Lee County, Georgia, to the late Bishop Elbert L. West and the late Evangelist Ruby Lee West. He was educated in the Crisp County Public School System and graduated from Crisp County High School in Cordele, Georgia. He briefly served as a member of the Georgia National Guard.

Tommy moved to Ashburn, Georgia, married, and two children were born from this union. He became a truck driver with his first employment at JB Hunt Trucking Company.

Tommy attended the Mount Zion Church of God Apostolic in Ashburn, Georgia, under the leadership of his father, Bishop Elbert L. West and Elder Rose Johnson. Tommy and his father had a great relationship. His father gave Tommy the nickname “BUD”. Tommy was a people person who never met a stranger. Whenever he was in the midst, he would have you laughing. The Crisp and Turner County Communities knew him very well. Even when his health began to fail, Tommy was the Taxi Cab Driver for those who he went to dialysis with each week.

Tommy was a fisherman and loved to fish. He and his brother, Ruby, and their nephews would try to out fish each other. But Tommy said when he tried to catch fish from his sister’s pond, she had the fish trained to bite for nobody but her!

In May of 2020, Tommy’s health began to deteriorate, and he had a battle with one underlying issue after another. He would always say he had “9 lives”. On Thursday, October 15, 2020, the last of the “9 lives” gave up the Ghost at Tift Regional Medical Center in Tifton, Georgia. He was preceded in death by his parents, Bishop Elbert L. West, and Evangelist Ruby West, a loving daughter, Shaketa West, and two siblings, Dorothy West, Matthew West.

Tommy leaves to cherish his memories a loving and devoted daughter, Ms. Toya West of Ashburn, Georgia; a son, Reginald Hudson of Ashburn, Georgia; his loving grandchildren, Emerald West, Zakiyah Zachae West, Abrianna Mashae Crawford, India Crawford, Talia Whitfield, Saniya Taylor, Malachii Hudson, Marshal Ewing, Zayla Hudson, Reginae Hudson; a devoted stepmother, Minister Bobbie Jean West; eleven siblings, Bishop Arthur (Lorene) West of Arabi, Georgia, Elbert (Brenda) West of Cordele, Georgia, Barbara (Ivory) Brown of Alapaha, Georgia, Sidney West, Elder Trudie (Claudel) Parham, Delois (Sammy) Clark, all of Ashburn, Georgia, Ruby Gene (Minnie) West of Columbus, Georgia, Geraldine (Cory) Smith of Valdosta, Georgia, Apostle Daniel Joseph (Towanda) West of Moultrie, Georgia, Mary (Charles) Poke of Sycamore, Georgia, Minister Victoria (Benjamin) Farrie of Jacksonville, Florida; three uncles, Hubert West of Dallas, Texas, Johnny (Annie) Simmons of Cordele, Georgia, James Simmons of Atlanta, Georgia; one aunt, Bernice Williams of McDonough, Georgia. He also leaves to cherish his memories the Scott Family of Sycamore, Georgia, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends.

Guest Book

My condolences is extended to each of you.

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Talia, Barbara and siblings, so very sorry to hear of Tommy's passing. Yes, he was a funny character and I always enjoyed his conversation. He will certainly be missed. May he rest in the Lord's peace. I will continue to pray for you all. Ms. Mary Taylor (Edge)

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Our staff will continue to keep your family in our prayers. We thank you for allowing us to serve your family.

- Shipps Funeral Home, Inc. | Sylvester, GA