Dr. Thomas (Tom) Henry Porter, 72, of Mesquite, TX passed away on July 24, 2017.
A Service of Thanksgiving and Remembrance will be held at Cox Chapel, Highland Park United Methodist Church in Dallas, TX at 10:00 am, Friday July 28th.
Dr. Porter was born in Bastrop, Louisiana on February 27, 1945. He graduated from Bastrop High School and continued on to receive a Bachelor of Music Education from Northeast Louisiana State College. His passion for music ministry led him to pursue his Masters of Church Music and Doctorate of Church Music Education from the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary.
Dr. Porter spent his career as an Ordained Minister and Minister of Music, Education and Administration in churches throughout the southeast. He enjoyed family, music, hymnology, and spending time with his grandchildren. He was actively involved in the Mississippi Singing Churchmen, Hattiesburg City Concert Band, and many other choral ensembles. Tom was generous in sharing his musical talents and gifts with others and mentored many church musicians along the way.
Tom married Nanna W. Porter on December 21, 1968. As an accomplished musician herself and his primary accompanist, she served with him throughout their marriage of forty-eight years.
Tom is survived by his wife, Nanna W. Porter, his son, Thomas Randall Porter, and wife Gina Porter, and their children Mason, Mackenzie, and Molly, his daughter, Annette Porter Palm, her husband, John Palm, and children, J.P. and Lily, two brothers, Harry L. Porter and Richard Andrews Porter.
Tom is preceded in death by his parents, Mr. & Mrs. Charles Harry Porter, twin brother, William Edward Porter, brother, Charles LaPrade Porter, and sister, Mary Lou Porter Herrington.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be given. Dr. Porter recently donated all his research on Homer Rodeheaver, including his collection of 200 albums and 76 hymnals to the Mississippi Baptist Historical Commission at Mississippi College. Donations can be made in his memory to the Mississippi Baptist Historical Commission at PO Box 4024 Clinton, MS 39058. Alternatively, given his lifelong commitment to the music ministry and emphasis on the importance of the local church, donations may be made to the music ministry of your local church.