Thomas Arnold Dukes

Thomas Arnold Dukes, Sr., named after his maternal grandfather, age 85 passed away on September 23, 2025. Born on September 18, 1940, in Statesboro, Georgia to Nelson C. Dukes and Mary L. Dukes. Thomas had one brother, Nelson C. Dukes, Jr. whom he admired throughout his life.

In his early life Thomas developed a strong work ethic by working alongside his father and brother in the real estate industry. He also helped take care of the family church as needed. At a young age, he decided to pursue his love of design and fashion by attending the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York where he earned his degree in textiles and design. He worked in the textile industry for over 20 years before he decided to retire from this industry.

Thomas married the love of his life Vannie Lee Taylor, with whom he shared 50+ wonderful years together. Together they raised two children: Thomas Jr. and Pamela. He was a proud and loving father and found immense joy supporting both of his children’s activities and sports. He taught his children how to play sports and was an integral part of their athletic achievements.

In his 40’s he decided to retire from his managerial role in design and he and his wife relocated to North Carolina to be closer to Vannie’s family. He increased his love of photography and was hired to photograph various events including weddings, birthday parties, etc in his spare time. This was also the time when they decided to purchase their first RV and began to travel the country. Some of their favorite places include Sedona, Arizona, St Louis, Missouri, and California. They ventured to ~45 states on their journey and loved visiting new places. They spent several years in North Carolina before moving to Florida to continue their retirement. Once their grandson was born, they relocated to Texas and spent as much time with family as possible.

One of the most common things said about Thomas was that he never met a stranger. He could walk into any environment and make a friend. He is admired for his constant desire to help others. He taught his children to always find the good in people and also find a way to help someone when you can. His gregarious attitude and desire to make the world a better place was evident to all those who knew him.

He was known affectionately as grandpa to his grandson Alex and spent the last sixteen years watching him grow up and become a bright young man. His legacy is one of unwavering love, faith and generosity. He lived his life with integrity, kindness and purpose and he will live on in the hearts of all who knew him.

Donations to the American Cancer Society: https://tinyurl.com/tktzf77j