Thomas Glen Claiborne, Sr.

Thomas Glen Claiborne, Sr., age 79, husband of Linda Ring Claiborne, and a resident of Columbia, Tennessee, passed away on Monday afternoon, October 19, 2026, at his residence, surrounded by his family.

A funeral service will be held on Friday, October 23, 2026, at 10:00 AM at Heritage Funeral Home with Pastor Scott McCord, Gary Leon Claiborne, and Monte McCandless officiating. Following the service, he will be laid to rest in Polk Memorial Gardens. A visitation will be held on Thursday, October 22, 2026, from 4:00 – 8:00 PM at the funeral home.

Born on May 5, 1947, in Williamson County, Tennessee, Thomas was the son of the late Elmer L. Claiborne and the late Avie Irene Gardner Claiborne. On August 14, 1976, he married Linda Ring, with whom he shared fifty years of marriage.

Thomas was a hardworking and dedicated man who spent his entire career in boat manufacturing. Known for his strong work ethic, he was rarely one to sit still and always found something to keep himself busy. A talented woodworker and a true “Mr. Fix It,” Thomas had a knack for working with his hands and could fix just about anything. Above all, he was a devoted Christian whose faith was an important part of his life. He was a faithful member of The Cross Church. Affectionately known as “Paw Paw” by his grandchildren, Thomas held a special place in the hearts of his family and will be deeply missed by those who knew and loved him.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by his children, Becky (David) West, Thomas Glen Claiborne, Jr., Katie (Ron) Mathis, Diane (Jeremiah) Jones, Tommy (Courtney) Claiborne, sister, Virginia Jackson, sister in law, Linda Claiborne, grandchildren, April, Amber, Matthew, Lindsey, Courtney, Dakota, TJ, Haley, McKenzie, Spencer, Precious, and Alex, and many great grandchildren.

Along with his parents, he was preceded in death by his siblings, Robert Claiborne, Leon Claiborne, James Claiborne, Shirley Ann Hickman, and Margaret Phillip.

Those serving as pallbearers will be TJ Brown, Matthew Claiborne, Spencer Edwards, Dakota Reynolds, Alex Claiborne, Aaron Ball, and Austin Creppel. Honorary pallbearers will include the late Paul Roberts and the men at At The Cross Church.