Discover the inspiring journey of Thomas Nellums, a humble warrior and servant leader who has dedicated his life to serving his country and community.
March 24, 1956 – January 13, 2024
Not all great men are good men, but Thomas Nellums Sr. was a great man who was good. His impact on and contributions to the lives of many are beyond the measure of this print.
As a personal testament, I had run afoul run of the law which caused an extended absence of time from my family. From a professional standing, Tom was a successful owner of a trucking firm, one of the biggest if not biggest minority trucking contracting firms in the State of Missouri and Chairman of MoKan Construction Contractors Assistance Center. On a personal level he was a well-respected man, beloved by my children, Hasan and Ruqaiyah and their mother Yaphett for who was the Executive Director of the organization Tom chaired. For both, Mokan and Yaphett, he was a backbone and trusted confidant and supporter whose viability and success was inextricably linked.
For me, a man, away from his home and unable to provide the support or presence, he was there as a stabilizing force in the most sincere and honorable of ways. I don’t think he did that as a direct favor to me but I counted it as such in that it was a blessing to my family in a way that my incarcerated position wouldn’t allow me to fulfill. That was who I saw him as, good for the sake of good, brotherly for the sake of brotherhood and honorable and loving without motive because it was his divinely blessed essence.
As a man I was moved and inspired by how he loved and how reverently he spoke of his wife which served to me as it should serve to others, a model.
Upon returning from my extended absence from my family on several occasions I would thank him for being there for my then wife Yaphett and the children, for his guidance and support of them on personal and professional levels during the turbulent times. A couple of months ago or so before his passing I called him out of the blue to tell him again how much I appreciated and was grateful to him and that I loved him.
I didn’t know the extent of his illness at that time. My call was motivated by another moment of reflection and a just because. Thomas Nellums life loomed larger than that normally ascribed and reserved to a dignitary. He lived without some luminous titles, degrees or the thrones of the social or political elite; but that as a loving father and husband, grandfather, brother, beloved and trusted friend and mentor to many. He walked in an esteemed light of an anointed man and humble servant.
May his memory, love and life lessons continue to bless. Farewell Brother Thomas Nellums Sr, I should hope to be greeted by your warm and welcoming smile someday.
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