Thomas Brakefield

Thomas Hewitt Brakefield passed away on Friday, October 5, 2018 at the age of 81. He was born in Birmingham, Alabama on May 12, 1937 to the late Erskine Powell Brakefield and Evelyn Sherer Brakefield. He was a long time resident of Hendersonville, Tennessee moving there in 1989.

He attended Hillsboro High School in Nashville Tennessee where he graduated in 1955 and was a member of the National Honor Society and wrote a column in the school newspaper. He graduated from Auburn University in 1960 where he served as President of Phi Eta Sigma, the Freshman Phi Beta Kappa; Secretary of Squires honorary, the top 15 men on campus; Assistant Pledge Master, Secretary and Vice President of Pi Kappa Alpha Greek letter fraternity; and Supt. of Campus Drives on the university Student Council.

He worked for Nashville-based Genesco from 1960 to 1970 where he served as Advertising Manager and in other executive posts in several Divisions. He left Genesco to work for the Neisner retail store chain in Rochester, NY and then to work for MMG retail chain in Harrisburg, PA. He then became a self-employed writer/ photographer specializing in hunting and fishing, wildlife conservation and travel-related topics for over 40 years. During this period he wrote and illustrated 6 books, several hundred national magazine articles, and thousands of internationally published photos through 18 different international Photo Agencies. In order to do this he traveled to 38 countries including 22 trips to many different African countries as well as trips to Antarctica, India, China, Canada, Japan, Nepal, Indonesia, France and many others.

He was married to Shirley Knight Brakefield and Jeanne Drake Brakefield. Survivors include his two children, son, Gregory Powell Brakefield (Yumi Shimizu Brakefield) son, Scott Knight Brakefield (Andrea Springall Brakefield) and three young grandchildren, Tommy, Christian and Katie.

Private services were held.

"More than most, he followed his own path, lived his life on his own terms, seeing and doing things that most could scarcely imagine."