Thomas Bolton

Thomas Powers "Tom" Bolton entered into the gates of heaven in the early morning hours of July 7, 2020. He lived an abundant 67 years, married to his wife Kaye for a loving and eventful, adventurous 46 years of marriage. The pride of his life was his two daughters Merrill Bolton South (Steven) and Margaret Bolton Baudient (Michael) and seven miraculous grandchildren - Emma Kathryn South (11), Noah Brewer South (7) of Selma, Alabama and Ava Louise Baudinet, Clara Catherine Baudinet, Camille Whitney "Millie" Baudinet, Luke Thomas Baudinet, and Isabelle Francis Baudinet, (all age 3) of Crozet, Virginia. He fondly referred to his grandchildren as the magnificent seven.

He is survived also by his remaining brother, John Merrill Bolton, Ill and his wife Annette, and his sister Janelle "Sissy" Bolton Flynn and her husband Rick and their three sons, Fletcher (Stephanie), Patrick (Lindsay), and John Flynn. He was also the proud great uncle to Betsy, Whit and George Flynn, children of Fletcher and Stephanie. He is also survived by his mother-in-law Margie Hayes Brock and brothers-in-law Thomas Kendrick Coker, III (“Buck”) and Todd Rance Coker (Dee).

He was preceded in death by his mother Clara Powers Bolton, his father John Merrill Bolton, Jr., and his brother Lawrence Whitfield "Whit" Bolton.

Tom was a general contractor for more than 30 years, owning and operating Cooper Brothers Construction Company, all the while anonymously giving back to his precious Selma.

Tom was an avid fisherman and collector. He followed his father's footsteps and loved being in his workshop, creating his own art and collectibles out of reclaimed Dallas County wood. He fished all over the world, and was beginning to teach his grandchildren his love for the outdoors. He and Kaye loved fine dining and exotic travel, spending their golden years together, happily in a home surrounded by land and animals he loved so dearly. He loved an audience and considered himself an avid storyteller, from ghost stories at sleepovers overlooking the beautiful Alabama River home he provided for his family to anyone who would listen about his marvelous grandchildren - be that in the grocery store or the church pew next to him.

Tom was an elder at Cornerstone Presbyterian Church for many years, serving on numerous committees and even lending his construction business to the building of the now Cornerstone Room that was erected to help feed the community in the 1990s.

A private service will be held for family and close friends at Cornerstone Presbyterian Church at 11 AM on Thursday, July 9, 2020. The service will be live streamed by Lawrence Brown-Service Funeral Home online via Facebook at https://watchlawrence.live. A private family burial will take place following the service.

In lieu of flowers, there has been an educational fund set up at First Cahawba Bank for all seven of Tom's miracle grandchildren. Donations are humbly being accepted.

Pallbearers include: Steven M. South, Michael A. Baudinet, John C. Calame, Matthew R. Oaks, John Bolton, III, and George E. Elliott, II. Honorary pallbearers include all who worked for and with the Cooper Brothers family over the years. He treasured you all greatly and valued your loyalty and friendship.