Tributes

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Thomas Vines Scholarships Fund. Make checks payable to Fayza Temple #254 for Thomas Vines Scholarship and mail checks to PO Box 1831, Greenville, NC 27835. Born in New York City on November 11, 1944, Thomas Fulton Vines was named after his grandfather. Following the accidental death of his mother, he was reared by Mrs. Mildred Joyner of Farmville, North Carolina. He received his formative education at H. B. Sugg School in Farmville, N.C. and graduated in 1963. Thomas Fulton Vines served in the U. S. Army. He completed tours in Germany and Korea. He completed NCO training at Fort McClellan Alabama and briefly served as a Drill Sgt. at Fort Lewis, Washington State. Following his discharge in 1972, he lived and worked in South Carolina, District of Columbia and Connecticut. Returning to North Carolina in March of 1978, he received a machinist certification at Beaufort County Community College and worked at TRW. In 1978, he joined Philippi Church of Christ in Greenville, NC. He later worked at A. G. Cox Middle School and retired from Pitt County School System in 2004. Thomas received his 33⁰ in Washington, D. C. with the Class of 2000. At the time of his death, he was the Imperial Deputy Emeritus in the Motorized Department, AEAONMS; founder of the North Carolina Desert Motor Patrol, the first in the domain. He served as Coordinator of the Color Guards and North Carolina Desert Chief Rabban: 2003-2004 and 2005-2022. He was Potentate of Rofelt Pasha Shrine Temple #175, for three years, 2000 – 2002; Holy Royal Arch Mason, PHA M.D. Towe Chapter #74; Honorary Past Master, and a Master Mason, Banner Cry Lodge #625. He was named Director of the Imperial Motorized Department and received the Honorary Past Imperial Potentate’s Degree, HPIP, in 2021. He served the Imperial Motorized Department as Director for two years. In 2023, at the Tampa Convention, he was given the title of Emeritus. Most known for his infectious smile, “hug,” and by the BOOK attitude, he embraced the acronym: C. U. P. S. - COMMUNICATION - a conduit to clarify the purpose; UNIFICATION - to work toward the stated outcome; PARTICIPATION - a method, to collectively implement an effective plan to provide SERVICE TO ALL MANKIND, our distinction. Thomas is survived by his school sweetheart, Gracie La Nell Mebane Vines of forty-six years; one son, Justin Mebane Vines and his wife, Alisha, (US Army) Killeen, TX; one grandson, Thomas Francis Vines of Killeen, TX; a special cousin, Frances Vines of Greenville, NC; God-daughter, Ms. Janet Swindell of Wilmington, NC, God-granddaughter, Ms. Tierney Evans of Charlotte, NC; friends and extended family, Mr. Bucky and Linda Hall of Baltimore, MD, and Mrs. Gwen Lee-Tyson of Greenville, NC, Mr. Andre Atkinson of Winterville, NC, and Mr. Devin Gatlin of Greenville, NC.

Tributes

Mr. Thomas Vines

November 11, 1944 - June 27, 2024