Tommie A. Lacavera

Tommie Anne Phillips LaCavera, 78, of Athens, GA passed away Thursday, October 6, 2016 at Morningside of Cookeville in Cookeville, Tennessee. A native of Carroll County, Georgia, she was the daughter of the late Thomas Wesley Phillips and Ruth Agnes Williams Phillips. Mrs. LaCavera was an avid genealogist and wrote numerous articles for historical and genealogical publications. She was a free-lance writer and a frequent contributor to the Athens Observer in the 1980s. A published author of several historical and genealogical books, her stated lifetime achievement was the compilation and publication of “The Life and Times of Tommie Anne Phillips of Carroll County, Georgia – Searching for Her Roots” in 2002, a genealogical history of her family. Mrs. LaCavera was an active member of many civic and patriotic organizations, including the United Daughters of the Confederacy (President General, 1992-1994); Sons and Daughters of the Pilgrims; Colonial Dames of the Seventeenth Century; Daughters of the American Colonists; United States Daughters of 1812; National Society Daughters of the American Revolution; Southern Dames of America; First Families of Georgia; National League of American Pen Women and many more. Mrs. LaCavera received a Bachelor’s Degree in History from the University of Georgia in 1990, and received many academic awards during her studies there. She was preceded in death by her husband, Dr. Anthony Joseph LaCavera, Sr., her parents, her brothers Billy Wesley, Jackson Monroe, Bobby Ray and her sister Cynthia Lynn. Beloved wife and mother, Mrs. LaCavera is survived by daughters Captain Tara Lynn LaCavera Honey, USN retired and Tracy Marie LaCavera, son Anthony Joseph LaCavera, Jr., grandchildren Sunny, Sammy and Brittany and sister, Connie Jean Phillips Reagan. A self-proclaimed “unabashed, sentimental, patriotic American”, Mrs. LaCavera will be dearly missed by her family and everyone who had the pleasure of making her acquaintance. May the road rise up to meet you The wind be always at your back The sunshine warm upon your face The rains fall soft upon your fields and Until we meet again may God hold you In the palm of his hand. an Old Irish blessing Dyer Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. (931)526-7158 You may share your thoughts and memories at www.dyerfh.com