Thomas Leonard Arnold

It is with great sadness that we announce that Thomas Leonard Arnold passed away on March 18, 2023, surrounded by his children.  He was born in Macon, Georgia, on January 6th, 1949, the eldest child of Dr. Maurice Franklin Arnold and Mrs. Lina Frances Jones Arnold.  He grew up in Hawkinsville, Georgia, attended school at Hawkinsville High School, and then enlisted in the US Navy, where he served his country for four years.  Following his military service, he attended the University of Georgia, where he was a member of Kappa Alpha Order and served as Rush Chairman his junior year.

After graduating from college in 1974, he worked as a management trainee for C&S Bank in Athens, Georgia, for two years, then moved to Birmingham, Alabama, where he lived and worked for seven years.  He moved back to his hometown of Hawkinsville, GA, in 1982, and took a job with Pulaski Banking Company, which later became SunMark Community Bank.  He served in many positions during his years at SunMark Bank, and in 1994 became the bank’s Chief Executive Officer and President and remained in that position until his retirement in 2017.  While he was with SunMark Bank, he was an active member of the Community Bankers Association of Georgia, and the Bankers’ Bank.  Under his guidance, SunMark Community Bank grew significantly, and expanded into several neighboring counties.

In addition to his banking career, Tom served as a board member at the Westfield Schools in Perry, where three of his children attended school.  He was a member and former president of the Hawkinsville Rotary Club, and a member of the city council of Hawkinsville, at one point holding the position of chairman.  This prompted him to be affectionately known for some time as “the mayor” to his friends. He was also a long-time member of Hawkinsville First United Methodist Church. Tom was passionate about playing golf and was a former member at Houston Lake Country Club in Perry, and at Southern Hills Golf Club in Hawkinsville, where some of his best days were spent with his friends.  Golf trips to Scotland and Ireland with his closest friends and family were among his most cherished memories.

Tom will be missed by his many friends, including his banking colleagues, his golf buddies, and his fraternity brothers, with whom he shared countless good times and great memories.   He will especially be missed by his four children, his grandchildren, his siblings, and other family members.  He was Tom, Dad, and Pop, to us, and we will remember the mischievous twinkle in his eye, his fantastic sense of humor, and every time we hear a song by the Temptations, we will be dancing with him.

He is preceded in death by his parents, and he is survived by his children:  Thomas Leonard Arnold Jr (Samantha), Katherine Merritt Arnold (Dylan Deal), Lina Elizabeth Arnold, Andrew Brazell Arnold; his grandchildren:  Ben Arnold, Rigsby Arnold, Wil Arnold, Larkin Deal, Winnie Deal, and Burkley Drury.

He is survived by his sister, Susan Lina Arnold, his brother, Maurice Franklin Arnold III (Nancy), and his sister, Florence Arnold Martin (Ken) and many nieces and nephews.  The family extends love and gratitude to friends and family who have reached out to them during Tom’s illness. Your support and prayers have been very important to us.

A Celebration of Life will be held on April 15th at Southern Hills Golf Club from 4:00 until 7:00 pm.  In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations may be made to either the United Methodist Church of Hawkinsville or to the charity of your choice.

Clark Funeral Home has the privilege of being entrusted with arrangements.