Thomas J. Rawley

Thomas Jefferson Rawley was born on October 13, 1940 in Mt. Airy, North Carolina to the late Virgil Calhoun Rawley and the late Marie Johnson. In his hometown, he was affectionately known as “Buck” because of his love for horses.

Thomas attended JJ Jones High School where he began his career in football. He was recruited by Coach Bryant to attend Fayetteville State University (formerly Fayetteville State Teachers College), where his homeboy Roger Scales was already attending. He obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in math education and graduated from Fayetteville State University (FSU) in 1962. He obtained a masters in education from Rowan University (formerly Glassboro State College). While attending Fayetteville State, he became a member of the prestigious Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity and was a linebacker for the FSU Broncos. After FSU, he was recruited to play for the Gaffney Chiefs in Columbus, Ohio. In 1992, Thomas was inducted into the FSU Athletic Hall of Fame.

Thomas had a love for children and worked in education for 55 years. He began his teaching career in Spartanburg, South Carolina where he also had a football radio program. From South Carolina, he relocated to Columbus, Ohio and then to Wilmington, DE to teach in the Wilmington Public Schools. Mr. Rawley, as he was called by his students, taught at Stubbs, AI DuPont High School and Stanton Middle School. He was also known as Coach Rawley as he was the assistant baseball coach for the Tigers at AI DuPont High School, and basketball and football coach to the Highlanders at McKeen High School. Many of his students called him The Black Santa Claus.

After teaching math and coaching for many years, Thomas decided to step into the role of administration and became the Supervisor of Instructional Services for the Red Clay Consolidated School District. He later became Principal of The Positive Learning Center (PLC), an alternative high school. He found great passion in working with students in that setting and was extremely proud to hold its first graduating class. After retiring as Principal and from the state of Delaware, he returned to the classroom as a math teacher in the Baltimore County Schools at Rosedale Alternative High School. Upon retiring from Maryland, he worked as an educational consultant for a couple of companies, including Pritchett and Associates.

When Thomas was getting his masters and needing someone to type his thesis, God showed him Corteze Ballock. Thomas and Corteze united in holy matrimony in 1975. They raised their lovely daughter Kelly who later blessed them with a son-in-love Joe and three grands Bria, Tobais & Trinity. Thomas was extremely proud of his family and supportive of his wife for being an ordained Reverend and author.

Tom or Brother Rawley, affectionately known to his church family and friends, was a faithful and dedicated servant of the Lord. He was a member of Simpson United Methodist Church under the pastoral leadership of Rev. Dr. Janet M. Harmon and chaired the transportation committee when Simpson had a 49-passenger charter bus. He would also transport families to and from church in his own vehicle. In 2014, he became a member of Canaan Baptist Church, where his father-in-law Ernest Ballock attended. He thoroughly enjoyed the singing and playing of Dr. Arvis Strickland-Jones and preaching of Pastor Christopher A. Bullock and was an avid note taker.

Nothing brought Tom more joy than being able to provide for and spend time with his family. He enjoyed making breakfast and preparing his special wimpy burgers, and would even cook for Christian Dior, his dog companion. Each year he would take his family to the CIAA basketball tournaments and this is where his daughter Kelly fell in love with the bands and HBCUs. Tom or “TR” as his friends and family affectionately called him, took pleasure in entertaining friends in his home and was a die-hard card player of Spades and Pinochle. Some of his lifelong friends include Virgil “Jack” Franklin, Reggie Lacefield (deceased), Kermit Brooks and John Shehee. TR also enjoyed watching football games with his friends and neighbors - Drew & Alicia Willey, Dave & Ronnie Williams, Vincent Spivey (deceased), Ernie Green, Sidney Lewison and others. Although he cheered on other teams, he was a die-hard Redskins Washington/Commanders football fan.

TR was a man of great wisdom who was always willing to share a word of hope and inspiration. Many people remember his saying when asked how he was doing, he would say, “I’m overworked and underpaid.” Some of his other sayings were “another day on the farm,” “you better get your rest,” “this calls for a celebration,” “I’ll drink to that,” and “nothing lasts forever.”

Thomas was preceded in death by his parents Virgil Calhoun Rawley and Marie Johnson; brother, Fred Johnson; son, Thomas A. Rawley; and father-in-law and mother- in-law Ernest and Delia Ballock.

On Wednesday, September 11, 2024 at 4:38 PM, our Creator called Thomas home. Thomas leaves to cherish his memory Corteze, his devoted and beloved wife of 50 years; three children Kelly Evans (Joseph), Kimberly Bush (Harry) and Sebrina Rawley; ten grandchildren Bria Evans, Tobais Evans, Trinity Evans, Demarques Coleman, Bre’Anna Bush, Myranda Rawley, Shannon Rawley, Gerard Smith, Nathaniel Smith and Imani Robinson; two great-grandchildren Ramirez Thomas Rawley Strickland and Ronan Quincy Rawley Strickland; three Godchildren Evette Tucker, Reggie Lacefield, Jr. and Ernest C. Ballock; three sibling in-laws Denise Ballock, LaTanya Ballock and Chalanc “Shawn” Bennett (Carvette), a devoted caregiver Joann Madric (Derek), and a host of family and friends.