Captain Tom M. Cordell

Published 11:47 pm Wednesday, October 7, 2009

DACULA — Captain Tom M. Cordell, 60, of Dacula, died Sunday, Oct. 4, 2009. Visitation will be held from 1 until 4 p.m. and from 6 until 9 p.m. Friday at Tom M. Wages Funeral Home in Lawrenceville. A memorial service will be held at 4 p.m. Saturday at Hebron Baptist Church, 202 Hebron Church Road in Dacula, with a procession leaving Tom M. Wages Funeral Home at 3 p.m. Saturday. The service will be officiated by the Rev. Duke Forster.

Following graduation from Tift County High School, Captain Cordell studied broadcast journalism at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College and later at the University of Georgia. Following college, he worked in radio as an announcer and then in management for several Georgia stations, including WLBB/WBTR Carrollton where he was also past president of the Kiwanis Club. It was when he began covering news stories for the West Georgia News involving fire and rescue that he felt compelled to change careers and devoted himself to the service of others. He began his career in public safety with West Georgia Ambulance Service. He later earned degrees in emergency medical management and also served as a supervisor for Grady Hospital EMS before joining DeKalb County Fire Rescue where he proudly served for the past two decades and was twice awarded the Medal of Exceptional Merit. He was also the publisher of EMSTAR, a professional journal for Southern paramedics.

Captain Cordell is survived by his devoted wife of 40 years, Andrea; three beloved children, Christopher Thomas Cordell and his wife, Dawn, of Atlanta, Brian Andrew Cordell of Dacula, and Caitlin Patricia Hope Cordell, also of Dacula; and two grandchildren he adored, Patrick Andrew Cordell and Kylie Madison Cordell, both of Lawrenceville. He also leaves behind many cousins, nieces and nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews, friends and colleagues and his faithful companion, “Dooley.” He is preceded in death by his brother, John Riley Cordell of St. Simons, and his parents, Dean T.M. Cordell and Ruth Pollock Cordell of Tifton.

Captain Cordell loved his job, he loved his country, he loved his tradition and he loved his family. He loved to travel and was looking forward to retirement and a trip across America that he had planned for over 40 years. His family hopes to one day complete that journey for him.

If you would like to make a donation in lieu of flowers, the family requests that it be made in the memory of Captain Tom Cordell to the Georgia Firefighters’ Burn Fund, 2575 Chantilly Drive, Atlanta, GA 30324 or online at www.GFBF.org.

Tom M. Wages Lawrenceville Chapel, 120 Scenic Highway, Lawrenceville, GA 30045, is in charge of arrangements. Condolences may be sent or viewed online at www.wagesfuneralhome.com.