Tommy Joe Briley

March 9, 1931 - January 5, 2021

Tommy Joe Briley departed this life on Tuesday, January 5, 2021, at the age of 89 years, 9 months, and 27 days. He was born in Cornersville, Tennessee on March 9, 1931, the son of the late Lester Donald Briley and Ina Pauline Blasingim Briley. On November 5, 1949, he was united in marriage to Betty Jo Higgins, who survives. Tommy Joe was a carpenter by trade and a member of Nixon First Pentecostal Church. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, loved playing jokes on people, and never had a negative word to say. He loved his family and friends, especially his wife, whom he loved beyond words and his two daughters, who describe him as a "precious dad". Tommy Joe loved his Bible and everywhere he went, he would talk about the Lord. Tommy Joe Briley is survived by his wife of 71 years, Betty Briley of Savannah, Tennessee; daughters, Gail Sanders and her husband Bob, and Vivian Keymon and her husband Jerry, all of Savannah, Tennessee; grandchildren, Larry Harville and his wife Carol, Tina Rickman, Joseph Briley and his wife Victoria, Nicky Harville and his wife Tonia, Kendall Keymon and his wife Amy, and Meranda Brown; great grandchildren, Ryan, Blake, Jacob, Preston, Anna, Emily, Jordan, Madison, Matthew, and Cooper; three great-great grandchildren; sisters, Shirley Worley of Savannah, Tennessee, Johnnie Hendon of Memphis, Tennessee, Patty Barham of Savannah, Tennessee, and Margie Fowler of Savannah, Tennessee; and brothers, L.D. Briley of Crump, Tennessee, Danny Briley and Maxie Briley, both of Savannah, Tennessee. In addition to his parents, Tommy Joe was preceded in death by his son, Jerry David Briley and his sisters, Joyce Lequita Briley, Wilma Jean Briley, Reba Nell Clayton, Donna Lou Fouse, and Mildred Worley.