Thomas Smith "Rod' Brasfield

Thomas Smith "Rod' Brasfield of Meridian was called home June 1, 2021, to be with his Lord and Savior. He was 88 years of age.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, June 5, 2021 at 2:00 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church in Meridian. Pastor Richard Creech and Bro. Richard Norton will officiate. Visitation with family and friends will be Friday, June 4, 2021 from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at Lawson Funeral Home in Meridian.

Rod was born November 22, 1932, in Smithville, Mississippi to Isaac Francis Brasfield and Reba Lee Smith. He attended school in Dora, Alabama. He joined the U.S. Army in 1950. He fought in the Korean and Vietnam Wars where he proudly served his country, retiring as a Green Beret in 1970.  While in the army, he met his future wife, Jerene Johnson, who was also serving her country in the U.S. Army. They married on August 1, 1964, in Dillon, SC. After his retirement from the U.S. Army, they moved to Mt. Olive, Alabama, where he owned and operated City Gun and Key. Together they had two daughters, Katie Ruth and Beth Thomas.

In 1978, they relocated to Morgan, where Rod realized farming would only be a hobby and began his next career with the U.S. Postal Service as a rural letter carrier. In 1989, the family sold the farm and moved to Meridian, where he later retired from the USPS in 1998.  He then bought Bosque Sales and Service. After selling that company, he settled into retirement and continued working around his farm on the outskirts of Meridian, which is where he resided until his death.

Rod was a member of the Meridian Masonic Lodge #268, where he was presented with a Life Membership, the Golden Trowel and the 50 Year Service Award.  With over 60 years in the Masonic Lodge, he held many offices in support of the lodge, including Worshipful Master for several terms and served as District Deputy Grand Master with the Grand Lodge.

Additionally, he was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the American Legion, Disabled American Veterans, the Shriners, Scottish Rite of Freemasonry and First Baptist Church of Meridian.  

Some of Rod’s favorite things were his Mustangs, car shows, reading and watching westerns. He loved to tinker in his garage on many different projects and enjoyed his time on his farm. However, his family and friends were his greatest treasures.

Rod was preceded in death by his loving wife of 37 years, Jerene Johnson Brasfield; father Isaac Frances and Myrtle Brasfield; his mother Reba Lee and Edward Montgomery; and son Gary Brasfield.

He is survived by daughter Katie Brasfield of Meridian; daughter Beth Brasfield (Brook DeZavala) of Meridian; daughter Tina Sechrist (Kevin) of Kennesaw, GA; son Thomas “Rodney” Brasfield, Jr. of Lexington, SC; son Larry Brasfield (Tammie) of Columbia, SC; three sisters, Martha Alexander of Birmingham, AL; Marjorie Slappey (Joseph) of Alpharetta, GA; and Jo Caufield (Steve) of Gardendale, AL. He also is survived by several grandchildren and great-grandchildren and a host of extended family and many, many friends.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Meridian Public Library, P.O. Box 679, Meridian, Texas 76665, Bosque Animal Rescue Kennels (BARK) P.O. Box 264, Clifton, Texas 76634, Shriners Hospitals for Children, or a charity of your choice.
 

Arrangements were made by Lawson Funeral Home, Meridian, Texas 254-435-2792.