Thomas S. Baynes Jr.

Thomas S. Baynes, Jr. (June 21, 1937 - March 6, 2025) Thomas S. Baynes, Jr., 87, of Tazewell, VA passed away at the Carilion Tazewell Community Hospital on Thursday, March 6, 2025. Tom was raised in Winston Salem, NC. He was preceded in death by his parents, Thomas S., Sr. and Mary Audrey Baynes, and grandparents, Obie Wallace and Mildred Jones Baynes. Tom was a third-generation Jehovah's Witness. His grandfather, Obie Baynes, became a Jehovah's Witness in 1914. Tom enjoyed a loving, close relationship with his parents and grandparents. He became a dedicated, baptized Jehovah's Witness on August 30, 1950, at the age of 13. After high school, Tom studied electrical engineering at North Carolina State University. After several years, he realized he wanted to work full-time in the ministry and do missionary work. After college, he served in the full-time ministry in Winston Salem and Mt. Airy, NC and Talladega, AL. Tom received specialized missionary training at the Watchtower Bible College of Gilead in New York. He graduated in 1965 in the 40th Class of Gilead. Tom served as a missionary in Madagascar, Kenya and Uganda. After 7 1/2 years, he returned to the United States and served in Williamson, WV. Tom married Martha Bean on November 22, 1975, in Pottstown, PA, Martha's hometown. He joined her in Knott County, KY, starting a new congregation. Tom and Martha continued serving in Bluefield, WV for 33 years, and Tazewell, VA the last 10 years. During this time, Tom also enjoyed serving as a substitute circuit overseer. He served many congregations throughout WV and VA, together with his wife, for 41 years until his death. Tom was a kind, soft-spoken man with an indepth knowledge of the Bible. He studied it almost all his life. It was his joy to freely share the message of the good news of God's Kingdom that Jesus declared when he was on the earth. His entire life was devoted to the ministry from 1957 until his death. Tom's motto was, "Love God, Love People." Tom is survived by his loving and devoted wife of 49 years, Martha Bean Baynes; his brother, Mark (Sherry) Baynes of North Wilkesboro, NC; niece, Summer (Matthew) Blackburn of Washington, DC; nephew, Jonathan (Jenny) Baynes and their children, Mya and Macy of North Wilkesboro, NC; one cousin, David (Carolyn) Pressman of SC; and brother-in-law, Ronald (Maureen) Bean and their daughter, Tiffany, of Pottstown, PA. Tom will be greatly missed by his family and friends, and his many brothers and sisters in the faith. All are welcome to attend a memorial service for Tom on Saturday, April 5, at 2:00 PM, at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses, 111 Maxwell Road, Tazewell, VA. A fellow elder and long-time friend, Heiko Giese of Pikeville, KY, will be officiating. For information on how to attend by Zoom video conference, please contact Ron Branscome at 276-385-8884.