Thomas "Tom" Keener

            Thomas Talmadge Keener, 72, of Lewisville, North Carolina, passed away on March 5, 2026 at Forsyth Medical Center from complications of heart disease. He was surrounded by his family as he departed to heaven. Tom was born on February 3, 1954 in Toledo, Ohio, the son of Talmadge Keener and Cora Franklin Keener. Tom graduated from Hickory High School in 1972, then went on to college earning his BS in education from Appalachian State University in 1976. Tom went on to earn 3 advanced degrees, an MEd from UNC Greensboro and an MBA from Wake Forest University and a specialist degree in education from Appalachian State University. Tom married the love of his life Susan Mahaffey Keener on December 18, 1976, and they were soon going to be celebrating 50 years of marriage together. Tom served as an educator throughout his professional career starting as a teacher at Atkins High School and then progressing to administration serving as the founding upper school principal at Calvary Day School and retiring as principal at Clemmons Elementary School. He was known to all around him professionally as a courageous and loyal leader. Tom was most recently a member of Calvary Baptist Church and served his previous church as a deacon as well as a Bible Fellowship Teacher for many years. He cherished the Bible and studied it deeply. Tom could do almost anything. Just a few of his many talents included educator, math whiz, cross stitcher, seamster, gardener, brick layer and baker among many more. Though small in stature many would say he was the strongest man they knew. Tom lived with convictional courage and deep loyalty which was well known to those who had relationship with him. His greatest joy was spending quality time with his grandkids. This meant countless hours driving them back and forth to sporting events, attending school plays and performances, awards days, as well as innumerable spontaneous tutoring sessions. He wanted nothing more than to see them fulfill their potential and took great joy in each of their personal decisions of faith. Remaining behind to cherish Tom’s memory are his wife, Susie; children, Sarah (Emmett) Page and Becky (Josh) McKinnon; grandchildren, Abbie and Drew Page and Rachel, Isaac, Hannah and Rebekah McKinnon; brothers Sid, Brian and Tony Keener. Preceding Tom in death are his parents, Talmadge and Cora Keener and his brother Phillip Keener.

              Visitation will be held on Tuesday, March 10, 2026 from 10:00am to 11:15am followed by a Memorial Service at 11:30am at Calvary Baptist Church in Winston-Salem, North Carolina with Pastor Will Toburen and Pastor Steven Ackley officiating.  Memorial donations in Tom’s memory may be directed to Global Missions at Calvary Baptist Church: https://calvarynow.com/give/ or Tunnels to Towers: https://t2t.org/donate/