SERVICES:  Thursday, August 17, 2023

Jones and Son Chapel, Hattiesburg

10:00 a.m.

INTERMENT:  Mount Horeb Baptist Church Cemetery

VISITATION:  Thursday, August 17, 2023

Jones and Son Funeral Home, Hattiesburg

9:00 - 10:00 a.m.

Services for Mrs. Tommie N. Lowe Larsen, age 86, of Hattiesburg, will be held at 10:00 a.m., Thursday, August 17, 2023 at Jones and Son Chapel in Hattiesburg.  Tommie passed from this life on August 12, 2023 at Bedford Care Center in Hattiesburg.  Rev. Glen McElhenny will officiate the service and bural will follow in Mount Horeb Baptist Church Cemetery.  Serving as pallbearers will be Kyle Knight, Quentin Musgrove, Chris Matheny, Alex Westmoreland, and Cody Walker.

Tommie was born on July 25, 1937 in Jefferson Davis County, Mississippi.  She was one of four daughters born to Talmadge W. Norris and Cordie Alice Pace.  She was reared in Mississippi and Oregon and educated in the public schools of Mississippi and Oregon. She graduated from high school with highest honors at 15 years of age.   She then attended JCJC and USM.

Tommie moved to Jones County in late 1950's and reared her family in Laurel. She was very active in church, school, civic, and community affairs.

She was married to Norm Larsen, Jones County Veterans Service Officer. Norm and Tommie were each other's best friend and cherished companion.

Tommie had one biological child, Vicki L. Lowe of Hattiesburg, MS, a retired teacher. She also had 3 wonderful grandchildren, and 8 great grandchildren.  Following the untimely death of her mother, Tommie reared and educated her youngest sister, Faye N. Matheny, a Career Civil Service Employee.

Tommie enjoyed a distinguished career as a court reporter from 1966 to 2001. She served under Circuit Judges Lunsford Casey, James D. Hester, and Billy Joe Landrum. She helped organize and served as the first president of the Mississippi Court Reporter's Association in 1970. She's the only female in the state of Mississippi to receive the Outstanding Jaycette of the Year more than once. Tommie was included on the Who's Who of Outstanding Young Women of America. In December of 1997, she was the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Mississippi Court Reporter's Association. She was the second Mississippian to receive this coveted award.

Norm and Tommie were both wildlife enthusiasts with a special love for birds. They visited many churches, schools, and civic groups using hawks and parrots in presentations that emphasized the importance of preservation of wildlife. Some of Norm and Tommie's most cherished moments were enjoyed on their pontoon boat with friends and family at their camp in Vancleave, MS.

Tommie was an active member of Grace Covenant Church. Tommie used her God-given gift of encouragement to help others. She was a past teacher of adult and youth classes.

Tommie was preceded in death by her parents, Talmadge and Cordie Norris; first husband, William Howard Lowe, Jr.; second husband, Norman Larsen; and sisters, Annie Lou Jackson Mitchell and Brenda McLain.

She is survived by her daughter, Vicki Lowe of Hattiesburg; stepchildren, Ken (Robin) Larsen of Virginia, Ramona Larsen Pelham of Florida, and Cheryl Larsen (Chris) Levesque of Florida; grandchildren, Ashley (Scott) Mandile of Laurel, Kyle (Maegan) Knight of Hattiesburg, and Erin Knight (Jaron) Allen of Slidell, LA; great grandchildren, Alana, Alex, Clarice, Aubrey, Macy, Riley, Jacob, and Imogene; sister, Faye Matheny of Hattiesburg; and several nieces and nephews.

The family asks that in lieu of flowers, send donations in Tommie's name to the Dementia Society of America at www.dementiasociety.org