Obituary of Tommy Joel Black

Tommy Joel Black August 20, 1966 - June 21, 2017 Funeral services for Tommy Joel Black, 50, of Tatum, NM will be held on Wednesday, June 28, 2017 at 3:00 pm at First Baptist Church in Tatum with Bro. Wayne Brazil officiating. Arrangements are under the direction of Kirby-Smith-Rogers Funeral Home. Tommy was born in Kermit, TX on August 20, 1966 to Joel Thad and Eva Joan (Hartsfield) Black and passed away at his residence on June 21, 2017. Tommy came to Tatum with his family when he was young and attended school in Tatum graduating from Tatum High School, then attending NMJC for a year. He was athletic in school and played football, basketball and ran track winning several awards. Later he became an official for the Little League and Little Dribblers. Tommy had a good repoire with kids and they loved him and always wanted to be his “buddy”. He enjoyed going to Deming to see Jill and helping her work cows. He served on the Tatum City Council and was a wealth of information about municipal affairs, surprising the adults who comprised the council as he was a teenager. Tommy was a big “ole” teddy bear with a great sense of humor and loved being a jokester. He will be greatly missed by his family and friends. He was preceded in death by his dad, Joel Black. Surviving him is his mother, Eva Black of Deming, NM; his sister: Jill Black of Deming, NM; his brother: Brad and wife Jane Black of Hico, TX; his niece and nephews: Kyle, Stasha, Garrett and Brady; his former wife and good friend: Pat Black of Lovington; and a special grandson, Corbin NeSmith and other relatives and friends. Visitation will be on Tuesday, June 27th from 11:00 – 7:00 pm at the funeral home.