Son of Mack Donald and Elsie Mae Yarbrough Gattis. Thomas Clayton Gattis married Ruby Satterwhite on 1 Feb 1942 in Columbus, Georgia.

Courtesy of the Waycross Journal Herald, Feb. 15, 2006:

"Thomas Clayton "Tom" Gattis, 84, of Waycross, died early Tuesday (Feb. 14, 2006) morning, surrounded by his family. A native of Plains, he was the son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Mack Donal Gattis. He was preceded in death by his parents and three sisters, Luling Leveritt, Vesta Welch, Rosa Fussell, and five brothers, Ellis Gattis, Donald Gattis, Ernest Gattis, John Gattis, and Alvin Gattis. He was a graduate of Anthony High School in Sumter County in 1938. He served three years in the Army Air Corps in World War I I at the following stations: Fort McPherson, St. Petersburg, Fla.; Jefferson Barracks, Mo.; Camp Pendleton, Calif.; Kahuku Air Base, Oahu; Fina Futi, Ellice Islands; Kwajalein, Tarawa; Guam; and Miami Beach. After his military service, he worked for Kress in Waycross, and then he moved to Albany, Ga., where he worked for Churchwell's Department Store. In 1954 the Gattis family returned to Waycross where he accepted the position of manager of Calhoun's Department Store. He worked at Calhoun's until 1965 when he became city clerk of the City of Waycross, a job he held until 1984. In 1972 he completed the training offered by the University of Georgia and the Georgia Municipal Association to become a certified municipal clerk. He served on the Waycross City Commission and was mayor of Waycross in 1964. As mayor of Waycross, he had the distinct honor of welcoming First Lady Mrs. Lyndon B. Johnson to Waycross, presenting her a proclamation signed by Mayor Tom Gattis which declared "Lady Bird Day" on her visit to Waycross. In 1993, he was presented a plaque by the Waycross Employees Federal Credit Union for more than 25 years of service that tead: "It is to you Mr. Gattis, our first member, that we owe the existence of our credit union as its founder." He was serving on the board of directors of the Community United Federal Credit Union at the time of his death. An active member of the Waycross Lions Club for more than 50 years, he was recently presented a plaque and pin naming him as a "Melvin Jones Fellow" by the Lions Clubs International Foundation. He was a Lions president for two terms, a district officer and the club secretary. He faithfully participated in the flag displays sponsored by the Lions Club. He was a recipient of the Liberty Bell Award given by the local Bar Association in 1984. He was an active member of Central Baptist Church for more than 50 years. All four of his children were baptized there. He and his wife, Ruby, we're the leaders of the Central Junior Department for more than 20 years. He served as a Training Union director, a deacon, chairman of the deacons, Sunday school superintendent, director of the Homebound Department and chairman of the finance committee. He is often remembered for his morning devotions on the Sunlight Hour radio program. As a lay speaker, he preached at Plains Baptist Church, Argyle Baptist Church, Beulah Baptist Church and at many other churches in the surrounding area. He was an avid fisherman and in later years prided himself on his lemon trees which often produced more than 100 lemons a year, which he enjoyed sharing with his friends."

Uncle Tom was such a kind-hearted, generous, Southern gentleman. He was a pivotal figure in our family but lacked any hint of arrogance. Instead, his gentle nature and sense of inclusiveness instantly warmed the hearts of everyone. I remember at a family reunion in Bell, Florida, he conducted the Sunday lesson on Christians' being the "salt of the earth." I never realized how many uses this simple commodity had until then, and how we, as Christians, in our daily walk, should influence others as a standard of purity, a preservative against evil, and a flavor-enhancing joie de vivre. We are so blessed to have him season our lives!