Lance Cpl. Thomas E. Rivers Jr., USMC, went to be with the Lord on Wednesday morning, April 28, 2010, due to enemy action while fulfilling a life-long dream of serving as a U.S. Marine. Lance Cpl. Rivers was stationed in Helmand Province, Afghanistan with Platoon #1, Alpha Company 1st Battalion 2nd Marines. This was his second deployment, with the first being in Iraq.
Lance Cpl. Rivers entered the U.S. Marine Corps after graduating from Briarwood Christian School in Birmingham in 2007.
He is survived by his parents, Dr. Tom and Charon Rivers; sister, Rachel; grandparents, Col. (retired) and Mrs. Charles R. Doke; aunts, Shirley Simpson, Sally Creel, Becky Rivers, Cathy Robbins and Nancy Harrison; uncle, Robert Rivers; cousins, Ashley and Will Coley and a host of friends.
Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m. Thursday, May 6, 2010, at Ridout’s Southern Heritage Funeral Home in Pelham. The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Friday, May 7, 2010, at Briarwood Presbyterian Church in Birmngham. The graveside service will be later on Friday afternoon at Alabama National Cemetery in Montevallo.
Thomas gave his heart to our Lord Jesus Christ and his life for his country.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial gifts be made payable to Briarwood Christian School and designated for the Thomas Rivers Jr. Warrior Scholarship. Please mail your check to Briarwood Christian School, 2204 Briarwood Way, Birmingham, AL 35243.
Funeral arrangements were made by Ridout’s Southern Heritage Funeral Home, Pelham.