Dr. Thomas Oliver Harper, Sr.

Dr. Thomas O. Harper, Sr., age 84, went to be with his Lord and Savior in the early morning hours of Monday, October 27, 2025. Born on May 25, 1941 in Nash County, he was the son of the late William Greene Harper and Madelyn Holland Harper Boone. He was also preceded in death by his sister, Delores Harper Churchill and brothers, Joseph Earl Harper and William Timothy Harper.

He attended Red Oak High School. Dr. Harper was a true patriot, having served in the U.S. Navy from 1959 to 1963. He received his B.A. in Bible from Bob Jones University in 1967 and pastored numerous churches in South Carolina and Georgia. He then received his Master of Divinity and his Doctorate from Luther Rice Seminary in Atlanta, GA in 1985. He co-founded three Christian Schools and has taught kindergarten through twelfth grade and adult education in correctional facilities during his career. Dr. Harper pastored the Second Baptist Church in Goldsboro from 1986 to the present.

A service to celebrate the life of Dr. Harper will be held on Friday, November 7, 2025, at 10:00am in the Chapel of Shumate-Faulk Funeral Home with Pastor Jason Stoeber officiating. The family will greet friends immediately following the service at the funeral home.

Dr. Harper is survived by his wife, Linda Ruth Lamm Harper; three sons, Thomas Oliver Harper, Jr. and his wife, Stephanie, John Walter Harper and Stephen Timothy Harper and his wife, Stephanie; along with eight grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, gifts in memory of Dr. Harper may be directed to the Second Baptist Church, 210 Bayleaf Dr., Goldsboro, NC 27534

Shumate-Faulk Funeral Home and Crematory is honored to be serving the Harper family and online condolences may be sent via www.shumate-faulk.com.

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