Thomas Edward Guest

Thomas “Tom” Edward Guest, 87, of Canton passed away peacefully on January 12, 2025. Thomas spent 30 years of his life running Camp Bratton Green and Gray Center where he was resident manager, maintenance and business, mentoring campers all the while raising his own five children with the love of his life, Lillian “Lil” Davis Guest.

A native of Van Vleet, MS, Tom was born to Thomas Aaron Guest and Lavern Staten on Jan. 29, 1937. He grew up in Houston, MS, where he was a Little All American in high school there. He later graduated from Mississippi State University where he was a member of the football and track team, an accomplishment he would forever hold dear to his heart.

Tom met Lil during a class they had together at Mississippi State. She was a freshman while he was just a few years older. She needed to go home and asked to borrow his car. He said, “No ma’am, but I will drive you home.”  They were married shortly after. Tom would receive his master’s at Mississippi State and begin his career as a schoolteacher and coach. They moved to Canton in 1965 where he worked at the Canton Public Schools until 1973 when he would begin his most meaningful career at Camp Bratton Green.

An outdoor lover, Tom was an avid hunter and fisherman. He had a heart for people with special needs. During his career, he also managed to find time to volunteer at his children’s school, Canton Academy, where he was the announcer and timekeeper for the sports games.

After he lost Lil to cancer in 1994, Tom would find love again with his second wife, Nancy Lynn Castle Guest. He was married to Nancy for almost eight years before she passed away of a brain tumor in 2003.

Described as stern and structured, Tom is remembered more for being loving and welcoming to all who attended Camp Bratton Green. He wanted all campers to be safe and welcomed with loving arms and was known as the father to all the campers.

One camper credits Tom for making him a better man and person. “He would put the fear of God in you then smile and tell you not to do it again.”

A coworker remembers Tom and Lil for making camp better for all of them.  “It was a great privilege to know and work with Tom and to be on the receiving end of both Tom and Lil’s love and charity.”

Tom will always be remembered for his kindness, sense of humor and wonderful smile. He was not only a fixture and legend at Camp Bratton Green but was a rock there.

He was a member of First Presbyterian Church of Canton for more than 50 years.

He was preceded in death by his parents Thomas Aaron Guest, Lavern Staten and stepfather Woodrow Cook; his wife, Lillian Davis Guest; his second wife, Nancy Lynn Castle Guest; brothers Timothy Leo Cook, Ronald Cook and Jimmy Dale Cook.

Tom is survived by his five children: Daughters Catherine Lillian Myers (Jeff), Mary Ann Janous (Ben), and Lucy Jansen Slaughter; Sons Thomas E Guest, Jr. (Leigh Ann) and Aaron Talmadge Guest (Renee); and his sister Mary Jo Moore; Grandchildren Catie Lepard, Madeline Guest, Will Slaughter, Mary Bratton Guest, Laney Slaughter, Beau Guest; Great Grandchildren Aubrey and Mary Alice Lepard.

Visitation will be at Breeland Funeral Home on Wednesday, January 15 from Noon until 2 p.m. when the chapel service begins. A burial will follow the service at the Canton Cemetery.  

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