NAVARRE, Fla. — Thomas Cleveland Carter Birchett, 63, died Tuesday, Nov. 16, 2010, at his home following a long illness. Born Dec. 27, 1946, in Vicksburg, Tommy graduated from H.V. Cooper High School in 1965. He received his Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees from the University of Mississippi and was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity.

He served in the U.S. Army with the 518th Engineer Group of the 193rd Infantry Brigade at Fort Kobbe, Panama Canal Zone. He worked with the maintenance staff at All Saints’ Episcopal School in Vicksburg and with the National Park Service at Mesa Verde, Colo., before beginning his career as an archeologist with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in the Vicksburg, Jacksonville and Mobile districts.

He was a member of the Society for Historical Archeology, Advisory Council on Underwater Archeology, Florida Anthropological Society, Institute of Nautical Archeology, Missouri Pacific Historical Society, Shelby American Automobile Club and the Deep South Cobra Club.

He was a past president of the Dr. Joseph Warren Chapter and past state president of the Sons of the American Revolution and past president of the Vicksburg Foundation for Historic Preservation.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Dr. John Alexander Klein Birchett Jr. and Caroline Carter Birchett.

He is survived by his wife of 40 years, Phyllis Ann Chase Birchett, a son, Mark Aaron Birchett (Lani) and grandson, Trevor Aaron Birchett, all of Navarre; daughter, Glinda Fountain Hall (Mike) and grandsons Grayson and Jackson Hall of Jonesboro, Ark.; a brother, John A.K. Birchett III (Judy) of San Diego, Calif.; sisters, Caroline Susan Birchett of Jackson and Dorothy Ann McInnis of Vicksburg; a brother-in-law, Alfred Chase (Rita) of Merritt Island, Fla.; three nieces; four nephews; and great-nieces and -nephews.

Visitation will be from 9 a.m. until the hour of the service on Saturday, Dec. 4, 2010, in the hall of the McInnis Parish House at The Church of the Holy Trinity in Vicksburg. Services will be held at the Church of The Holy Trinity at 11 a.m. with a private burial to follow with the Rev. Michael Nation, rector, officiating.

Honorary pallbearers will be Wayne Farris, Ricky Selby, Jack Vandevender, Minor Ferris, Alfred Chase, Tims Quinn, Johnny Tanksley and Danny Doty.

Memorials may be made to Covenant Hospice, 101 Hart St., Niceville, FL 32578.