Deacon Tommy Charles “Sonny” Baety was born on December 24, 1941, to his parents, the late Tom Baety and the late Jessie Bell Lee Baety McCall. On Tuesday, February 24, 2026, God called Tommy’s name. He boarded the glory train with his ticket stamped as “Heaven” as his final destination.

He graduated from Magnolia High School in Thomasville, Ga. Retired from Southwestern State Hospital. Tommy accepted Christ at an early age. Attending Mt. Pilgrim Missionary Baptist, where he was ordained as a deacon and served as chairman. He later moved his membership to Springhill Missionary Baptist Church, where he served faithfully until his health failed. He shared a special, inseparable bond with his twin sister Jessie. They talked every day, and when one was in the hospital, you could find the other at their bedside. He was affectionately known in radio land as “Plantation Security,” a name given to him by Rev. Spencer Wilson. Tommy had a strong passion for hunting, fishing, and cooking. Making sure every holiday, his family and friends received one of his famous sweet potato pies. On January 23, 2000, he married his helpmate, Janice Toles, sharing 26 years of marital bliss, always at each other’s side.

Tommy leaves to cherish his memories: his wife, Janice Toles Baety; daughters, Willene Fleno (William Coleman Jr.), Sheila Baety, and Stephanie Baety Cason, all of Thomasville, GA; devoted granddaughter, Montravia Baety of Thomasville, GA; his devoted twin sister, Jessie Pearl Simmons; sister, Velma Marslan of Atlanta, GA, and brother, Ernest Hart of Miami, FL; his adopted son, David Cherry; stepchildren, Ladeldrick Toles (Alicia), Larry Toles (Victoria), Crystal Coles (Terrance), Ashley Lovejoy (Brandon) and Walter Godwin Jr.; six grandchildren, Thomas Sharpe, Montravia Baety, Steven Battle, William Cason, LaTesha Fleno and Johnython Cason; twenty three step-grandchildren, thirteen great-grandchildren, and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.

Preceding Tommy in death were his parents, Tom Baety and Jessie McCall; sister Juanita Harrison, and brother Harry Jefferson.