1938
Thomas
2025
Thomas Eugene Pilant
October 25, 1938 — August 1, 2025
Columbia
On August 1, 2025, Thomas Eugene Pilant (Tom) passed away at the age of 86.
He was the son of Carl R. Pilant and Ella Mae Pilant. He was preceded in death by his wife Vivian Bowie Pilant and by his brother Carlos Raymond Pilant.
He is survived by his daughter Carmilla Pilant and son Steven Andre Pilant and grandson Sebastian Benjamin Pilant.
Thomas (Tom) was a member of the Unitarian church in Columbia where he made close friends.
Tom was a lifelong writer. He contributed his writing talent under the nom de plume Country Tom Foole to the POINT by the Grass Roots Organizational Workshop (GROW) in Columbia.
He previously worked for the Jacksonville Office of Economic Opportunity under his mentor, author and civil rights activist Stetson Kennedy. He was an opinion columnist for the University of Tennessee student newspaper The Daily Beacon, writing his column "Temoignage", winning a student award for best southern columnist in 1968. He was a technical writer, having worked with the Strategic Petroleum Reserve and Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
He enjoyed scuba diving in Maui, Trinidad and Florida. He loved New Orleans culture and cuisine as well as breaking bread with his fellow creatives, supporting progressive causes and human rights.
A private family service will be held at a later date.
He was the son of Carl R. Pilant and Ella Mae Pilant. He was preceded in death by his wife Vivian Bowie Pilant and by his brother Carlos Raymond Pilant.
He is survived by his daughter Carmilla Pilant and son Steven Andre Pilant and grandson Sebastian Benjamin Pilant.
Thomas (Tom) was a member of the Unitarian church in Columbia where he made close friends.
Tom was a lifelong writer. He contributed his writing talent under the nom de plume Country Tom Foole to the POINT by the Grass Roots Organizational Workshop (GROW) in Columbia.
He previously worked for the Jacksonville Office of Economic Opportunity under his mentor, author and civil rights activist Stetson Kennedy. He was an opinion columnist for the University of Tennessee student newspaper The Daily Beacon, writing his column "Temoignage", winning a student award for best southern columnist in 1968. He was a technical writer, having worked with the Strategic Petroleum Reserve and Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
He enjoyed scuba diving in Maui, Trinidad and Florida. He loved New Orleans culture and cuisine as well as breaking bread with his fellow creatives, supporting progressive causes and human rights.
A private family service will be held at a later date.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Thomas Eugene Pilant, please visit our flower store.
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