On the evening of Friday, November 19, Tommy Gravitt of Chapel Hill, N.C., passed away at UNC Hospitals with his family around him. Tommy was born in Durham, N.C., on November 6, 1930. He spent his childhood years at Thompson’s Orphanage in Charlotte, N.C. At 14 years old, he moved to Chapel Hill to live with his sister, leaving only briefly to serve in the United States Air Force during the Korean War. Upon returning to Chapel Hill, he attended UNC before beginning his career with University Bank, which later became Central Carolina Bank. He had a 30-plus year career with CCB, where he served as a vice president and manager for the Carrboro, N.C., branch.
He is survived by his loving wife of 55 years, Frances Gravitt, and three adoring children, Elaine Gravitt, Linda Gravitt Oakley and Brooks Gravitt. Tommy also opened his heart to his extended family that included Hilda Starnes, Johnny Oakley and Scott Henderson. He was lovingly known as Tom Tom to his four beautiful granddaughters, Whitney Oakley, Holly Oakley, Zoe Gravitt and Emma Gravitt. Tommy was preceded in death by his parents, John and Lottie Gravitt, of Durham and his sister Molly Louise Blackburn Seifert of Richmond, Va. He was greatly loved and respected by family and friends too extensive to mention.