Kenneth Poe Funeral Services

May 6, 2022

Thomas Hayes Woollen, age 87, died peacefully on May 6, 2022. He was born in High Point, NC, sixth child and fourth son of the late Junius W. and Ruth Millikan Woollen. After high school, he worked his way through Duke University, lettering in wrestling and graduating in 1956. After leaving Duke, Tom served six years in the US Army and Army Reserves. He completed his master’s in education and finance at UNC-Chapel Hill and the American College.

Tom married his best friend and sweetheart, Velva Hayden Whitescarver, in 1960. He started his career with the management consulting firm Patrick B. Comer Associates in Greensboro and spent 10 years with the John H. Harland Company in Atlanta. Tom then spent the next 35 years in Charlotte in financial services including ten years as an insurance consultant for Planning Consultants, Inc, and for the Merrill Lynch Life Agency.   In 1985, he started Consolidated Consultants and retired in 2001 as President. He was named to Who’s Who in Business and Finance in 1987.

Tom was an Eagle Scout and member of Order of the Arrow, traveling to Europe on a World Scout Jamboree in 1951. Music was always his passion from teen years to adulthood, singing in the Duke Chapel Chorus, and playing stand-up bass in the annual Hoof ‘n Horn show at Duke. For many years after college, he played piano in a dance band, the Clubmen Combo, and in 1960, Tom wrote a church anthem that won first place in the Guilford County Fine Arts Festival. His favorite musical pastime, however, was sitting down and playing the piano with each of his 10 grandchildren.

Tom served as Ruling Elder at Covenant Presbyterian Church and was elected as Elder Emeritus. He also served as volunteer Coordinator of Planned Giving at Covenant Presbyterian Church and was a life-long member of his Friday Morning Prayer Group. He loved his Wednesday Bridge Group. Tom served on the Board of Trustees at Sharon Towers and was Chairman of the Board of Advisors at Florence Crittenton Services. He served as a Member of the NC State Board of CPA Examiners in Raleigh and served as President of the Society of Financial Service Professionals in Charlotte. Tom was Editor and Publisher of the monthly CCI’s The Financial Consultant newsletter, from 1985 to 1998, and published two books Leaving a Legacy in 2003 and College Cost Calculator in 2011. He was a member of Charlotte Country Club, Seabrook Island Club and Hound Ears Country Club.

Tom is survived by his wife of 61 years, Velva Hayden Whitescarver Woollen of Charlotte; sons, Dr. Thomas Hayes Woollen, Jr. and wife, Susan Woollen of Charlotte, John Carter Woollen and his wife Nicole Lund Woollen of Seattle, Mark Hayden Woollen and his wife Caney Emmons of Charlotte, daughter, Hayden Woollen Hilke and husband, Ben Hilke of Jackson, Wyoming; and ten grandchildren, Taylor, Hayes, and Margaret Woollen, Christopher and Laura Woollen, Thomas and Maggie Emmons all of Charlotte, Dean and Noah Hilke of Jackson, Wyoming, and Henry Woollen of Seattle.

A service celebrating Tom’s life will be held at Covenant Presbyterian Church in Charlotte on Monday, May 23, 2022 at 2:00 p.m. The service will be live-streamed at CovenantPresby.org/live.

In lieu of flowers, friends are requested to send memorials to Covenant Presbyterian Church, 1000 East Morehead Street, Charlotte, NC 28204.

Arrangements are in the care of Kenneth W. Poe Funeral & Cremation Service, 1321 Berkeley Ave., Charlotte, NC; 28204 (704) 641-7606. Online condolences can be shared at www.kennethpoeservices.com.