Everett Theodore Solomons, age 77, of Crossville, went home to Jesus on April 19, 2021, after a seven-week battle with acute myeloid leukemia. He was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, respected scientist, coworker, friend to many and a Christian.

Everett was born to Samuel and Rebecca Solomons on October 2, 1943 along with his identical twin brother, William, in the small town of Ridgeland, South Carolina.

From birth onwards, Everett and William were known as the inseparable red-headed twin brothers. Always the serious and committed students, the twins even went on to complete their Ph.Ds together in graduate school. They were supportive of one another and best friends. The twins loved to joke with each other, visit each other, go on fishing trips and just talk on the phone when miles separated them as adults. At times, they had their own funny language and inside jokes that only they understood. Everett loved his twin brother more than anyone can imagine.

Everett met the love of his life, Donna Cook in 1958 in Rome, Georgia at a high school dance at Mt. Berry School for Boys. Everett was taken with Donna early on and courted her for seven years. It paid off as they were married in a Christmas-time wedding in December 1965. The two were married for over 55 years at the time of Everett’s passing. Everett was a devoted husband and a true partner to Donna. His love for her was apparent.

Second only to God, Everett’s priority was his family. He was a strong and supportive father to his two daughters, Judith and April. He put his family first and was his two daughters’ biggest ally and advocate. Everett was a dependable husband and father who was determined to provide for his family. His family meant more to him than anything else in the world and he was very proud of Judith and her husband Steve and April and her husband, Jonathan, which he told them often. Everett always tried his best to support them. He went out of his way to serve his wife and daughters and their families in so many ways. He was quick to help them when they needed assistance.

Some of Everett’s proudest achievements were his five grandchildren whom he loved dearly. He could often be found teaching them Bible lessons especially at Thanksgiving and other family gatherings. He was so proud of those grands as he called them. Everett had a great sense of humor and often made his wife, children and grandchildren laugh. His own laugh was a hearty, contagious one that will be remembered fondly by his loved ones. Education was very important in Everett’s family. He, along with his twin brother William, graduated from Berry High School in Rome, GA in 1961 and then from Berry College, also in Rome, in 1965. He earned a bachelor’s degree in Chemistry and a minor in Mathematics. Next, Everett went on to further his education at the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) in Oxford, MS and earned his Ph.D in Medicinal Organic Chemistry with a minor in Biochemistry in 1970.

After graduate school, Everett took a job in Atlanta, GA with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation in the Division of Forensic Sciences. In 1972, he was promoted to Research Toxicologist and only a few years later, in 1975, he became the Chief Toxicologist for the GBI. This was a position Everett would go on to hold until his retirement in 1998 after 28 years of service.

Everett was an active member and leader in professional organizations as well. He was a charter member of the Society of Forensic Toxicologists, Inc. (SOFT); an organization that he held many leadership positions in including President in 1983. He was a member of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences from 1975-2003.

One of Everett’s proudest professional achievements was his role in helping to found the Forensic Toxicologist Certification Board, Inc. (FTCB). He held a variety of roles in the FTCB including President, Board of Directors member, and Chairman of the Forensic Toxicology Examination Committee.

Everett served as an inspector and team leader in the National Laboratory Certification Program from 1988 – 2008. He was certified by the Forensic Toxicologist Board, Inc. in 1995; conferred Fellow of Forensic Toxicologist Certification Board in 1998. He was also certified as Diplomate of the American Board of Forensic Toxicology, Inc. in 1977; and conferred Emeritus Status around 2007.

Other accomplishments included seeking and awarding grants from the Georgia Governor’s Office of Highway Safety and the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council totaling approximately one million dollars. Everett also published a few articles in the Journal of Analytical Toxicology and an article in the Journal of Forensic Sciences.

Beyond work and family, Everett had many interests. He was an avid tennis player and played on ALTA and USTA teams while he lived in the Atlanta area. He was a fan of Atlanta Braves baseball and the University of Georgia Bulldogs football team. He liked to fish and go out in his canoe often with one of his five grandchildren in tow. He taught all five how to fish. He loved his large vegetable garden and tried to outwit all of the critters who also loved his garden. Everett was elected the secretary of his class back in high school and then later greatly enjoyed planning his class reunions with his “Berry brothers.” He revisited Berry often through stories he would tell his daughters of his time there and he relished visiting there in person as well. Known by many as a kind, friendly, humorous, intelligent man, he liked cats and dogs and they were fond of him too. He liked to read mysteries in his younger days and later participated in many hours of Bible study. He was well-spoken with his Southern drawl and had a gift for teaching.

Everett was a faithful man who loved the Lord and had a love for his church community at Central Baptist church in Crossville where he served as a Deacon for several years. He also served on several committees, but missions and The Gideons were ones that were dear to his heart. He was chairman of the missions committee and he enjoyed working on local missions-related construction jobs. Some of Everett’s favorite memories were from mission trips to Peru, Alaska, and Blue Ridge, GA plus Louisiana and Mississippi after Hurricane Katrina. The Gideons and their Bible distribution was always something Everett looked forward to and he would have a little Gideon Bible handy for anyone who just might find it helpful.

Everett also enjoyed working at the Cumberland County Christian Women’s Job Corp (CCCWJC) where he was honored to serve as its president. He believed everyone deserves a second chance to improve their lives. Together Everett and Donna started a small group Bible study in Georgia that continues to get together some thirty years later. They were also part of a Bible study in the Crossville area for several years that brought about lasting friendships.

Everett leaves a legacy of family devotion, love, hard work, perseverance, generosity, Chrisitian discipleship and community service. He is greatly missed, but his family knows they will be reunited with him one day in Heaven – our true home.

His legacy will live on in his wife, daughters and grandchildren. Everett Solomons is predeceased by his parents Rebecca McBride Solomons and Samuel Robert Solomons; his half-sisters Catherine Solomons Epting (Kenneth) and Eunice Solomons Ogelsby (Robert); his half-brother Samuel Benjamin Solomons (Beth), his mother- and father-in-law Elsa Pettersson Cook and John Byron Cook; his sister-in-law Martha Grogan Solomons; and his great-nephew, James Derek Hays. He is survived by his wife Donna Cook Solomons, Crossville, TN; his daughter Judith Solomons Milburn (Steven), Roswell, GA; his daughter April Solomons Scheele (Jonathan), Spring Hill, TN; his grandchildren, Amber, Elizabeth, Luke, Sophia and Harrison; his twin brother William Solomons (Len), Martin, TN; his sister in-law Sonja Marianna Cook Herrin (Eugene), Hixson, TN; his nephews Keith Herrin (Jodie), Jacksonville, FL and Bret Herrin, Chattanooga, TN; his nieces Jenise Solomons Butler (Chris), Martin, TN; and Angie Solomons Stickles (Byran), Thompson Station, TN; his nephew Andrew Epting (Teri), Meggett, SC; his niece Jan Epting, Pisgah Forest, NC; his niece Jane Varn Martin, Savannah, GA; his nephew Algernon Varn (Sharon), Savannah, GA; his niece Ann Varn Buchanan, Fernandina Beach, FL; his nephew Gibson Solomons (Carol), Aiken, SC; his nephew Bobby Solomons (Lisa), Barnwell, SC; along with many great-nieces and great-nephews; and a host of extended family, former classmates, former co-workers, church family and longtime friends.

A Celebration of Everett’s Life will be held at Central Baptist Church at 1346 S. Main Street, Crossville, TN 38555 on Saturday, May 29, 2021. Visitation will begin at 2 pm; service at 3 pm; followed by a dinner for family and out-of-town guests at 5 pm. The Solomons Family welcomes stories, photos and memories of Everett from family, friends, and colleagues. Please mail or email them to Donna Solomons. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be sent in Everett’s memory to: The Berry College Frost Chapel Windows Restoration Fund Mt. Berry, GA www.berry.edu/funder/ http://c-fund.us/scr Bread of Life Rescue Mission, Homeless Shelter P.O. Box 1414 Crossville, TN 38557 www.breadofliferescue.org Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (888) 557-7177 www.donate.lls.org

Obituary by Hood Funeral Home in Crossville.