Thomas James “TJ” Pennison, 33, of Troutman, N.C., passed away October 25, 2023, at Atrium Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem, N.C., after a courageous battle with heart disease.

TJ was born on January 27, 1990, in Bradford County and was the son of Druce Thomas Pennison and Heather Mae Briggs. In 2008, he graduated from Tunkhannock Area High School in Pennsylvania. He then attended college for two years and began working in hydraulics at Lake Norman Fluid Power. He was an avid disc golf player when he was not spending time with his children and family.

TJ is survived by his fiancée, Stephanie Teel; his children, Sophia Mae Pennison and Audrey Mikayala Pennison; two very special children whom TJ loved, Lily Swedlund and Memphis Gillespie; his loving grandparents, James and Patricia Briggs; and siblings, Sean Myers (Alison), Douglas Myers (Yeniffer), Sebastian Pennison, Syles Pennison, and Jocelyn Pennison. He is also survived by many loving aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his best friend, Bobby Swedlund, and his paternal grandparents, Harry Rougeaux and Helena Robicheaux.

There will be no funeral services held at this time.

The family would like to express their gratitude for the Chaplin, Cardiac Critical Care and Heart Failure Team, as well as all the nurses, doctors, care partners and staff at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center. They would also like to give a special thank you to Dr. Pisani for her excellent care of TJ.

For people who would like to donate to TJ’s children for a college fund, please mail donations to Heather Briggs, 140 Skylight Lane, Troutman, NC 28166.

Troutman Funeral Home is serving the family.