Freda Sophie Tomlinson

Freda Sophie Tomlinson was born December 19, 1929, to Herman Wollwerth and Meta Seedorf Wollwerth in Jamaica Queens NY. She had four older siblings, Herman, Henry, Martha, and Dora and one younger sister Gladys. Her life-long friend was her younger sister Gladys Bullock. As a young girl she learned to play the piano which defined so much of her life. In 1949, at the age of 19, she married her pastor’s son Homer Tomlinson, an excellent musician in his own right, and together they literally made beautiful music together for 65 years. Homer went home to be with the Lord in 2014. Freda and Homer were blessed with three sons, Howard Tomlinson (married to Jeanne), the Rev. Clifford Tomlinson (married to Vickie) and the Rev. Steven Tomlinson (married to Michel). Howard preceded Freda into the presence of the Lord in 2001. Freda’s life revolved around music and church. She was a pianist at her father-in- law’s churches (The Bishop Homer A. Tomlinson) followed by the Syosset Gospel Church, Calvary Baptist Church (now Cornerstone Bible Church) and finally Faith Evangelical Free Church (now Ascend Church). Besides playing piano she led various choirs, music groups and accompanied various accomplished soloists. Homer and Freda together toured various churches with Freda at the piano, Homer at the trumpet as they sang their praise to the Lord. Freda graduated from SUNY Stony Brook Conservatory of Music with a degree in Voice and she went on to teach music at North Shore Christian School for 20 years. She also took great joy in giving the money she earned as a piano teacher to various ministries, in particular to Youth for Christ who she supported starting in the 1960s and continued right up to her passing. She leaves behind her sons Clifford and Steven, seven grandchildren, Christine Potter, Adam Tomlinson, Rebekah Tomlinson, Melody Hunter, Faith Tomlinson, Aaron Tomlinson, Tabitha Tomlinson, two daughters-in-law Vickie Tomlinson and Michel Tomlinson, Jonathan Potter husband of Christine, David Stanfield husband of Rebekah, Daniel Hunter husband of Melody, and eight great-grandchildren Audrey, Daniel, Clara & Lucy Potter, and Emmalyn, Howie, Samantha & Lydia Stanfield. In lieu of flowers, please send a gift in Freda’s name to Long Island Youth for Christ (https://liyfc.org/).

Freda Sophie Tomlinson

December 19, 1929 - May 29, 2023