Thomas Crymes attended the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Greenville, S.C. during 1867-1868.[1] According to his obituary, Crymes served several churches in South Carolina before moving to Franklin County, Ga.[2] He was listed as a minister on the 1870 U.S. Census. In the 1870s, Crymes became the editor of the Toccoa Herald, a local newspaper, and in 1877, Crymes was elected as a State representative for Franklin County. The paper was sold and according to his obituary, Crymes read law and opened a practice in Carnesville, Ga. He then moved to Athens, Ga. around 1880.

In 1871, Crymes married Laura V. Lambert from Alexandria, Va. and they had three children. Crymes died on January 13, 1883 from an overdose of morphine.[3]