Thelma Thomas

Public viewing Tuesday, January 18, 5:00-7:00 p.m. at White’s Funeral and Cremation Services, 867 S. James Rd, Columbus, Ohio 43227. Private viewing Wednesday, January 19, 10:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m., Woodland Christian Church, 143 Woodland Avenue, Columbus, Ohio 43203, followed by private Celebration of Life, which will be livestreamed at woodlandccdoc.org/media/live

Attendees must wear masks to all services. Those attending private services must have a ticket. Interment on Monday, January 24, 10:00 a.m. at Forest Lawn Memorial Gardens, 5600 E. Broad Street, Columbus, OH., 43213. The Family requests that donations be made to the Woodland Christian Church Capital Campaign, in lieu of flowers.

THOMAS, THELMA (nee Hunt)

Thelma Janice Hunt (Thomas) was born on July 31, 1926, in Mt. Sterling, Kentucky, to the union of William Sherman Hunt and Florine (White) Hunt. She entered the gates of Heaven, peacefully, on January 10, 2022.

Thelma was fourth of five living children, having two older brothers, one older sister, and later one younger brother. An older sister, Mary, died as an infant. The Hunt family belonged to High Street Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Mt. Sterling. Thelma attended elementary, junior high and experienced most of her high school years in Mt, Sterling, but in her senior year, her father and mother took jobs working for a family in Bexley, Ohio, which meant she was uprooted before graduation. When they arrived in Columbus, the family first lived in a home on S. Washington Avenue, then on Mound Street from which Thelma finished her high school career at East High School, graduating in January 1945.

While living on Mound Street, Thelma met “the boy next door,” and in 1947, she married William “Bill Thomas.”  Together, they raised three children. When Bill transitioned in 2014, they had been married 67 years.

When the Hunt family moved to Columbus, they transferred their membership to Monroe Christian Church and later to Woodland Christian Church when Monroe built and moved into a new building at 143 Woodland Avenue in 1959.

Thelma became known as one who loved God, her church, her family, and her community. Thelma was a member of Monroe and Woodland for almost 80 years. During those years, she sang in the choir, served as financial secretary for the church, served as Deacon and Elder, including Chair of the Elder board, Christian Women’s Fellowship President, served on the church’s Official Board and organized and supported countless teas and other activities in the church. She remained active in the life of the church until her health prevented this level of participation. However, she continued to support her beloved Woodland financially and spiritually and was overjoyed to attend whenever she could.

Elder Thomas was a force in the community. She was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star, Utopia Chapter #76. She served as Past Matron of the Utopia Chapter on two separate terms. She was a past Loyal Lady Ruler of the Capital Valley Assembly #36, Order of the Golden Circle. Always willing to put her financial and organizational knowledge to work, she was Financial Recorder of Alla Baba Court #75. She worked outside the home at Supreme Life Insurance Company as an office manager until her retirement in 1991 and she worked as a poll worker after her retirement and well into her eighties.

Elder Thomas was a true family person. She raised her children in the church. All three continued to serve God in their various communities as adults, which resulted in her son pastoring a church in California, her grandson serving as a high school youth pastor in North Carolina, her oldest daughter served as a deacon, and her youngest daughter serves as Sunday school teacher and trustee.

Elder Thomas was predeceased by her parents Elders Sherman and Florine Hunt, her brothers William, Walter, and Kenneth Hunt, her sister Anna Eliza Hunt Black, and her in-laws Jeff and Inez Thomas. Sadly, she was preceded in death by her two eldest children William, Jr. and Janice Thomas Parks, as well as her grandson, Matthew Wesley Parks, Jr.

She is survived by her daughter Dr. Gene T. Harris (Stanley E.), grandson Pastor Wade Thomas Harris (Belinda), three great grandchildren, Nathan, Noah, and Naomi, sister-in-law, Bobbie Hunt, as well as her best friend, Ruth Keels. She is also survived by a host of cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends who would arise and call her blessed and attest to the fact that hers was a life WELL LIVED.

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