Elizabeth McIver Thomas, of Williamsburg, died July 10, 2014, at the age of 97.
At an early age, she became a member of St. Luke Baptist Church where she loved Sunday school and was a choir member. She graduated from Laurinburg High School, class of 1936.
In 1937, she met and married Paul Bullard and was blessed with one daughter, Hazel Johnson. In 1943, the family moved to Newark, N.J. and united in faith with The Metropolitan Baptist Church of Newark. She continued to work with the Sunday school class, joined the Gospel Chorus and later joined the Chancellor Choir. She was also the president of Circle One Missionary and Superintendent of Sunday School.
She worked for 12 years as a seamstress. In 1956, she was employed by the Newark Board of Education where she retired in 1981 after 25 years of service. She was a member of Queen of Sheba Order Eastern Star and served as a worthy matron. In 1973, she married Theodore Thomas, Sr. and was happily married until his death in 1992.
In 2002, she moved to Williamsburg with her daughter, Hazel and her late husband, Tommy Johnson. She joined Colossian Baptist Church where she faithfully attended services until her health began to fail.
The younger of two children, she was born May 26, 1917, in Hasty, N.C., daughter of the late Ethel and Grover McIver. She was preceded in death by her brother, Leroy.
She is survived by her loving and devoted daughter, Hazel Johnson, of Myrtle Beach; grandsons, Charles Allen, Jr., of Los Angeles and Harry Cuyler (Belinda), of Myrtle Beach; seven grandchildren in Fort Worth, Texas; step-grandson, Stefan Hodnett (Tameiko), of Fort Worth, Texas; great-granddaughters, Christian Baucom, of Chicago and Sierra Cuyler, of Myrtle Beach; adopted son, Tommy Simpson, of Mint Hill, N.C.; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and other relatives who all deeply loved and will miss “Aunt Bess.”
Family and friends are to assemble by 10:45 a.m. Tuesday, July 15, 2014, at Colossian Baptist Church, 865 Old Fort Eustis Blvd., for the celebration of life beginning at 11 a.m. with the Rev. Peter A. Evans officiating. Interment will follow at the church cemetery. Mrs. Thomas may be viewed two hours prior to the service.
Please leave online condolences for the family at Whiting’s Funeral Home.
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