Thelma Thomas

Mrs. Thelma Doretha Miller Thomas, age 94, peacefully departed this life on Sunday, January 11, 2026, in Columbus, Ohio, where she resided with her daughter and family during the latter years of her life. She was the youngest of seven daughters born to the late Tres David “TD” Miller and the late Fannie J. Martin Miller in Fairfield County, Eastover, South Carolina, on Sunday, March 29, 1931.

Mrs. Thomas received her early education at Booker T. Washington High School in Columbia, South Carolina. She later attended Allen University in Columbia, South Carolina, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Elementary Education. While at Allen University, she met and married the late Rev. George A. Thomas, Sr., her devoted husband of more than 50 years. She completed graduate coursework at The Citadel in Charleston, South Carolina.

A dedicated educator, Mrs. Thomas retired after 35 years of teaching in the public schools of Richland, Lancaster, Charleston, Aiken, and Greenville Counties in South Carolina. She especially loved teaching third grade and was known for her immaculate classrooms and creatively designed bulletin boards.

Mrs. Thomas had a deep love for the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church and faithfully served alongside her husband throughout his 44 years of active pastoral ministry and beyond, within the Palmetto, Columbia, and Piedmont Conferences of the Seventh Episcopal District. She remained active and engaged as a member of Ebenezer AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina, where Rev. Dr. William Swinton serves as pastor. She was also lovingly embraced as “Mother Thomas” by the Second Baptist Church family of Columbus, Ohio, where her son-in-law serves as Senior Pastor and her daughter serves as an Associate Minister.

In the late 1970s, Mrs. Thomas founded the first Ministers’ Wives organization in the Piedmont Conference. She faithfully served on the nominating and registration committees of MSWAWO+ PKs and the Palmetto Conference Branch Women’s Missionary Society (WMS). She held the position of Vice President of MSWAWO+ PKs in the South Carolina Conference and served as Treasurer, Recording Secretary, and Chairperson of the Membership Committee for the Palmetto Conference WMS. She also served as First and Second Vice President of the Mt. Pleasant District WMS. A torch lighter, she became a Life Member of the WMS in 2011 and was a recipient of the 50-Year Medallion for MSWAWO+ PKs. At Ebenezer AME Church, she served faithfully in the WMS and the Senior Ministry.

Mrs. Thomas was civically engaged as a member of the Women of the Democratic Party in Aiken, South Carolina, and the NAACP. She was known for her generous spirit, love of fellowship, and commitment to nurturing meaningful relationships. She remained spiritually connected by attending worship services, missionary meetings, and Sunday School through livestream, Facebook, and Zoom on her iPad. She often asked, “Is that service or meeting online?” Her hobbies included coloring and gifting her completed artwork to others, enthusiastically cheering on the University of South Carolina Gamecock women’s basketball team, and staying connected with family and friends through her cell phone.

Mrs. Thomas leaves to cherish her memory her devoted daughter and caregiver, Rev. Floria T. Washington, and son-in-law, Rev. Dr. Howard T. Washington (whom she affectionately called “my son”), of Columbus, Ohio; her son, George A. Thomas II (Anthony), of Jacksonville, Florida; her sister, Magnolia Whettstone (nephew David), of Washington, D.C.; grandchildren, Malcolm (Rev. Micah) Morgan and Kamilah (Rev. Ian) Morgan, both of Columbus, Ohio; three great-grandchildren, Josiah, Levi, and Aria Grace Morgan, also of Columbus, Ohio; special nieces, Wanda (Cleve) Anderson and Bernie White of Columbia, South Carolina; and a host of nieces, nephews, adopted children, mentees, former students, church members, and dear friends.