Ms. Beatrice "Sister" Thomas, the eldest of thirteen children born to the late Joe "Hut" and Annie Mae "Bertha" Thomas, was born October 31, 1933 in Bamberg County, South Carolina.  Heaven's gateway opened and received her home Friday, July 19, 2024 as she answered our Heavenly Father's Call.

"Ma" began her early education at the Zion Hill School in the Lees Community in Bamberg County.  She received additional educational training at what was called T-Square (Allendale, SC) and Voorhees School. Her early life experiences molded her later years of caring for her family, raising her children and working to care for others in so many facets of life.  She told the stories of preparing meals early as a youngster for her parents as they tended the fields, her younger siblings and other family members namely her grandfather, the late Peter Ephriam.  There were many extended family members that she received in the home and cared for as her own.  She shared stories of early Christian fellowship, worship and guidance with and by her parents – namely at Spring Town and Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Churches.  "Ma" gave Christian service in so many ways… cooking, feeding and caring for any and everyone.  She found pleasure in Church service as a Missionary, Senior and Mass Choir member and as one of the "Golden Girls" amongst many others, and a feisty praiser.

Working the cotton fields, domesticated and other laboring jobs allowed for the expansion of "Ma's" family and friends, so to add to her list of children.  Ms. Jackie McCloud (Anthony) Cook, Barnwell, South Carolina was reared as her daughter as she cared for her as dearly as she did her own.  Stories of memorable work life experiences at Wild Wood Nursing Home now Pruitt Health in Blackville, Talley Corbett Box Company of Springfield, SC and Ducane Heating and Air of Blackville were oftentimes family story times.  She was the ONLY person that we would here talk so proud-fully and joyfully about her "cotton picking days".

Although born and reared in South Carolina, where she lived and worked the most of her life, she told the stories of her years of travel and life experiences in New York and Florida.  These too were her fond memories that will be forever cherished.  Never giving up the devotion to good, hard work ethics and sincere service to God, to the day of her earthly departure she was independently caring for herself, at best, and giving encouragement, guidance and directions to others… If you knew her, you know what I'm talking about.   Youngsters – "Walk in Jesus' Name and Keep Your…!

Forever in our hearts, "Ma" leaves heart-throbbing memories to so many; her children, Runell, Willie Mae, Victoria and Ricky Thomas and Ethel (Robert) Faust of Blackville, South Carolina and Eartha Thomas (Zerrie) Miller of Winter Springs, Florida.  A daughter preceded her in death, Annette (James) Sapp and a son Willie James Thomas.  Sisters are Mary Ruth (George – deceased) Staley of Coconut Creek, Florida and Janette Thomas of Blackville South Carolina.  One sister, Lelia Mae (Douglas – Paxville, South Carolina) Canty and her brothers preceded her in death: Willie "Slick / Bubba" (Ruby - Blackville South Carolina), Johnnie (Betty), Hezekiah, Wilbur (Mae Liza) Thomas and five other brothers.  There are twenty-two grands, thirty-nine great-grands, a host of first and other cousins, nieces and nephews, and an enormous extension of family and friends.