Extracted from The Clarion-Ledger (Jackson, MS)
Cornelia Ellis Thomas
Shubuta
Cornelia Ellis Thomas, 87, died February 2, 2004, at Jasper County Nursing Home (``JCNH'') in Bay Springs. Visitation is noon until the 2 p.m. service Thursday at Shady Grove First Baptist Church, Highway 11, near Heidelberg. Following the service, burial will be in Zion Rest Church Cemetery near Eucutta. Pastor Larry W. Cockerham is officiating. Memory Chapel Funeral Home on Laurel is handling arrangements.
Mrs. Thomas lived at her farm home on the Shubuta-Vossburg Road in Clarke County for over 60 years. She had been a resident of Jasper County Nursing Home in Bay Springs, where she had been a resident since 1994.
She was born in Heidelberg, MS. on March 23, 1916, the youngest daughter of Lula A. (Lyon) and James Greenberry Ellis, whose families were early settlers of Jasper County. She is survived by one brother, Elgin Ellis of Sherman, Texas and preceded in death by siblings Hilda, Ida, Myrtle. Longino, Elsie, Lissie, Milton, and Evelyn.
Married in 1932, to Gird Aster Thomas, she was foremost a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and homemaker. After rearing and educating a family of six children, she completed her education by receiving a nursing degree from Jones County Junior College. She worked as a licensed practical nurse in many area nursing homes and hospitals.
Sharing her talents in music, art, gardening, and cooking, and her love for reading and learning, Mrs. Thomas was an inspiration to her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, relatives, neighbors, and nursing home friends. Mrs. Thomas' home was always open to her children's friends, as well as, relatives who enjoyed the country atmosphere of her home and grounds. She was a life-long member and Sunday school teacher of Shady Grove First Baptist Church, where members of her family were founders. She was a member of the JCNH Recreational Committee and Golden Age Club, reading tutor to JCNH residents, past member of the Chickasawhay Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, Waynesboro, cemetery membership/treasurer for the Shady Grove First Baptist Church Cemetery and a member of The Lyon(s) Families Association of America.
She is survived by sons, James A. Thomas and wife, Annette and Donald E. Thomas of Shubuta, MS. and daughters, Sarah Steenberge and husband, Bob of San Diego, CA; Kathy Weber and husband, Fred of Chicago, IL and Lynn Macon and husband Phillip of Jackson, MS; 16 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren, numerous nieces and nephews.
Preceding her in death were her husband, Gird A. Thomas in 1969; oldest child, Martha Kabbes Burns; grandchild, Donald Ellis Thomas and two great-grandchildren, Cody Castle and Craig Castle.
Pallbearers are grandsons, Steve Steenberge, T.J. Weber, Bryan Weber, and Blake Macon; great-grandson, Berry Thomas and grandson-in-law, Brandon Ogburn.
Honorary pallbearers are Greg Thomas, John Kabbes, Paul Strode, ken Goforth, Kirk Hughes, Jim Cooper, John Fredericks and Keith Castle.
The family of Mrs. Thomas would like to thank the physicians, nurses and support staff of the Jasper County Nursing Home for their kind and professional care during her years of residency. Memorials may be made to any of the following tax-deductible organizations: The Jasper County Nursing Home Recreation Committee, P.O. Box 527, Bay Springs MS 39422-0527; Shady Grove First Baptist Church, 1220 Highway 11, Heidelberg, MS 39439-3468 or The Martha Thomas Kabbes Burns Memorial Foundation (assisting students with learning difficulties) P.O. Box 55509 Jackson MS 39296-5509.
Wednesday, February 4, 2004