Mattie A. Thomas' Obituary
Mattie Thomas was born January 29, 1908 in Sprott, Alabama to Mariah and Ferdinand Rutledge. She was the youngest and last surviving of thirteen children. She was preceded in death on August 31, 1991 by her husband of sixty-five years John D. Thomas, whom she married on September 14, 1925.She received her education in the one-room school house in the Perry County Public School System.Mattie was baptized at Purwell Baptist Church in Sprott (AL) as a child, and remained a member until 1926, when she moved with her husband to Northport, Alabama where they joined The First Baptist Church. In 1943, Mattie moved to Tacoma, Washington and transferred her membership to Bethlehem Baptist Church where in later years she was affectionately called Mother Thomas. There she assisted in organizing the Senior Usher Board, serving at one time as President and always as faithful member until advanced age no longer permitted active participation.Mattie loved gardening and watching sports. She was always interested in following Â- and commenting on Â- the activities of her family and friends.She is survived by her only daughter, Bernice Thomas Fox, two grandchildren, Richard K. Fox, Jr. and Patricia D. Fox; two great-grandchildren, Aaron A. Fox (Krista) and Cecily C. Fox, two great-great-grandaughters, Aquila Marie Fox and Kaysha Quinae Fox; special granddaughter Melinda C. Fox, foster-daughter Ollie Ballard (Mack), foster grandsons Terry and Larry of Detroit, Michigan; brother-in-law Reverend James R. Thomas (Theresa) of Northport, Alabama; many generations of loving nephews and nieces and their families, and a host of other relatives and friends who will miss her deeply.The family expresses their thanks and gratitude to all those who assisted in MamaÂ's care, including her primary physician Dr. Ricard E. Waltman and staff, Dr. Joseph Pham and staff, long term care-givers Rose and Tamar, and more recently her niece Sandra, and the staff of Heartwood Extended Care Facility, and for the love and affection shown her by her family, neighbors, friends, Rev. Freeman S. Rhoades and her Bethlehem Baptist Church family, and all those whoÂ've lent support with a kind word or a good thought.Visitation will be held from 1-9 PM on Tuesday, August 22, 2006. Services will be held at 11 AM on Wednesday August 23, 2006 at Bethlehem Baptist Church.In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made on Mother ThomasÂ's behalf to the Bethlehem Baptist Life Center.
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