MARY ELIZABETH "BETTY" (nee-WARDEN) THOMAS
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BLOCK 19
LOT : 16
ROW : 26
COLUMN : 1
SUB. R/C : ?
GRAVE # 1
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Mary Elizabeth "Betty" (nee-Warden) Thomas
b. February 10, 1931
Galva, Henry County, Illinois
d. December 2, 2017
Decatur, Macon County, Illinois
buried: December 9, 2017
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FATHER
Cleveland W. Warden
(1893-?)
MOTHER
Cleota B. Guthrie
(1896-1977)
MARRIED
Joseph Lee Thomas
(1930-2001)
1947
Rockford, Winnebago County, Illinois
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CHILDREN
with Joseph
Tyron Thomas
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Robin Thomas
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Darwin Thomas
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Sheila (nee-Thomas) Arbolaez
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Sherry (nee-Thomas) Mullan
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Cathy (nee-Thomas) Lewis
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Steve Thomas
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Connie (nee-Thomas) Cook
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Stanuel Thomas
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Marcel (nee-Thomas) Parker
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Anna "Vicky" (nee-Thomas) Bond
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Shawn Thomas
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Greg Thomas
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Mother Mary Elizabeth Thomas entered into eternal rest on Saturday, December 2, 2017 at Decatur Memorial Hospital. She fought a good fight, she finished her course, she kept the faith! Mother Thomas as she was affectionately called by many who knew her, was born on February 10, 1931 in Galva, Illinois. She was one of eleven children born to the union of Cleveland Warden and Cleota (Guthrie) Warden. She grew in up in the Galva/ Kewanee area and was educated in the Kewanee System. Mother Thomas was taught Christian values and servitude at an early age. She began her Christian walk as an adolescent and was determined to followed Christ. She started playing the piano at the age of 3. She grew up in the Bethel Church of God in Christ, Kewanee. At the age of 16, she united in Holy Matrimony to the late Joseph L. Thomas in Rockford, Illinois and to this union 13 children were born. In 1963, her family moved to Decatur, Illinois where she worked private home care nursing and continued to care for her family. Her gift of music was instilled into her children. Her "first choir" was at home with her own children where she taught them various musical selections that they would later minister in song throughout the church community. She worked immensely in various churches. She took the initiative to start church choirs and has served as church musician. Mother Thomas was a grounded and rooted member of the Church of God of in Christ. She believed "Holiness is Right" and stood on founding principles and doctrine of the church. She received her Evangelist Missionary license from the Central Illinois Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction (COGIC). She was a member of the House of Faith Church of God in Christ where she was the second oldest member of the church and served on the Mother's Board. She also served previously on the Southern Illinois Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction (COGIC) Hospitality Department. Mother Thomas had a personality and spirit like that of a rainbow, so beautiful and bright; that went along with her likeness to color various drawings in her spare time. She also loved to garden and loved the beauty and the fragrance of flowers. For she knew, that she was a seed planted here on earth only for a season and that one day the Lord would "pluck up" which he has planted and she would fully blossom in God's Garden. Mother Thomas leaves a wealth of wisdom and knowledge to her children: Sheila Arbolaez of Decatur, IL, Sherry (William) Mullan of Normal, IL, Cathy Lewis of Peoria, IL, Steve (Pam) Thomas of Snellville, GA, Connie (John) Cook, Stanuel (Gloria) Thomas, Marcel (Michael) Parker, Anna "Vicky" Bond, Shawn (Angela) Thomas all of Decatur, Il and Greg Thomas of Indiana; sister, Christine Bell of Freeport, IL, a host of grandchildren, great grandchildren, great great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, relatives, church family and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, grandparents, husband, 3 children: Tyron, Robin and Darwin and 9 siblings.
The Herald & Review
(Decatur, Illinois)
7 DEC 2017 * E-Edition
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