Edna May Thomas

On Thursday, August 21, 2014, God called one of His own, Edna May Thomas, from earthly labor to eternal reward. During her illness, she fought a good fight and she never lost her faith. Born on April 7, 1948, she was the daughter of the late Stephen and Frances Merrill Schoolfield. After receiving her early education at Stephen Long Elementary School and attending Worcester High School, Edna was employed at various locations including Golden Pride, Chesapeake Plywood and Mid-Atlantic. Her most recent employment, from which she retired, was Wal-Mart, Inc. in Pocomoke City, Maryland. On September 30, 1972, Edna was united in Holy Matrimony with James Henry Thomas, who loved and cherished her unconditionally. He was more than just a husband. James was her friend, and protector and when she became ill in 2008, he was her caretaker who patiently attended to her every need. Even when Edna had to be in a wheelchair, she never lost her sense of humor and would sometimes keep James and others around her in stitches laughing at some of her antics. She loved listening to quartet music and she especially loved to hear James sing. Edna gave her life to Christ at an early age. As a member of St. James United Methodist Church in her early years, she was a member of a family group known as the Guiding Lights. For the last 35 years, however, she was a member of Miracle Deliverance Tabernacle (MDT) in Pocomoke, Maryland under the leadership of Overseer Kathleen Moore. At MDT, Edna was a member of the Choir, the Missionaries, a Communion Stewardess and the Kitchen Committee. She loved to sing and so many of her favorite songs were a testimony to her trust, faith and belief in God who was her all and all. Some of her favorites included Jesus Can Work It Out, Old Landmark, Wade In The Water, Heaven Is Looking Down On Me and her special song, The King Is Coming. She believed that the King was coming, without a shadow of a doubt, as the last words she was heard to say were, “Jesus, Come Help Me.” She finally earned that hundred million dollars that she so often talked about that everyone was going to get a portion of, but now we will have to go where she is in order to get what God has in store for us. Fun-loving, energetic, full-of-life, helpful, caring, kind and devoted are just a few of the words that can be used to describe Edna May Thomas. She never hesitated to lend a helping hand, from cleaning to cooking to carpentry, she would do it all. One of her favorite sayings, “Just Move Back, I Got It,” is how she demonstrated her commitment and devotion to everyone around her. Edna loved to cook (her specialty was rice pudding) and she would feed the neighborhood if they showed up. She also loved to sew and take weekly trips to Wal-Mart just for fun and to socialize. Since she was the baby in her family, she learned at an early age how to get out of everyone just what she wanted from them. Although she could manipulate her family to get what she wanted, Edna would give you her last just to see you happy. Precious memories will be cherished by: her husband of 42 years, James Henry Thomas of Pocomoke City, MD; 3 children—Dontá L. Thomas, Sr. of Princess Anne, MD and fiancée Shelley, Sylvia Danyell Thomas of Princess Anne, MD and Ronata Nichelle Thomas of Pocomoke City, MD; 5 sisters—Elizabeth Knox of Horntown, VA, Emily Dorsey of Pocomoke, MD, Frances Knox of Horntown, VA, Marjorie Pitts of Horntown, VA and Ernestine Wise of Pocomoke, MD; 6 grandchildren—Na’Kyra Thomas, Dontá Thomas, Jr., Destinee Thomas, Josiah Hayward Jay’Vion Hayward and Jae’Ina Hayward; one aunt, Estella Schoolfield of Pocomoke, MD; two goddaughters, Amy Ballard of Mississippi and Shawnee Roberts-Furst of Salisbury, MD; 8 sisters-in-law—Henrietta Harmon, Grace Collick (Eddie), Betty Johnson, Brenda Thomas, Barbara Jean Thomas, Josephine Matthews, Diane Henderson and Geraldine White (Wordell); 3 brothers-in-law—John Thomas, William Thomas and Elton Thomas, Sr., one sister-in-law, Charlotte Schoolfield and a host of other relatives and friends. Edna was preceded in death by 3 children—Clifton James Waters, twins Jonathan and Joshua Thomas as well as 3 brothers—Stephen Edward Schoolfield, Samuel Schoolfield and Ollie Schoolfield. To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Edna May Thomas , please visit our Heartfelt Sympathies Store.

Edna May Thomas

April 7, 1948 - August 21, 2014