Shirley M Thomas

Shirley Marie Thomas was born September 7, 1942 in Hope Arkansas to William Franklin Whitmore and Annie Mae (Mary) Nelson. She graduated from Central High School class of 1960.  After High School she served in the Army Reserve as a nurse. She attended Ivy Tech where she received her Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration. She was employed by Bendix as a secretary until her retirement. She was wed to Richard C. Thomas and they had two children, Tami Marie Thomas and Melvin Duane Thomas. Shirley was a member of Berean SDA Church where she served as an usher.

On Tuesday, August 11, 2015 at 10:22 pm. the Lord called Shirley to her final resting place after a brief illness.

Shirley was a notary public and volunteered in the community through Women In Touch, she worked for SBCSC as a substitute teacher, and was a lifetime member of the NAACP. Shirley was a generous, wise and loving individual who would do anything to help someone in need.  She enjoyed traveling and spending time with her family and was a delightful woman who would bring joy and laughter to whoever she was around.  She will be dearly missed and it gives the family great joy to know that heaven has received a remarkable soul.

Shirley was preceded in death by her mother, Annie Mae (Mary) Nelson and father, William Franklin Whitmore, three brothers, George Edward Spears, Ben A. Spears, and William Charles Whitmore, two sisters, Lorraine Smith, and Annie Mae Whitmore and ex-husband and longtime friend, Richard C. Thomas.

To cherish her memory she leaves behind two children, Tami Marie Thomas, and Melvin Duane Thomas, both of South Bend, IN. 5 grandchildren, Dajour Thomas, Decarlo Thomas, Monisha Smith-Thomas, Asia Adams-Thomas, and Xzaiver Thomas all of South Bend, IN.  Her dearest and longtime friends Bobbie Reams, and Maxine Johnson, 9 great-grandchildren and a host of relatives and friends also survive her.

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day--and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing”. 2 Timothy 4 7-8

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