Abbie Gale Thomas

On December 31, 2021 Abbie Gale Thomas (Gale), the beloved daughter of the late Lillie Mae Wiggins and the late Charles Lee Thompson, was called home to eternal life with our Lord Jesus Christ. Gale was born on March1,1939 in Thomasville, North Carolina. She was educated in the Thomasville Public Schools, graduating from high school in 1957. Gale also attended North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University (A&T). In the early 60’s after having completed two years at A&T, Gale relocated to Baltimore. In Baltimore Gale began a working career with Franklin Uniform, a company she never left until she retired. Gale was a devoted employee of Franklin where she was encouraged to learn the uniform business and develop her skills in customer service. She quickly learned the integral workings of the business and built relationships throughout the Baltimore metropolitan area with pastors, choir members, church ushers, public school students and other customers of the store. When churches or schools contracted with Franklin for service, a special request was oftentimes made for Gale to come and do the fine tuning of measuring the customer (s) for the exact fit. Gale enjoyed the interaction with customers while carrying out this task. More importantly when it came to customer relationships, Gale was convinced there was no one better than herself. Gale would say when the customer is satisfied, she is satisfied. Gale and Chester (Chet) her husband of 26 years lived in Joppa, Maryland where they also had a community of friends. In Joppa after retiring from Franklin Uniform, Gale started her own uniform business operating it out of her home. She and, oftentimes Chet, would continue to travel throughout the Baltimore and Washington, DC area providing uniforms to many of her customers. She continued her business until her passing. Gale loved being a small business woman and she oftentimes performed her business operations while her health was failing. More importantly, Gale immensely enjoyed the interaction she had with people. Gale’s passion for the uniform business was second to her love and devotion to Pennsylvania Avenue AME Zion Church. She and Chet regularly attended the Sunday 8 AM service and was active in several ministries at the church. Gale and Chet were long time members of the church and at the time of her death, Gale was the Treasurer of The Women's Home and Overseas Missionary Society (WHOMS). Gale enjoyed serving the church in this role. One of the final task she attempted to carry out for WHOMS, literally on the night before she passed, was to make certain her “books” were in order for presentation to WHOMS. Gale attempted this task just a few hours after she was discharged from the hospital. Gale was an inspirational and loyal individual to her family and others and actively provided her support to anyone who was in need. She also had a way of breathing a bit of fun into many of the family gatherings by her funny antics. Gale will be missed immensely by her family and all who knew her! Gale leaves to mourn her husband, Chester Thomas, three sisters, Bobbie Faye Ford, Priscilla McClure and Brenda Thompson, a brother, Bernard Thompson, a sister-in-law, Irene (Toni) Thomas, and a host of nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends who cherished her life.

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Abbie Gale Thomas

March 1, 1939 - December 31, 2021