Ellen Agnes Thomas

Ellen Agnes Christopher was born on August 7, 1923 to the late Johnnie Newton Christopher and Grace Christopher in Blackstone, Virginia, Nottoway County. The second of seven children she attended the public schools of Nottoway County. She lived the early part of her life in the portion of Nottoway County familiarly known as the "camp area".A place that she and her siblings often spoke about throughout their lives. Preceding her in death also are the following: James R. Thomas, Sr. (husband), Marilynn Ellen Thomas (daughter), Lekisha Nichelle Thomas (granddaughter), Fitzhugh Christopher, Sr. (brother), Fleida C. Woodson (sister), and Weldon W. Christopher, Sr. (brother), Weldon W. Christopher, Jr. (nephew), and Ronald Shelton (nephew). Left to mourn the passing of their sibling are three sisters, Thelma Johnson, Shirley Shelton, and Christina C. Farmer, one sister-in-law (Mattie Christopher) and two brother-in-Iaws (Chester Farmer) and Hubert Thomas. Left to mourn the passing of their mother are five remaining children, James Richard Thomas, [r., Christopher John Thomas, Jerome Anthony Thomas, Michelle Agnes Thomas, and Jeffrey Wendell Thomas. Left to mourn the passing of their mother-in-law are her are three daughter- in-laws: Millie Thomas, Sharon Thomas and Frances Thomas. Left to mourn their grandmother's passing are ten grandchildren: James Richard Campbell, Robin Lorraine Thomas, Damion Eric Stukes, Nicholas Christopher Thomas, Lamont Massey, [r., Yarri Ellen Karmara, Jeffrey Wendell Thomas, II, Joshua Thomas, and Jacob Thomas. Left to mourn their great grandmother's passing are her seven great grandchildren. Left to mourn their aunt's passing are a host of nieces and nephews. Ellen Thomas will also be sorely missed by seniors of the Morris Hill and the seniors and other members of her church family at First Baptist Church of Cherry Hill were she was a member for more than sixty years, and once belonged to the Flower Circle of the church. In the mid 1940's, she moved to Baltimore and worked, generally, as a domestic worker, and lived in various locations throughout Baltimore City. Her final place of employment was the United States Veterans Hospital located on Loch Raven Boulevard, Baltimore, Maryland. She retired, medically, from that place of employment in 1975. In 1948, she met and married James Richard Thomas, Sr. From that union six children where born.Throughout their married life, until it was dissolved by his death in 1979, they worked as a team, training their children, singly and jointly to their children. Cleaning the house, going to school, and attending Sunday School were the minimum expectations. Being late, particularly, for meals was unacceptable and dealt with accordingly. Ellen Thomas had a lifelong interest in two things: watching baseball and listening to the blues and gospel. Her favorite artist was Lloyd Price (Mr. Personality). Agnes had a wry sense of humor, quick wit, and an uncanny ability to maintain her sense of self under the most dire of circumstances. Whether they were obedient or disobedient, Agnes Thomas was devoted to her children. Now grown, her children can truly say that her devotion and love for them was unwavering. The same can be said of her grandchildren, siblings, extended family, and others she met during the course of her life-her love was unwavering. Her philosophy of life can be summed up in her own words: "Do what you can, for who you can, while yo~ can!". She believed those words, tried to live by those words, and tried to instill in her children and grandchildren to live by those words. Mama, Grandma, Sister, will be sorely and dearly missed by her family and others that knew her.

Tributes

Ellen Agnes Thomas

August 7, 1923 - January 25, 2015