Virgina Thomas' Obituary
The funeral service for Virginia Thomas, 80 of Lufkin, will be held at 10 A.M., Saturday, June 14, 2025, at Goodwill Church, 812 E. Ave, Lufkin. The burial will follow in the Cedar Grove Cemetery. Visitation will be Friday in the Goodwill Baptist Missionary Baptist Church, 812 E. Lufkin Ave. from 5:00 till 7:00 p.m.
Virginia Faye Thomas-Howard, was born on July 29, 1944, in Lufkin, Texas, to the late Mary Wilson Howard-Berry of Brandon, Mississippi, and Frank Howard Jr of Jackson, Mississippi.
Her family which included five siblings, grew up in Jackson, Mississippi and later moved to Lufkin, Texas. At a very young age, she attended Smith Robinson Elementary in Jackson, Mississippi, Carver and Garrett Elementary in Lufkin, Texas, graduating from Dunbar High School with the Class of 1962. Virginia continued her education at TSU MTI Business School in Houston. She received an Associate Degree of Applied Science in Management, and General Business at Angelina College.
Career: Twenty years at Southwestern Bell Communications Houston, Texas; Twenty five years at Memorial Hospital in Lufkin, Texas.
Civic Community Leader: President of the Top Ladies of Distinction, Inc., President of East Texas Chapter. She was involved with a Special Olympics in Lufkin, and a member of the Goodwill Missionary Baptist Church from childhood. Other affiliations: United Negro College Fund, Collections leader NAACP, Member of the Eastern Stars York Chapter 307, Assault on literacy and sickle cell, also a member of the Nacogdoches Riding Club.
Religious Activities: Member of Goodwill Missionary Baptist Church, Liaison of Texas Educational Baptist, State Congress of Christian Education, Director of Vacation Bible School, Member of Senior Choir, and Vice President of the Auxiliary, in the Deep Texas Congress of Christian's Education.
Virginia Faye Thomas-Howard, was preceded in death by: Her loving grandparents; Her parents, Mary Howard Berry and Frank Howard Jr.; Brother, Frank Howard; Husband, Earl Thomas; Sister-in-law, Lois Howard; Son, Edgar Thomas; Sisters, Erdal Johnson and Alberta Alexander of Mississippi.
Left To Cherish Her Memories
Son, Vincent Smith; Grandchildren, Brandice Smith of Dallas, Texas, Vincenté Smith Jr. of Austin, Texas; Great grandchildren, Malachi and Ryan; Godson's; Timothy Chatman and Frank Howard, Jr., Darrell Turner, Kenneth Thomas; Special friend, Mr. Berkheart Pattison and Family; A wealth of other extended family and friends.
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