By Staff
June 26, 2007
Funeral for Willie Thurman Thomas, 82, of Somerville was Thursday, June 28, at 3 p.m. at Peck Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Brian Hancock officiating. Burial was in Evergreen Cemetery. Mr. Thomas died Tuesday, June 26, 2007, at the residence of his daughter. He was preceded in death by his wife, Mavene Wilson Thomas, two daughters, Janice New and Deborah Creel, five brothers, Raymond Thomas, Loyd Thomas, Louis Thomas, Herman Thomas and Hershel Thomas, and two sisters, Louise Walls and Marie Flack.
He was a member of Bell Springs Baptist Church and a Baptist minister. He was an U.S. Army veteran of World War II and a Purple Heart recipient. He served in the European Theater and was headed to Japan when notice was received that the Japanese had surrendered.
He is survived by a daughter, Patricia T. Hill of Hartselle; a brother, David L. Thomas of Germany; a grandson, Jerry Edward Hill and wife Angela of Hartselle; four granddaughters, Nancy Deanne Fox and husband Randy, Lisa Michelle Looney and husband Wylie, all of Hartselle, Kimberly Hope Jones and husband Tony and Marcia Leigh Jones and husband Scottie, all of Somerville; 12 great-grandchildren, Nicholas Alexander Sandlin, Katlyn Marie Sandlin, Ashley Nichole Barto, Joseph Tyler Hill, Joshua Hunter Hill, Christen Cheyene Looney, Allison Michelle Looney, Dylan Chase Peck, Dawson Chanse Fowler, Ricky Wayne Dean and Dianne Jones Randall Creel; and a host of brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces and nephews.
Pallbearers were Randy Fox, Eddie Hill, Nick Sandlin, Tyler Hill, Toney Jones and Randy Hardin. Nephews were honorary pallbearers.