Obituary of Mary A Thomas

Mary Augusta Thomas:  Sunrise:  6/14/1942-Sunset: 11/24/2018

“How do you measure the worth of one life?” One might say in seasons’ of love.  Mary Little was born to Georgia (Ledman) Little and Shadrach (Jr.) Little on June 14, 1942 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.  As a young child she and her family (which now consisted of a little brother, Leroy Dangerfield) moved to Bartlesville, Oklahoma.  She did not recall the year when the family moved but, remembers  “riding in the back of an old pickup truck.” 

Mary attended Douglass School, “The Mighty Dragons!” While attending Douglass, she met and married Egynn Thomas at the young age of 16.  They married on December 29, 1958.

Her new chapter of being a wife and mother began with the births of her four children:  Egynn Kasay (Jr.), Conrad Allen, Deborah Kay, and Jacqueline Marie.  Mary understood her worth and she had many roles in life.  One of her goals was to ensure her children knew the importance of education. She wanted her children to be more than a butler or a maid – she was very clear about that prayer.  Not having finished high school, she completed her GED, and obtained a certificate in office management,  which prepared her to work for Phillips Petroleum Company for over 20 years, where she retired.  Her civic duties included being an active member of the Bethel AME Church, a member of the Federated Colored Women’s Club and The Philips Women’s Auxiliary; where she looked forward to the annual conventions that took them across the United States. 

Once Mary retired she entered into the role of “the traveling granny.”  As her children started to have their own kids she went to where they were and stayed as long as she was needed.  She helped to raise nine grandchildren; many of them would say, “I was raised by my granny!” 

Mary was in and out of Minneapolis so much, she finally moved from the hot and humid south to the cold wicked winters of Minnesota.  She was with her family and that was all that mattered.  Mary loved life and travelling!  She loved music and actually met Eddie Levert, Emeril Lagasse and every time she went to see Al Green she somehow ended up with getting a rose that he handed to her!  Late night casino runs and when she couldn’t go, she played the games on the iPad! Always saying, making money for Egynn, so when he came over to visit, he would have some money to gamble. 

When her eldest son became ill; she became a primary caregiver for him until he passed.  She could never talk about Egynn Jr.’s death and grieved him until her own passing.  

Mary was diagnosed with lung cancer and fought and won the battle.  Only to be challenged with heart disease and yes, she gave it the good fight and kept the faith.  Mary entered into her final season on earth and her sunset was on Saturday November 24, 2018 surrounded by her family.  A few of her last words were to her daughter, Deborah, who took care of her for the last 12 months of her life were, say I was a good granny, who took her grandchildren from little too big. During her transition period, Mary did not speak much but before her final phase she said, “Deb, take my picture” she smiled while looking at her last photo. Her last words were, “Deb, water” and her son, Conrad, said it reminded him of Jesus on the cross when he said, “I thirst”. Mary without a sound, and shedding tears , her daughter, Jackie said, “Mama is going into the arms of Jesus.”

She met her Heavenly Father and just as important , she is now with her mother (Georgia Little), father (Shadrach Little, Jr.), brothers, Leroy, Samuel, and Shadrach (Punkin) Little, III, mother-in-law, Mary Starr. The one that we know she is very glad to see again is Egynn Jr., her eldest son.

Mary is survived by her husband, Egynn Sr. of St. Paul, Minnesota her children, Conrad (Tabitha) Thomas of Fargo, North Dakota, Deborah Mitchell of St. Paul, Minnesota and Jacqueline Thomas-Hall (Thelonious) of Holt, Michigan. Her sister-in-law Chompunute (Fon) Little of Henderson, Nevada.

Her grandchildren:  Alan Andrew Baines-Thomas, Raiaka Kay Mitchell, Brihonna Kasay Thomas, Jacques Jerome Mitchell, Jr. Jasmine Marie Hall, Michelle Vianna Thomas, Bria Dene Adderly Hall, Melody Delyn Thomas, and Olivia Monique Thomas.

Great grandchildren:  Payeton Kasay Hall (Jasmine), Jaymin Jerome Mitchell (Raiaka), and Thelonious Charles Zane McAtee (Jasmine)

Her nephew Leroy (Donnie) Little and his daughter Adriana Alexander of Bartlesville, Oklahoma, her nieces Rose Scott of Dallas, Texas and Kellie Little and her son Kameron Daniel of Kansas City, Missouri and a host of very close cousins including Alice (Ledman) Glass of Coffeeville, Kansas and Cecil, Dennis and Michael Seals of Texas.   

The family would like to sincerely thank her attending caregivers including Dr. Vindou, Dr. Solfelft, her hospice staff, Julie and Jessica, Rightway PCA services, Mattie Williams, The Crossing staff and family including Naima Richmond and Catherine Reese.

The family would also like to thank  everyone who joined us on this journey.  Your selfless acts of love, kindness and support will always be cherished.  She is in the arms of the Almighty wearing her crown of Jewels, “Gone but never forgotten.”

The arrangements are under the direction of the Cremation Society of Minnesota, Brooklyn Park Chapel, 7835 Brooklyn Blvd, Brooklyn Park, MN 55455, 763-560-3100

A Visitation for Mary will be held Sunday, December 2nd from 3:00PM- 5:00PM at Cremation Society of Minnesota, 7835 Brooklyn Blvd., Brooklyn Park MN 55445. Her Funeral Service will be  Monday, December 3, 2018 at 11:00 AM at the Cremation Society of Minnesota with a visitation at 10:00 AM.