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Obituary for JUANITA GLEE THOMAS
Rev. Dr. Juanita Glee Ware Thomas, 91, of Little Rock Arkansas, made her transition peacefully in Hospice Home Care in her eldest daughter’s home on Monday, December 1, 2014. She came to Washington, DC in 1948, to work in the War Department (now Navy Department). She was a resident of Ward 6 for almost 60 years, loving, nurturing and teaching her children, beside her beloved husband, Morris E. Thomas, Sr. She was educated in the Little Rock Public Schools, received her Bachelor’s Degree from Philander Smith College of Little Rock, her Master’s Degree from Miner Teacher’s College, and her Doctorate in Divinity from Howard University Saturday College. Dr. Thomas was President of the S.E. Civic Association and worked inside the polls in precinct 91. After retiring from Washington, DC Public Schools as a school teacher, she worked in the Howard University School of Business with Dr. Van Hook and was a volunteer worker for the sickle cell foundation. She took Herbology classes from American University and became a certified herbalist and was a volunteer at the United States National Arboretum. She had an Apiary in Calvert County, Maryland with her son, Etelka Jr., gathering huge jars of honey. She was elected Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner for 6B12. After fulfilling her obligation as Commissioner, she continued to work in her community. She was a life time member of the National Association of Colored Women’s Club (NACWC) where she received a plaque of honor for ‘Successfully Operating an NACWC Grandparents Academy’; Dr. Thomas was a former member of the Rosa L. Gragg flower Club, the Washington and Vicinity Federation of Women’s Club in Washington and Vicinity; Northeastern Federation of Women’s Club and National Association of Women’s Club in Washington and Vicinity. She worked with the Thanksgiving baskets, the One Day Conference as well as serving as President for two years. Dr. Thomas was a world traveler. She especially enjoyed her visit to Yokota, Japan with her son Morris Jr. and daughter-in-law Pamela. She was a member of an International Choir where she sang in the U.S. and abroad. She was certified in Early Childhood Development and worked in the United Planning Organization as a Head-Start Teacher and Mentor. Dr. Thomas taught her daughter, Veronica, sewing and tailoring, inspiring her to develop her many artistic gifts. She served as a Den Mother in the Boy Scouts of America. Dr. Thomas was a volunteer at the Grant Park Nursing Home under the supervision of Dr. C. Fields, Department of Gerontology (UDC). Her visit to Hawaii with her youngest daughter Pearl (preceded in death), was yet another time to allow them to see the beauty in God’s universe. Dr. Thomas was a published poet and songwriter. Her book, Rainbow After The Rain and other Poems”….identifies the theme of her book as Love unadulterated, the motivating force perpetuating one’s emotions…”Among her published songs are, Trust the Savior Just Now and God Worked A Miracle, listed in many standard hymnals. Dr. Thomas was baptized in Mount Pleasant Baptist Church of Little Rock at an early age. She was a former member of Providence Baptist Church and Vermont Baptist Church. In 1978, Pastor Charles D. Brooks had a crusade in Washington, DC in which she joined Breath of Life Seventh-Day Adventist Church. She was baptized by Pastor Brooks and was a dedicated and faithful member. Dr. Thomas enjoyed visiting other churches. She especially enjoyed visiting her husband’s church Turner Memorial AME Church and Shiloh Seventh-Day Adventist Church in Little Rock with her niece Camille and husband Raymond Tucker of Little Rock. She belonged to Elder Catoe’s Bible Study Class,
Served as a Deaconess, the Church Choir, and the Home and School Committee; she also instituted the very successful Church Fruit Program. Throughout her life’s journey, Dr. Thomas always gave God the glory, honor and credit in all things with a loving and compassionate spirit, patient, never mean-spirited, never judgmental and always with an open- mind. There were always structured family activities; traveling, picnics, music lessons, attending theater productions and other activities, as did her parents. Dr. Thomas taught her children to give praises to God and thanks and appreciation for their blessings; she taught her students and family to take care of their belongings, and respect other people’s belongings, admit mistakes and do better. She was a firm believer in developing the whole child, as best as she humanely could.
She was preceded in death by her mother and father, Henry Carleton and Pearlie E. Ware; her brothers, Charles Henry and Clyde Ware (childhood); her sisters, Edith Ware McClinton, Mattie Ware Davis, Ruby Ware Ross all of Little Rock and Mollie Ware Daniels of Oakland, CA. Her son, Lawrence (childbirth), her youngest daughter, Pearl Thomas-Dyer (Jacque); her nieces, Tanya Ferguson, Verna White and Hortense Davis and nephew, Henry McMullen. She is survived by her husband, Morris E. Thomas, Sr.; her children, Roumania (LaRue Sr.) Wiggins, of Washington, DC; Morris E. (Pamela) Thomas, Jr. of Alamogordo, New Mexico; Veronica Gray and Etelka (Linda) Thomas, Sr. of Maryland; her grandchildren, LaRue (Laurie) Wiggins, Jr., April Wiggins, Taria (Thomas)Huchinson, Darrian (Aisha)Thomas, Shimon (Eli Teka) Salcido, Jesse (Bernadette) Gray, Julian (Jamila) Gray, Makia Miller-Gray, Jerod Thomas, Elisa (Todd) Pearson, Etelka Thomas, Jr., Lawrence Thomas, Lindsey Thomas, Kennea Blake, Ramzi (Bryant) Thomas-Evans. Her great-grandchildren; Quianna Wiggins, Kelly Parker, Ndaya Johnson, Jenay Younger, LaRue Wiggins III, Thomas (T.J.) Huchinson, Mya Huchinson, Keeon Thomas, Mailani Thomas, Marqus Thomas, Kalissa Thomas, Kaleb Thomas, Kane Salcido, Treasure Miller-Gray, Anastatia San Antonio, Aniya Pearson, Ethan Pearson, Connor Thomas, Corrine Thomas, and Zyiar Blake. Four great-great grandchildren; Robert Wiggins, Kyla Wiggins, Rhemy Wiggins and Demetric Wiggins; Her loving sisters-in-law Colleen Thomas, Erna Thomas and Ruth Lockett. Her nephews; Charles McClinton, Carleton Curry, Jerry Curry, Kenneth Curry, Owen McMullen, Sr., Curtis Davis, Adib (Waheedah) Shaheed, Mattison Davis, Michael Davis, George (Geraldine) McCann, Samuel Thomas, Jr., David Gregory, Westbrook(Valencia) Alexander, Robert ( Sharette) Thomas; her nieces, Joyce Williams, Alice McDanial, Ja’Nice Winston, R.Camille (Raymond)Tucker, Edith Lambert, Myrna Washington, Michelle Higgins, Jessica Ferguson, Beryle (John Russell) Hall, Gracie (Craig)Thomas, Mary Ellen Thomas, Samulyn (James) Holt, Nancy (Richard) Berry, Grace (Clifford) Chochran, Cynthia (Kenneth) Richardson, and a host of cousins and friends.
