Elizabeth Thomas

Graveside services for Elizabeth Evans Funderburke Thomas, of Fort Valley will be held on Monday, June 26, 2017 at 10:00AM at Riverside Cemetery (main gate). The family will receive friends following the service and can be contacted at the home of Charles and Mary Bartlett, 31 Mockingbird Lane, Fort Valley, GA 31030, or at the home of JoBeth and Henry Wheaton, 1080 Carpenter Lane, Buckhead, GA 30615. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that those who wish to make contributions do so to the Methodist Home for Children, 304 Pierce Avenue, Macon, GA 31204, or to The Oaks Nursing Home, 777 Nursing Home Road, Marshallville, GA 31057. Mrs. Thomas died June 22, 15 days after her 108th birthday. She was born in Monroe County on July 7, 1909, the daughter of Josephine Sandefur Evans and William Jefferson Evans. At an early age, she moved with her family to Fort Valley, and after finishing high school there, moved to Macon to attend business college. She was an executive secretary at Atlanta Gas Light Company, retiring in 1974 after 45 years of service. She served as president of the Pilot Club of Macon and as president of Macon Secretaries Club. She was an active member of Vineville Methodist Church from 1935 until 2005, when she returned to Fort Valley to live near her nephew and his family, and transferred her membership to the Fort Valley United Methodist Church, where she was the oldest living member. Elizabeth was married to Thomas Merritt Funderburke of Macon for 42 years, until his death in 1976. She was later married to Maurice Clay Thomas who died in 1997. Mrs. Thomas' two sisters were the late Louise Bartlett and the late Evelyn Shepard, both of Fort Valley. She is survived by her nephews, Charles (Mary) Bartlett, and Homer Eugene (Patricia) Bartlett; her niece JoBeth (Henry) Wheaton; several great nephews and nieces; her step-son Dr. Marcus (Millie) Thomas of Montgomery, AL; and several step-grandchildren. The family wants to especially thank the staff of The Oaks Nursing Home for the loving care they provided for our aunt over the past two years, and a special thanks to her helper and dear friend, Onita Hughes. Register online at www.hartsmort.com. Hart's Mortuary and Crematory, 765 Cherry Street, has charge of arrangements.