Bonnie Thomas

Minister Bonnie Mae Thomas was born in Shaw, Mississippi on February 14, 1947 to Charlie and Ophelia Hill. She took her final rest on April 1, 2020.

Minister Thomas, known as Bonnie to close family and friends, moved to Saginaw, Michigan at the age of five. She graduated from Saginaw High School and soon thereafter married her loving husband of almost 50 years, Johnny L. Thomas Sr., who preceded her in death. At an early age, Bonnie showed a love for Christ, instilled in her through her grandmother, Ella Sneed. This love led her to show love and compassion to all she met.

Soon after high school, Bonnie began working at Community Health as a medical aide and taking classes at Delta College to further her education. She enjoyed her time helping others, but also loved being a mother. Through her union with Johnny, she had three children: Johnny Jr., Monica and Avery.

Compelled by her true love of God, Bonnie became a faithful and loyal member of Tabernacle Baptist Church. As a member of over 50 years, Bonnie served in many auxiliaries. She was a past President of the Mass Choir, member of the Deaconess Board, Sunday School teacher (in which she’d fondly refer to her students as her “Sunday school babies”) and never missed an opportunity to help with any event, drive or cause. In 2002, she received her license and became a Minister of the Gospel, a calling she never shied away from and embraced in every setting.

Minister Thomas loved the Lord! This was obvious to all who knew her. She knew that “faith without works is dead” and strived to make her works match her faith. Bonnie was a committed supporter of many charities such as Feed the Children, St. Jude’s Hospital, NAACP and she volunteered at the Saginaw Rescue Mission.

Bonnie was an avid learner, had quick wit and enjoyed many hobbies. She loved to learn about geography, recipes, flowers and health. She was also skilled at crochet – making blankets for every new baby in the family, and had a garden that seemed to bloom all year long. And the cakes! Bonnie was a master baker, though she would never admit this. As her family and friends would show excitement at every holiday or cake event for a ‘Bonnie Cake’, she would often simply say, ‘well – I did my best’. She would do nothing unless she felt that she was doing her best. This is one of the things that made her wonderful.

She loved her family and friends and was known to send cards for every occasion – never missing a birthday or reason to tell someone that she was thinking of them.

Her family is heartbroken but strengthened in knowing that she has rejoined her husband, Johnny, and her parents in heaven.

She leaves to cherish her ever present memory sons, Johnny Jr. (Trudy). St. Louis, Missouri, Avery (Franchelle), Farmington Hills, Michigan; daughter Monica (Donald) Lloyd of Indianapolis, Indiana; two granddaughters, Briana Thomas and Detreanna Davis of Indianapolis, Indiana; sister, Charlene (Daniel) Still and niece Danielle Still all of Saginaw, Michigan; godsister, Ivy Ramey, Saginaw, Michigan; adopted niece, Cassandra Jones, Saginaw, Michigan; very good friend, Dorothy Bowman; a host of cousins, other relatives and friends.

The family wishes to thank everyone who offered kind words, prayers and condolences to our family during this difficult time. God bless you!

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