Drucilla Kathleen (Houze) Thomas

Heaven called home its child, Ms. Drucilla K. (Houze) Thomas on Monday, August 26, 2024, at Optalis Health and Rehab St Frances, age 70 years. She was born March 14, 1954, in Saginaw, Michigan to the union of Jules M. Houze and Ernestine Cooper Houze.

Drucilla attended Saginaw Public Schools and eventually received her General Education Development (GED). She later went on to achieve her CNA certificate and license as a Certified Nursing Assistant and began her employment at Hoyt Nursing Home. Dru later moved to South Carolina, but eventually returned to Saginaw.

Drucilla was affectionally known by family and friends as Dru and Auntie. She was a personable character who everyone enjoyed being around. She would often make tacos and have her family and friends over to enjoy them with her. Dru was a funny person, especially when she was talking and making those funny facial expressions. What a CHARACTER she was!

Dru was exceptional at playing dominoes and Spades was her favorite card game. Her favorite colors were purple and black which she loved wearing. Dru loved to clean and cook Chitterlings. She ate 30 Lbs. at one time and didn’t tell anyone until after she recovered from being sick. She never did that again.

When Dru would get excited she would talk extremely fast and often stuttered and we (siblings) would have to slow her down, but not before we started to mock her. Mom would tell us to leave her baby alone, because Dru would start crying, and we would apologize. Her presence will be missed by all who knew and loved her. 

Dru leaves to cherish her memories, four children, daughter, Susan Mays (Gregory) Nash, Chason Houze, Jules Thomas, and Leroy “Shane” Bettis; fifteen grandchildren, Ryan, Gregory, Alexis, Marcellus, Olivia, Jalen, Amarion, Amiyah, Ja’leeyah, Jayceon, Leh’Ron, Angelo, Shaaliyah, Shaniyah, and Calvin; brothers, Erick J. Cooper and Kirk Houze; sisters, Susan Addison and Tina Houze, all of Saginaw; stepsister, Chandra Howell; her second family which includes the Addison's and Steven's family and their children and there were many who meant the world to her including Lloyd, Steven, Leslie, Sidney, Stephanie, Elisa, and Curtis.  Dru also leaves her best friend, Annie Mae Baber; godson, Bennie Baber; special close friend, Deborah Stevens; goddaughters, Nikia and Kamil and godson Omar; longtime childhood friends, the Robinsons, Glover, and  Miller's; a host of special nephews, nieces, cousins, other relatives and friends including the Cooper family. 

Drucilla was preceded in death by her husband, Jimmy “Barney Goo-Goo” Thomas, and her parents, Jules and Ernestine Cooper Houze Howell. 

The family would like to express special thanks to the Steven’s and Addison family, the Doctors, Nurses and Staff of Covenant Hospital, Optalis Health and Rehab St Frances, and Ivan E. Phillips and Staff of Paradise Funeral Chapel.