Mary Ernestine Hatcher Thomas

Mary Ernestine Thomas, 82, passed away Friday, January 12, 2018. She was born September 30, 1935 in Montgomery, Alabama, to Melvina and Samuel Hatcher, Jr. She and her family moved to Osaka, Virginia, a small coal mining town and then to Norton, Virginia. Mary graduated from Southside High School in Norton. She continued her education at Swift Memorial Junior College in Rogersville. It was there she met and married Charles Lavonne Thomas. Mary and Lavonne had 9 beautiful children. Mary lived a long fulfilling life, she was an active member of Mt. Olive Baptist Church and the Red Hatters Club. She was a loving daughter, mother, wife, friend and grandmother and a family woman who loved her children, grand children, great-grandchildren, church family and all of her friends. Her infectious smile, joyful personality and love for all near and far will be forever missed, especially throughout the King Addition Community where she was well known and respected. She was preceded in death by her parents; sons Harold Brent “Mr Big Stuff” Thomas, Johnnie Maurice Thomas and Charles LaVonne Thomas: daughters Vera Lee Bandy and Sammie Mae Ramsey. She is survived by her children Walter Phillip (Marcia) Thomas, Yvonne (Lewis) Simpson, and Ardena (Alonzo) Arnold, Mary Lynn (Dion “Don” Sr.) Dykes of Newport, Melvinlene Thomas-Sims of Atlanta, Georgia; sister-in-law Mary Hatcher of Alliance, Ohio; sons-in-law Donnell “Big Don” Bandy Sr., William “Bill” Ramsey and John Jake Sims, Jr. of Morristown; daughter-in-law Janie Hicks-Thomas also of Morristown; grandchildren TinaThomas of Knoxville, April Ramsey Tramill, Ronota Thomas Jetta, Donnell “Little Don” Bandy, Jr., Danielle Thomas (Kellon) Scarborough, Ciaria Simpson (Jordan Hayden), John Jake “J.J.” Sims III, Ikeshia Ramsey, Jescina Ramsey, Joseph Ramsey, Chelsey Dykes and Dion Dykes, Jr.; 16 great-grandchildren; step-sister Synovia Mack. She leaves to mourn a host of cousins, nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, aunts, uncles, in-laws, friends and relatives; church members and Red Hat sisters and special friends. She will truly be missed by all that knew her. The family will receive friends from 1 p.m. til 2 p.m. Saturday, January 20, 2018 at Dockery-Senter-Funeral Home with services to follow. Interment will follow at Gum Springs Cemetery.