Nancy Thomas

Nancy Bishop Thomas, 88, retired Director of Maury County Department of Human Services, died Monday, June 17, 2013 at Life Care Center of Columbia.A Service of Witness to the Resurrection will be held Friday at 11:00 A.M. at First Presbyterian Church with the Revs. Joe Evans and Jennie Barber officiating. Interment will follow in St. John's Cemetery. The family will visit with friends Thursday from 4:00 - 7:00 P.M. at Oakes and Nichols Funeral Home. Condolences may be offered online at www.oakesandnichols.com.The family asks that you remember Nancy with a memorial instead of flowers. Memorials may be sent to First Presbyterian Church Education Fund 801 S. High St. Columbia, TN 38401 or Montreat Conference Center PO Box 969 Montreat, N.C. 28758.Nancy was born September 22, 1924 to Nannie Lou Mackey Bishop and James Toy Bishop of Piedmont, SC, the sixth of seven children. Orphaned as a teenager, she completed her schooling with the help of family and Presbyterian Churches. She graduated from Flora MacDonald College in North Carolina, and began working as a Christian Educator at 4th Presbyterian Church in Greenville, SC. In 1948, she was called to the First Presbyterian Church in Columbia to serve as Christian Educator, together with the new pastor, The Rev. M.C. "Buck" Patterson and his family. Miss Bishop became Mrs. Thomas when she married Charles Stephens Thomas, Jr., a native of Maury County and descendent of pioneer families. Nancy and Charles were married in August of 1950 to the delight of her youth group. She continued to serve First Presbyterian as Christian Educator, kindergarten teacher, Presbyterian Women's leader, Sunday School teacher and faithful disciple throughout her career in teaching and education. Nancy pursued graduate studies at Peabody College while serving as Assistant Director of the King's Daughters School in Columbia. Mrs. Thomas continued to serve others in her work for the TN Department of Human Services, rising through the ranks to become Maury County Director, retiring in 1987. Charles S. Thomas, Jr. preceded Nancy in joining the church triumphant. Nancy is survived by two sons, the Rev. Charles S. (Steve) Thomas, III and wife Paula Hollingsworth-Thomas of Lewisburg, TN and Houston B. Thomas and fiancée Carol Richardson of Bartlett, TN. Grandchildren are Charles S. Thomas, IV (Julie) of Franklin, TN, Lillian Elise Thomas of Nashville, TN, Madison Leigh Thomas and Samuel Houston Thomas of Bartlett, TN, and great grandchild Eva Elizabeth Thomas of Franklin, TN. She is also survived by brother J. Willard Bishop of Anderson, SC and sister Robbie Herd of Simpsonville, SC.Nancy is also survived by generations of women and men with whom she shared the love of Christ and the joy of discipleship.Active pallbearers will be John W. Satterwhite Jr., Dr. Cary W. Pulliam, Frank K. Dale, James Fleming, George Bennett, Don Crichton, and Will Satterwhite. Honorary pallbearers will be the Rev. Dr. James W. Dale, Bill Coppedge, Mark Mayfield, Eric Larson, Stuart McGregor, John Blank, Bob Duncan, Daryl Hanvy, Suzy Baxter, Dr. Steve Simmons, the staff of Life Care Center of Columbia, especially the ASU, and the Elders and Deacons of First Presbyterian Church.