Thambakara S. Jabez

In the early morning of September 1, 2015, our beloved S.T. Jabez passed away peacefully at the Heritage Gardens nursing home in Loma Linda, CA. A blessing in Tamil for the loved ones surrounding his bedside were among his very last words: “My God, guide me, be close to me, and protect me. Amma, Amma, God bless you. Please pray for my brother. God bless my children and all those around me. We have to spread the message and be ready. I am waiting for the resurrection. Praise the Lord, Halleluiah, Amen”.

Jabez was born to Sithambara Thambakara and Sornakali on December 20, 1926 in the village of Prakasapuram, Tamil Nadu, India. Though he left for Ceylon (Sri Lanka) in his teens to help his father manage the family business— Thambakara Sons and Company—he returned to India at the age of 20 to marry Edwy Jane. They remained happily married for 68 years. Together they raised a family of five girls and one boy. With great dedication and sacrifice they invested in the education of all their children which laid the foundation for the success of their children and grandchildren. However, his commitment to education did not end with his own children; Jabez and his wife have financially supported the education of several less fortunate children, a pledge that continues to this day.

Jabez had the gift and acumen for business. In Celyon, he was able increase the capacity of the Thambakara Sons and Company match factory by implementing quality control procedures and creating satellite production sites allowing employees to work close to home. These measures improved the overall product and increased demand. His passion for business continued upon their arrival in Canada in 1970. Captivated by Canada’s breathtaking beauty and natural resources, he not only imagined a home but a new business venture. With only a few hundred dollars in hand, he began a lumber mill. Tragically, the mill burnt to the ground. Refusing defeat, he soon after began Ceylinca Foods Ltd., a wholesale manufacturing business known colloquially as “the candy factory”.

Not only was Jabez able to build a business from the bottom up, but he applied the same drive to spiritual matters as well. The Sri Lanka SDA Union declared Jabez Layman of the Year in 1970 for establishing the Hendala church. This award enabled him and his wife to attend the 1970 Atlantic City Seventh-day Adventist General conference as lay delegates. Since its beginnings, Hendala church has generated many SDA bible workers and pastors and has further expanded as children of the members of the Hendala church later established the Colombo-Bethesda church.

Jabez never shied away from sharing his religious conviction to all those he came in contact with. His lay evangelism led to the conversion of Brian McMahon, an ex-real estate agent who is now an evangelist with the North Pacific Union Conference. It was his simple witness of declining to drink coffee and refusing to do business on the Sabbath that began their conversation. McMahon shared this about Jabez: “I am forever indebted to your father for helping to lead me into the Adventist Faith…I speak of him every time I tell my personal testimony as Tom was the first contact I ever had with the SDA church.”

Jabez was preceded in death by his siblings P.S.T. Jebamoni, P.S.T. Rajamoni, Mrs. Ganapoo Vadamuthu, S.T. Abel, Mrs. Grace Edwards, Mrs. Gnanamoni Asirwatham, Mrs. Annamoni Gnanakkan, and his youngest daughter Jill Vedamani (may remove).

Jabez is survived by his wife Edwy Jane, his brother S.T. Gomber, his 5 children (Jazlin Ebenezer, Jeeva Jonahs, Jegan Jabez, Jhansi Ganesan, and Janet Munu), 11 grandchildren (Sudesh Ebenezer, Andrea Jonahs, Joshua and Jasmine Jabez, Rita and Rajiv Ganesan, Prakash and Ramesh Ganesh, and Sylvia, Shawn and Steven Vedamani) and great granddaughter, Celina Ebenezer.