James Walter Thomas was the youngest child of the late Walter and Sarah Luvenia Thomas (nee Fields). He was born on May 27, 1957 at Easton Memorial Hospital and transitioned to his heavenly home unexpectedly on September 24, 2020 at his home in Columbia, MD.
He grew to adulthood in Bellevue, MD where he developed his lifelong love of basketball and swimming. As a child, he was affectionately known as Jim Dandy, as a teen by his peers as Kabola, and lovingly in adulthood by family and others as Jim or Jimmy.
He attended public schools in Talbot County graduating from St Michaels High School in St Michaels, MD in 1975. Immediately following high school, Jimmy entered the US Air Force where he was honorably discharged with the rank of sergeant following one tour of duty. Jimmy sought out continued education in Essex County, NJ and in 2005, graduated from the University of Phoenix.
In 1997, Jimmy met his future soulmate, Shelley Garbutt. They were married on August 31, 2000 and remained so until his death.
Jimmy found his niche in the medical field working first for Hill-Rom Medical Device Company rising from equipment delivery to management during his time there. Seizing an opportunity, he later took a position at Agiliti Health where he served as a Clinical Specialist serving the MDVW region.
Never one to let grass grow under his feet, Jimmy was an adventurer. He never hesitated to jump behind the wheel or on an airplane to visit someplace new or one of his old haunts. Even so, he was often drawn home to Bellevue and the Eastern Shore of Maryland where he still maintained friendships from his early years.
Jimmy made friends wherever he went. He would always greet you with a “what’s up Cool Breeze?” that was his favorite line. He was an affable sort who loved to laugh and to hear the laughter of others. In return, people enjoyed and sought out his company. He was an avid stone and gem collector. He could tell you the name and background of each gem that he collected.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a sister Freda M Wright (Eugene); and four brothers, Jerome B Fields (Ruby) of Stone Mountain GA, Herbert Franklin Green of Easton MD, Chester M Green of Cambridge MD, and Nelson P Thomas (Barbara) of Hillsboro MD.
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