Betty Jean Thomas

Betty Jean Thomas was born in Quitman, Georgia to the late Simp Edmondson and Sara Miley-Edmondson on June 21, 1946. Betty’s love of God and music aided in her learning the organ, which she would play frequently for her family, especially her father who would make special requests. After the passing of her mother, Betty moved to live with her sister Novella in Florida with her nephew Jimmy at the age of 14. Throughout her youth, she was always known by her teachers as an incredibly hardworking, kind, and humble student. She graduated from Booker T. Washington High School, which was the same high school that her future husband attended that she would meet years later. Betty’s faith in God continued to grow and was baptized in the Valdosta Church of Christ in her early twenties. Circumstances in Betty’s life (i.e., grieving the loss of her daughter Debra Ann Williams from a previous marriage) led her on the path of helping people in the medical field. Betty worked in several hospitals in the prenatal units with premature infants and would monitor their progress until the time they were able to go home to their families. 

During her time in various hospitals, she was approached by an engineer with the Cordis Corporation and asked if she would be interested in applying for a position with their company. She decided to take a chance and turn in the application. After a phenomenally successful interview process, Betty became a team member of Cordis and worked her way up to the title of Quality Assurance Engineer III.  During her 36-year career, she worked with and managed teams of engineers to improve products that support cardiovascular health. Betty also met the love of her life, Lemuel Maceo Thomas, Jr., at Cordis and were married on June 16, 1978, in Miami, Florida. She became involved in the National Orchid Society with her husband and was an avid gardener of rare plants, fruits, and vegetables. Like her sisters, Betty was also known for her cooking, especially her famous deviled eggs. After retirement, Betty became the caregiver of her husband with her son Lemuel Maceo Thomas III during his fight with cancer, while she also fought with her own battle with dementia. After her husband’s death, she focused on her family and garden.

Betty Jean Thomas is survived by her daughters: Tiffany Athene Thomas and Lillie Eliza Thomas with her husband Larry Lowe; sons: Lemuel Maceo Thomas III and Brian Matthew Thomas; sisters: Novella Edmondson Thomas (Willie Thomas), Willene Stephens (Willie Stephens); brothers: Lewis Edmondson and his wife Elouise Edmondson, Joseph Edmondson; grandchildren: Roman Lemuel Campbell, Anthony Alexander Campbell, Jacob Thomas Campbell, Serenity Roderick and Aurora Roderick; and many nieces and nephews.