Arnetta Ball Thomas

Arnetta was born on February 22, 1941, in Warrenton, VA to the late Margaret Rowe Ball and Carroll Ball. She attended Taylor High School in the Fauquier County Public School System. After moving to Washington, D.C., she attended beauty school. While living in D.C., she met Cordell Preston Thomas, and they married on February 13, 1959. Together, they created a life centered around family, raising four children: Roland, Leanne, Cordell, Jr., and Kim.

Arnetta began her professional journey as an Administrative Assistant at a local brokerage firm. She later continued her career at the Officers’ Club at Bolling Air Force Base. In her later years, she found great joy working as a manager at Anton’s Cleaners—a role she truly loved—and continued working in that field at various locations. Arnetta was a woman full of life, love, and warmth. She was known to be loving, honest, and compassionate to everyone who had the pleasure of knowing her. She had a gift for making people feel welcome, and her presence could light up any room. She deeply enjoyed being around her family and friends, often bringing laughter and smiles to those around her. She found joy in life’s simple pleasures, including sitting on her porch and people-watching, a pastime she cherished. Arnetta also enjoyed playing bingo, playing cards—especially tonk—with her family, and attending cabarets. Her greatest passion, however, was baking. Arnetta was well-known for her beautiful and delicious cakes, earning her the affectionate nickname “Cake Netta” from her great-grandchildren. She was creating elaborate cakes long before it became a trend, and her creations were just as delightful to taste as they were to admire. To receive a slice of one of her cakes was truly a blessing.

Arnetta carried strong family values that were deeply rooted in the lessons she learned from her beloved aunts and her mother. Through baking and cooking alongside her Aunt Ella, she developed a passion for cooking, while the time she spent with her Aunt Sis taught her the importance of family and togetherness. The close moments she shared with her mother, Margaret, taught her the true mean­ing of love. She shared a close and meaningful bond with them, cherishing moments in their homes where laughter, connection, and love were always present. Their influence shaped the woman, mother, grandmother, and aunt she became, and she carried those values with her throughout her life.

These principles became the foundation of how Arnetta lived and loved, and she passed them down to her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, ensuring that her legacy of love and unity would continue for generations. She made sure her grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren were always well taken care of. After picking her great-grandchildren up from school, she would often take them to the “Snack Shack,” allowing them to choose their favorite after-school treats, and she always made sure they were well fed and cared for. The love and care she poured into them came full circle, as they later took great pride in caring for her—whether it was helping with her grocery runs or making sure she had her Pepsi at family gatherings. Whether at home watching her favorite “stories,” enjoying country westerns, or spending time with loved ones, Arnetta treasured every moment. Even after the passing of her aunts, she continued to honor their legacy by teaching her family the joy of cooking, baking, and simply being together.

Arnetta was preceded in death by her mother, Margaret Johnson; father, Carroll Ball; husband, Cordell Thomas, Sr.; brothers, Dennis “Butch” Johnson, Lenwood Johnson, and Wilbur “PeeWee” Johnson; sisters, Judy Fuller, Carolyn Broussard, and Catherine Ball; and aunts Ella Greenfield, Joyce Fuller, and Mary “Sis” Harris.

She leaves to cherish her loving memory her brothers, Andrew Johnson, Harvey Johnson, Carroll Ball, and Richard (Dandria) Ball; sisters, Roberta Ball, Anne Slaughter, and Patricia Ball; her children,

Roland Ball, Leanne Douglas, Cordell Thomas, Jr., and Kim (Gary) Yancy; 8 grandchildren;

20 great-grandchildren; 2 great-great-grandchildren; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and dear friends.

Arnetta’s legacy of love, strength, faith, and family will live on in all who knew and loved her

Visitation will be held at Fort Lincoln Funeral Home, 3401 BLADENSBURG RD, BRENTWOOD, MD 20722, US, on May 13, 2026, at 11:00 am.

A Celebration of Life will take place at Fort Lincoln Funeral Home, 3401 BLADENSBURG RD, BRENTWOOD, MD 20722, US, on May 13, 2026, at 1:00 pm, with live stream available at https://client.tribucast.com/tcid/c26055380430923.

Committal will follow at Fort Lincoln Cemetery, 3401 BLADENSBURG RD, BRENTWOOD, MD 20722, US, on May 13, 2026, at 2:30 pm.