Wesley Wailes Thomas, III was a beloved husband and stepfather with a quick wit and sharp mind who passed away on October 14, 2026. Wailes was the only child of Elizabeth Scott Thomas and Wesley Wailes Thomas, Jr. Born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia; Wailes spent his life acquiring as much knowledge as he could. He was a voracious reader and every conversation left you with a little nugget of information you did not have prior. Wailes worked for the State of Georgia for his entire career and served in the National Reserve.
Wailes met the love of his life at a bridge tournament and spent over a decade courting Jane before they married in 2004. He was Life Master at bridge and they enjoyed competing in many tournaments through the years.
Wailes’ Aunt Margueryte, his mother’s sister, was married to the brother of Margaret Mitchell, author of Gone With The Wind, sister-in-law. Wailes and his wife Jane stumbled upon a box of Margaret Mitchell’s girlhood writings in Wailes’ family home and published them in the book Before Scarlet.
Wailes was a Tarheel through and through and bled Carolina blue. He loved to talk stats with all the grandsons no matter the decade- the Tarheels were always number one.
Wailes is survived by his loving wife Jane Howie Thomas, three stepdaughters, Blair (Rick) Nodine, Porter (Vance) Young and Ali (Kelly) Hoce; 6 grandchildren, Kyle (Brianne) Pfeiffer, Will (Anna) Young, Ali Young, Vance Young, Jane Porter Hoce and Ben Hoce; and 2 great-grandchildren, Colton and Abbey Pfeiffer.
Memorials can be made to AuthoraCare Collective of Greensboro, authoracare.org, 2502 Summit Avenue, Greensboro, NC 27405.
A private family service will be held.
