Bernardine "Bunny" Smith Thomas

Bernardine (Bunny) Thomas went to be with her Lord on October 1, 2017. She was 100 years old. Bunny was raised in Atlanta, GA. She received her BA from Wesleyan College in Macon, GA. She moved to New Orleans to obtain her Masters of Social Work at Tulane University. She met her future husband, Clay Thomas, in New Orleans and they were married in 1941. Bunny was an active member of Metairie Ridge Presbyterian Church in Metairie, La for 74 years. She served on the Session, became one of their first female Elders, taught Sunday School and was very active in the Women of the Church for many years. For the last 18 years of her life Bunny lived at Lambeth House. She was preceded in death by her parents, Burnett and Pearl Smith, and her husband Clay E Thomas, Jr. Clay was a well-known and respected insurance agent for New York Life Insurance Company for many years until his death in 1979. Survivors include: four loving children, Dr. Colin (Janet) Thomas, Wayne (Veronica) Thomas, Stephanie (James) Tramonte, and Laurie Thomas; her sister, Tommie Puckett; 14 grandchildren, David (Lynne) Thomas, Christie (Mark) Meersman, Jennie Tarleton, Laura (Jeff) Lennox, Nikki (Alan) Crees, Todd (Adrienne) Thomas, Tim (Aurea) Thomas, Tisere Thomas (Thomas Buerger), Jay (Amanda) Tramonte, Karen (Chris) Kovacs, David (Robyn) Tramonte, Patrick (Sarah) Tramonte, Mark (Caroline) Tramonte and Natalia Grace Thomas; and 32 great grandchildren. A funeral service will be held at Metairie Ridge Presbyterian Church at noon on Saturday, October 7, 2017. Rev. Jack Boudreaux will officiate. Bunny’s family will receive friends at the Church from 10:00 AM until the funeral service at noon. Burial will be at St. Louis Cemetery #3. There will also be a short memorial service at Lambeth House at 2:00 PM on Friday October 6, 2017 for residents of Lambeth House. Members of the family wish to express their heartfelt appreciation to staff and caregivers at Lambeth House (especially to Jennie Nash) for their loving care which made her later years so enjoyable. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Metairie Ridge Presbyterian Church at 215 Phosphor Ave, Metairie, La 70005 or to Lambeth House Foundation at 150 Broadway St, New Orleans, La 70118.