Joyce Heck Thomas

Joyce Beverly Heck Thomas, widow of Frank Asbell Thomas, died peacefully at her residence in Griffin on April 25, 2010, after several years of declining health. Mrs. Thomas was born October 15, 1927, in Rhoadesville, (Orange County) Virginia, to the late Margaret Hatch Heck and Elmo Garland Heck. She attended Mary Washington College in Fredericksburg, Virginia and met her future husband in 1941 the day before he departed for the European theatre in World War II. They wed April 3, 1948 and were happily married for 56 years until Mr. Thomas’s death in August 2004. Along with his brothers, Mr. Thomas founded Thomas Packing Company and was a former Spalding County Commissioner. Although Joyce was foremost a homemaker, when her children were grown she began a career in education with the Griffin-Spalding School System teaching at Anne Street School, Orrs Elementary and Cowan Road School where she developed enduring friendships with other educators. She retired in 1992 after 18 years of service. Joyce was a member of the Griffin Utility Club, the Dogwood Garden Club, the Griffin Country Club, the Griffin-Spalding Historical Society and a 62-year member of First Baptist Church of Griffin where she was a member of the Sunday School and the Sanctuary Choir. Joyce was known for her charm, quick-witted sense of humor and her steadfast devotion to her husband and family. Known as “Mimi” to her grandchildren, to them and to all who knew her she imparted a gracious and generous spirit imbued with the virtues of a southern lady. She was regarded a beautiful woman and this radiance continued to her final days. Joyce is survived by 4 children and 4 grandchildren: son, Robert Nelson Thomas and Christina Bryan of Dahlonega; son, Frank Asbell Thomas, Jr. of Atlanta; daughter, Beverly Elizabeth Thomas and her husband, Stephen Jeffrey Briggs of Champaign IL; son, John Lee Thomas of Griffin; granddaughters, Martha Kathryn (Kam) Thomas of Atlanta and Ulku Coskunoglu Abadan of Istanbul, Turkey; grandsons, Thomas Rogers Briggs and Daniel Thomas Briggs of Champaign, Illinois. Additional survivors include her sister, Elizabeth Heck Carter of Alexandria VA; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Billy Lee Thomas and Anne Compton Thomas of Griffin; sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Elizabeth (Tibba) Thomas Harwell and William Lovejoy Harwell of Griffin; sister-in-law, Geraldine Farrar Thomas of Jacksonville, FL; nieces, Elizabeth Thomas Mayo and Rose Thomas Johns of Griffin; Virginia Thomas Smith of Alpharetta; Dana Butts Conkle and Dorothy Butts Smith of Griffin; Donna Kay Kight Nichols of Rome; nephews, George Nelson Thomas III of Valdosta; James Compton Thomas of Jackson; Billy Lee Thomas, Jr. of Griffin; Davis Lawrence Kight, Jr. of Decatur; Thomas Nelson Kight and Charles Edward Kight of Macon. The Family wishes to express its gratitude to Doctors Mark A. Crump, Gerald J. Bohn, Brian Remington, Thomas Hopkins and Roza Adamczyk of Griffin and Zbigniew K. Wszoleck of Mayo Clinic Jacksonville for their friendship and nurturing; to Brightmoor Hospice; and to caregivers Veronica Crosby, Mary Berry, Schwanda Mayes, Brenda Curtis, Mary Smith, Nancy Miller, Bridgett Bridges, Gilethia Reid, Pat Wellmaker; and Linda Johnson, whose loving devotion added years to her life and who have been embraced as family. Graveside Services for Joyce Heck Thomas will be held at 11 o’clock A.M. on April 28, 2010 in the Old Section of Oak Hill Cemetery, Griffin, officiated by the Reverend Doctor Bruce Monroe Morgan of Gainesville and the Reverend Canon Louis Charles Schueddig of Atlanta, both longtime friends of the family, and the Reverend Doctor William L. Hardee, Senior Pastor, First Baptist Church of Griffin. The family will receive friends at the gravesite at 10 o’clock A. M. on Wednesday, April 28th prior to the service. Pallbearers are Thomas Rogers Briggs; Stephen Jeffrey Briggs; James Compton Thomas; Billy Lee Thomas, Jr.; George Nelson Thomas III; and Roger Alan Mayo. Memorial tributes are suggested to First Baptist Church Memorial Fund, P. O. Box 908, Griffin , GA 30224; University of Georgia Research and Education Garden (by check made to “The Arch Foundation” c/o Dr. Jerry Arkin, UGA Griffin Campus, 1109 Experiment Street, Griffin, GA 30223); or your favorite charity.

Joyce Heck Thomas

October 15, 1927 - April 25, 2010