Erie G. Thomas

Erie Gene Thomas, 64 of Fayetteville, died Sunday, December 30, 2018 at Duke Medical Center.

Erie Gene Thomas graduated from Tylertown High School, Tylertown, Mississippi in 1973. She became the wife of a military service member and traveled with him to the 1st duty station in Fayetteville, North Carolina.

Over the years, she became a devoted house wife and mother where they traveled from east to west until returning home to McComb, Mississippi awaiting orders to leave for Europe.

The tour in Europe opened several opportunities for her to continue to pursue her career in Recreational Management. Erie Thomas managed several recreation centers in Europe providing help and support to military families and kids.

After the tour in Europe, Erie and her family returned to the United States to be stationed in West Point, New York where she worked at a military commissary for three years. After the tour Erie and family returned back to McComb, Mississippi awaiting orders again.

Military orders returned her and her family back to Europe. Here she continued her career in recreational management. While in Europe, her husband was called to war in Afghanistan.  While he was at war she continued to work and care for her family.

After the cease-fire in Afghanistan, she and her family returned back to Fort Bragg, North Carolina where she continued her education and obtained her Associates Degree. While living and chasing her dream, Erie became very ill with pulmonary hypertension, which is a rare disease that a small percent of people are born with.

For several years after she was diagnosed, Erie continued to battle this disease which took great strength but had inevitable falls throughout her life.  

Erie was a loving mother, wife and grandmother.

A Funeral service will be held Saturday, January 5, 2019 at 2 p.m. at Jernigan-Warren Chapel with the Rev. Leon Mark officiating.  Burial will take place on Wednesday, January 9, 2019 at 2 p.m. at Sandhills State Veterans Cemetery.

The family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m. Friday at Jernigan-Warren Funeral Home.

Surviving are her husband of 45 years, Donald H. Thomas, Sr.; sons, Donald H. Thomas, Jr., Ishi D. Thomas and Patrick Ian Thomas; brothers, Wilbert and Leon Mark; sister, Willie Stein Weary; grandchildren, Ishiya, Kaylee and Londyn.

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