Mary L. Thomas

Services will be held March 25, 2025, 11:00 A.M. at Pleasant Green Missionary Baptist Church (5555 Larimore Ave, Omaha, Nebraska)

Mary Louise Thomas was born July 17, 1936 to the late Mark Phillips and Ida Mae Phillips-Broughton in Marietta, GA. After high school, Mary attended nursing school and had desires of becoming a nurse, however, in December of 1955, she met the man who changed her mind and her life. Two months after their first date, John Thomas asked Mary to be his wife and one month later in March 1956 they were united in marriage and stayed married for 66 years, until John passed away in September 2022.

After the birth of their first child, John told Mary that he did not want her to work outside the home and Mary happily agreed. As a full-time wife and mother, she rarely missed a PTA meeting, sporting event, musical or play in which her children participated.

Mary loved to cook - which made grocery shopping an adventure with six kids, using several shopping carts that were typically overflowing. Mary had a habit of always making extra food, usually because her children had friends who would stop by for an afternoon snack and hang out until dinner.

Mary accepted Christ at a young age and attended church faithfully until her health began to fail. She could always be counted on to bake a cake for church functions. Mary joined Pleasant Green under the leadership of Rev. Horace G. McMillian and served in different capacities in the church, but her favorite act of service was singing in the choir. Mary loved to sing and would not hesitate to sing when called upon to sing a solo. Mary sang until her vocal chords became strained and she was advised to stop singing to prevent further damage.

During her spare time, Mary loved doing puzzles and playing cards (Bid Whist or Gin Rummy), and spending time with her grandchildren. She enjoyed watching sports and during football season she cheered for the Dallas Cowboys, the Oklahoma Sooners and any team playing against the Huskers. Since John was a big Husker fan it was always fun to watch the two of them go at it over a game.

Mary was a loving wife, mother and grandmother. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, John Thomas Jr; brothers, Willie, Mark, Ernest, and Freddy Phillips; and grandson, Antwain King. She leaves to cherish her memory sons: Ernest, John (Vicki), Brian of Omaha, NE; daughters: Yulondia (Albert) Pettigrew of Bellevue, NE, Sharon and Alecia of Omaha. In addition, she leaves 10 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren, one great-great grandchild, and a host of nieces, nephews and other relatives.