Gloria Jean (Greer) Thomas

Gloria Jean Thomas, 84, of Henderson, Kentucky, formerly of Chicago, Illinois, passed away peacefully at 7:50 a.m. on Saturday July 26, 2025 at Deaconess Gateway Hospital in Newburgh, Indiana with her family by her bedside.  

Gloria Jean was born to Alice and Frederick Greer on November 16, 1940, in Chicago, IL.  She was the 6th child of 9 siblings.  Gloria grew up in a loving home and regularly attended a holiness church pastored by her maternal grandfather.   At the age of 14, her father passed away.   Gloria had her first job as an elevator operator in Chicago at the age of 14.   At the age of 19, Gloria Jean accepted the Lord as her savior at Faith Temple Church Of God in Christ in Chicago.  It was at Faith Temple that she was introduced to Theodore Thomas. 

They were later married and would eventually have 10 children.  They were married for 32 years.  After the birth of their 4th child, Tawanna, in 1965 Theodore and Gloria moved from Chicago to Henderson, KY.   Henderson, KY is where Gloria called home for the remaining years of her life. 

Gloria worked hard at home caring for her family.  She always had her children looking their best whenever they stepped out of the house.   She would often hand sew the girls’ clothes when they were small, and she was their personal beautician for many years to her 7 daughters.  Her home was neatly kept in good order.   Her children were taught by her to love God and to show respect to others. 

 As Theodore Thomas became first a minister at church and eventually a pastor, Sis. Gloria Thomas was right by his side.  She and all her children accompanied him to street services, tent revivals, church revivals, nursing homes, hospitals, district meetings, state meetings, international meetings, and she was faithful to the local services.    Sis. Gloria was the piano player at the Sturgis church for several years.  She oversaw organizing speeches and programs for the children at Christmas and Easter. 

Gloria Thomas was more than a homemaker and a pastor’s wife.  In addition to her being a loving care giver at home and faithfully serving her husband’s ministry, Sis. Gloria Thomas had an additional personal ministry.   She would weekly visit elderly church mothers in their homes in Henderson, and she would do the work of a servant.  She would clean the homes, cook a meal, and even bathe the elderly mothers when needed.   Sis. Gloria had a heart for the needy.  She would give food and clothes to others in need on a regular basis.  Her efforts at this time were not church funded.  She sacrificed her own personal finances to help others.

When extra money was needed, Gloria worked part time at other jobs.  She worked at the “Dress Factory”, she sold Avon, she was a part-time fill-in custodian at a church facility in Henderson.   After her children were older and had begun to move out, Gloria decided to attend beauty college to formally get her license. 

Gloria was a hands-on mother.  She “looked well to the ways of her household.”   When she became a grandmother, she was a hands-on grandmother.  She was present for the birth of most of her grandchildren.  She never missed an opportunity to give generously to her family.

Years later, Sis. Gloria attended Progressive Church of God in Christ in Evansville, IN.  There she organized a food pantry to be a blessing to the needy.   She started it with her own funds, but she needed a place to host the giveaway.  Eventually, the church would help with funds to continue the food pantry.  For years, Sis. Gloria provided her own transportation and workers to haul the food to the church to distribute it to the needy.   She did not want to be a burden on the church.   Even after she left to help at another ministry, the food pantry ministry continued . . . (a seed that she planted).  Sis. Gloria helped the Sturgis Church of God in Christ to get their food pantry started.  And it still feeds people as of today. 

Gloria Jean Greer – Thomas is the woman in Proverbs 31:10 – personified.

Gloria is known by many names . . . Gloria, Glo, Jean, Gloria Jean, Ma, Mom, Momma, Granny, Sister Thomas, Mother Thomas, Aunt Jean, kind neighbor, friend . . .

The Lord called Gloria Jean Greer Thomas home on Saturday morning, July 26, 2025.

Gloria was preceded in death by her parents, and all but 2 siblings, and one daughter – Tawanna Thomas.  Gloria’s memory will be cherished by her children:  LaDreanna (Marshall) Chambers - Henderson, Theodore Jr. (Akwa) Thomas – Nashville, TN,  Tonya (Anthony) Hayes -Henderson, KY, Rebekah (Jackie) Cook - Evansville, IN, Carla (Steven) Cawthon – Murfreesboro, TN, Darlene Prather - Henderson, KY, Steven (Laura) Thomas -Evansville, IN, Edward Thomas, and Shonna Thomas – Henderson, KY,  Her caregiver – Callie Vanderpool,  20 Grandchildren and their spouses, 6 Bonus grandchildren, and their spouses, 23 Great-grandchildren and their spouses, 22 bonus great-grandchildren, 1 great-great grandchild, 7 bonus great-great grandchildren,  2-sisters Edith Hall & Joyce (Sam) Williams,  nieces, nephews, cousins, friends, and the saints that knew and loved her.

Gloria's life will be celebrated at 12:00 p.m. Saturday August 2, 2025 at Abundant Life Assembly of God Church in Henderson.  

Superintendent Marshall Chambers will eulogize with the Elder Kenneth Walker offiating.

Burial will be in the Thomas Family Cemetery in Cairo, Kentucky.

Visitation and wake services will be from 10:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. Saturday at the church.

Elliott-Bowles Mortuary in Madisonville is in charge of her professional services and arrangements.

Condolences to the family can be shared at www.elliottmortuarycares.com.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Gloria Jean (Greer) Thomas, please visit our floral store.