Mary Elizabeth Thomas

A homegoing service celebrating the life of Mary Elizabeth Boo-tee (Garland) Thomas, age 92, of Newark, will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, July 8, at Criss Wagner Hoskinson Funeral Home with Minister Marie Shackleford officiating. Burial will take place in Newark Memorial Gardens. Friends may call from 5-8 p.m. on Friday, July 7, at the funeral home, 179 Granville Street, Newark. Mary was born March 16, 1925 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama to the late Elbert and Leana (Brandt) Garland. She passed away on Saturday, July 1, 2017 at her home surrounded by her loving family. Mary came to Newark from Alabama in 1943 and her first job in Newark was at the Natoma. A domestic by trade who absolutely loved to clean, Mary had been a housekeeper in the employ of the Spencer and Deutch families. She and her husband were the owners of Thomas Shoe Repair in Newark which they opened in the late 1940s. Mary was a member of the Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church. She enjoyed playing Bridge with friends and was the last surviving member of her social group. She also enjoyed flower gardening, loved reading books and watching sports. She is survived by her daughter-in-love, Kathryn Thomas; four grandchildren, Willie "George" Thomas II, Lawrence "Larry" Thomas, Mary Ella "Ellie" Thomas and Samantha (Nelson) Peralta; great-grandchildren, Erica, Anestassia, Shantel, Ashlee, Joshua and Nelson Javier; great-great-grandchildren, Deandre, Tatiana, Anthony and Eva; surviving Garland cousins, Sarah Walker, Gladys Cook and Irma James of California and a host of cousins; surrogate grandchildren who all called her Grandma; and extended family. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Randle Thomas; a son, Willie David Sonny Thomas I; foster mother, Lee, and foster grandmother, Louella Mamalou Jones. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Lung Association or Hospice of Central Ohio. Criss Wagner Hoskinson Funeral Home is honored to care for Mary and her family.