Emeth Thomas

Mrs. Thomas, 88, of 1176 Wyke Road, Shelby, formally of Forest City passed away Saturday, May 9, 2009 at Hospice at Wendover. A native of Conway, NC, she had worked as a social worker for the Department of Social Services in Rutherford County. She was a member of First United Methodist Church, Forest City where she served in the Stephen ministry and was a President of the United Methodist Women. A founding member and volunteer for Rutherford Hospice, she received the Governor's Volunteer Award for service to Hospice. She was a graduate of Mars Hill College and Woman's College of North Carolina at Greensboro.

Mrs. Thomas was preceeded in death by her parents Luther Johnson & Mattie Martin Johnson, her husband Sam Ray Thomas, and a sister Wilma Hopper.

Mrs. Thomas is survived by three daughters and their husbands Gennie Grimes & Warren of Smithfield, NC, Nancy McCullough & Bill of Casar, NC, and Jackie Ewendt & Bogdan of Valdese, NC.

Her grandchildren are David Grimes & Gina, Catherine Huffman & Travis, Leslie Parr & Greg, Anna McCollough, Jessie McCollough, Samantha Ewendt, & Maks Ewendt. She also has five great grandchildren, Madeline, Lydia & Margo Grimes, Caroline Huffman & Brayden Parr. In addition to these she is also survived by a number of nieces and nephews and special friends Cleo Grose and Mary Deck.

Funeral services will be conducted by Rev. Wesley Judy and Rev. Oscar Dowdle.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Hospice of Cleveland County, 951 Wendover Heights Drive, Shelby, NC 28150, or Hospice of Rutherford County, 374 Hudlow Road, Forest City, NC 28043, or First United Methodist Church of Forest City, 341 East Main Street, Forest City, NC 28043.