Erma Jean Thomas, 68, was born on February 21, 1951 in Carlisle, WV.  She was the 12th of 13 children born to the late Andrew and Allie B. Douglas-Thomas.  On September 16, 2019 she left this earthly home to be with the Lord.

She attended Scarbrough Elementary School and was a graduate of Collins High School class of 1969.  She also attended Beckley Junior College for two years.

She accepted Christ at an early age and was baptized as a child at New Hope Baptist church in WV.  She was a faithful member of Mt. Zion Baptist Church and her final church home was Mt. Lebanon Baptist Church, both in Akron, OH.

She started her career working for the City of Akron, first at the parole office and then at the Akron Public Schools as an Administrative Assistant in the architect office and finally as a member of Project Grad Akron.

She had one daughter, Shatora (Nell) Thomas that she loved and cherished.  In 1988 Erma met and married Earnest Williams and although this marriage ended in divorce, they remained dear friends until his time of death.

In her spare time, she enjoyed working and serving in the church as an usher at both the city and state levels.  She also served as the Financial Secretary until the time of her passing. She enjoyed spending time with friends and family, playing cards, games and laughing at the many memories that were shared by all.  She was often seen taking pictures of everyone at family functions for the family reunion books.  She was active as a member of the Golden Hearts and enjoyed traveling with them as well as traveling to countries across the world.   Lastly, she had the gift of poetry and graphic design placed in her heart and she enjoyed writing poems and putting together programs and books for both the church and her family.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her brothers, John Thomas, Andrew Thomas and James P. Thomas; sisters, Willie Mae Freeman, Sallie Jordan, Mattie Ferrell, Emma Lou Thomas, Marjorie Thomas and Bertha Thomas.

Left to cherish her memory are her daughter, Shatora Thomas of Columbus, OH; brother, Ernest Thomas of Akron, OH; sisters, Annie Mitchell of Jacksonville, FL and Brenda Thomas of Oak Hill, WV; as well as a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, family and friends whom she loved and cherished.