Lathonia “Lay” Thomas, 64, of Lithonia, Ga., passed away Monday, April 5, 2021 at Emory Hospital at Hillandale in Lithonia. Lay was born Sept. 7, 1956 in Winn to the late Thelma Thomas Williams and raised by his stepfather, the late Grant Williams. He and his wife, Cynthia Bernard Thomas, have been together for more than 35 years.
Lay was a faithful member of Bethlehem Baptist Church in Winn. After moving to Georgia, he attended Antoch-Lithonia Missionary Baptist Church in Lithonia.
A graduate of Coffeeville High School, he attended Hobson State Technical College becoming certified in auto body work. He was employed at Credit World Auto Sales in Orlando, Fla., for more than 20 years as a paint and body technician.
Lay was an avid lover of drag racing and westerns. He could name just about every western movie that was ever made.
Loved by many people, he was a very kind and loving man. Lay would go out of his way to help anyone that needed his help. He enjoyed getting together with his family and friends.
Preceding him in death were his mother and stepfather, Thelma and Grant Williams; grandparents, Shelly and Tennie Thomas; and his mother-in-law, Bessie N. Bernard.
Left to cherish his memories is his wife, Cynthia Thomas of Lithonia, Ga.; one stepson, Jonathan (Aishah) Bernard of Altamonte Springs, Fla.; one grandson, Jaquante Bernard of Oviedo, Fla.; three granddaughters, Jonae Grissom of Oviedo, Jamyah and Jayla Bernard, both of Apopka, Fla.; one goddaughter, Vida Jackson of Myrtle Beach, S.C.; two sisters, Velniece Pugh of Toddtown and Zelda (Norman) Armstead of Winn; two brothers, Burvis (Patricia) Thomas of Baytown, Texas and Gerald (Ramona) Williams of Winn; two sisters-in-law, Gina Bernard of Orlando and Alethea Bernard of Irving, Texas; two brothers-in-law, Edward Bernard of Orlando and Farley Bernard of Norlina, N.C.; one uncle, Collie (Velma) Thomas of Lake Charles, La.,; one aunt, Edrice Thomas of Winn; with a host of devoted nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews, cousins and friends to mourn his passing.
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